St. Nicholas Church

In light of all the rapid changes we are experiencing and the need for timely news updates, I'm pleased to introduce Flocknote as an additional communication tool for all of our parishioners and people who are interested in receiving Saint Nicholas news.

Please visit our Events/News page to sign-up for this very effective texting and emailing tool.

If you have a specific questions for us you can continue to use our on line Contact Us form.

And if you are new to the Parish, we invite you to call the Office to Register, 949-837-1090.

Thank you,

Father George

Just added to our website is a Newsletter feature found on the Events/News page, where you can down load Father George and Staff''s latest updates.

Message 7, Dated: March 20, 2020,  5:45p.m.
Reason: To update yesterday's Message reflecting the Governor's Stay at Home Order.            

As we continue through this unprecedented time in our world, information is changing daily and even by the hour.  Please know that Fr. Martin, our staff, and I are praying for all of you our parishioners.  I want to keep you as up to date as possible.  With our governors “Stay at home” order implemented on March 19, our Bishop has updated the instructions for all diocesan churches.  

• All Public Masses have been suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Funerals should be postponed, if at all possible.
• Confessions and all public gatherings are also suspended until further notice.
• The church will remain closed in response to the state order.
• Anointing of the Sick will only be done in danger of imminent death.  Please call the office to schedule an anointing for someone who is dying.  Leave a message and we will call you as soon as possible.
• You can refer to the list, on this website, of Masses that can be viewed on TV, or live streamed on your computers from various places in our diocese and country.
• Please refer to our website or the diocese website for all current information.
• Please also refer to the CDC for the most up to date and accurate information about this pandemic. 

Know that God has not abandoned us and it is important for us to continue to pray and check in on one another.  Please stay healthy and use good hygiene and common sense.  If we follow the “Stay at home” order, we will get through this challenge more quickly.
 
Fr. George P. Blais

Message 5, Dated:  March 19, 2020, 5:00 P.M.
Ammended: March 20, 2020, 9:00A.M.

Dear Parishioners,
As I write this message, I want you to know that my prayers are with each and every one of you during this unprecedented time.  We have never experienced anything like this and could not imagine all of the challenges it brings to us.  I am well aware of the pain, confusion, uncertainty, and fear that we are all experiencing.  Today is the Feast of St. Joseph and the message that Joseph heard from the angel was; “Do not be afraid.”  When Jesus appeared to his disciples walking on the Sea of Galilee, He said to them; “Take courage.  It is I, do not be afraid.”

I ask that we not be afraid but use this time to pray for a speedy recovery for all affected with this virus and a return to normalcy as soon as possible.  We must all be aware of our surroundings and pray for one another, especially for those who have no family to care for them.  I strongly encourage all of us to call the people we know to check in on them and to encourage them and let them know that they are not alone.

No one could have predicted that we could not celebrate public Masses and this decision was not made lightly.  Following the guidance of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, our Metropolitan See, we are asked to suspend all public Masses. Bishop Kevin Vann, the Bishop of Orange, in consultation with his auxiliary bishops, staff, the CDC, and our federal and local agencies made this decision for the good of all. At this time we believe we can plan to make special arrangements for Funeral Services.
 
I fully appreciate the feelings of those of you who have expressed a sadness of not being able to receive the Eucharist.  This gives us all the opportunity to reflect on the gift of the Eucharist and have a greater appreciation of this gift when we are able to receive it again.  This also gives us the opportunity to pray for Spiritual Communion.  I would like to share this prayer with you that I received in an email today.  Please know that you are all in my prayers as I celebrate a private Mass each day.

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.  I embrace You as if You were already here and unite myself wholly to You.  Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.”

Please know that Fr. Martin and myself are saying daily private Mass for the Mass intentions that have been requested and we are praying for all of you, our parishioners.

This very serious situation also gives us the opportunity to create a way to instantly communicate important matters with each of you, our parishioners.  I would like you to please provide us with your email information and a cell phone number so that you could receive a global email or text from the parish with important updated information.  Please watch for an upcoming link via "Flocknotes" to the website to provide this information.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. George P. Blais

March 19, 2020
Mass from Christ Cathedral

Mass will be broadcast from Christ Cathedral while we practice social distancing to stop the spread of COVD-19. Please encourage your staff, colleagues and parishioners to view the livestream. While Mass will continue to be streamed via Facebook at Facebook.com/christcathedralca, please note the new link below for viewers who don't use Facebook.   

Sunday Schedule:
9:45 a.m. in English
11:30 a.m. in Spanish
1:15 p.m. in Vietnamese 

Daily Schedule:
6:30 a.m. in English
5:30 p.m. in Vietnamese 

View the livestream at: parish.christcathedralcalifornia.org/livestream

March 19, 2020
To: All Pastors, Priests, Business Managers, Parish Secretaries and Bulletin Editors
From: Office of Communications: COVID-19 Updates

For the latest updates on COVID-19, please refer your parishioners and staff to https://www.rcbo.org/covid-19updates/
 
Updates will also be communicated with clergy and staff via email.
 
Public information will be posted to Diocese of Orange social media channels: 
 
Facebook.com/dioceseoforange
Twitter.com/orangediocese
Instagram.com/orangediocse
 
 Sunday Mass will be broadcast via livestream at https://parish.christcathedralcalifornia.org/livestream/ in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
 
Daily Mass will be livestreamed from Christ Cathedral in English at 6:30 a.m. and Vietnamese 5:30 p.m. and from St. Edward the Confessor at 8:15 a.m. http://stedward.com/stedcast/
 

 It appears that some of our email and phone number lists have been hacked. If you received any email or phone text messages from Father George Blais or anyone else from the parish requesting assistance with money transfers, iTunes gift card purchases, or any other type of monetary support, PLEASE DISREGARD, these are scams. Always check with the office directly before responding to any such email to verify authenticity.

Whether you are new to the Parish or visiting our area, seeking information on the Catholic Church, or if you’ve been away from the church for a long time, we warmly welcome you to Saint Nicholas Catholic Church. Our Welcome Prayer follows:

Father,

Inexhaustible source of life and

author of all good, we bless you and we

thank you for brightening our parish 

community by your gift of

new members.

Grant that they may find in the life of this

larger family such inspiration that they will

continue to strive always for what is right

and good, and by your grace find their

purpose in God’s plan at Saint Nicholas

Community.

You can find a myriad of Catholic websites to facilitate your spiritual journey, to help with daily living and provide resource information at our Spiritual Resource Center. Simply click the following to access this helpful resource: 
        /spiritual-resource-center

St. Michael’s Abbey has partnered with award winning director Charles Kinnane to bring us the unprecedented seven part series called the City of Saints. This is an incredible series where heaven and earth collide and everyday people are touched by God and the saints who work through the Norbertines to enrich our lives. These are real, true life stories that the Norbertine Priests have witnessed through their ministries.  

To view this series go to http://cityofsaints.com/homepage-trailer.

There you will be prompted to sign up providing your name and email address. By doing this, you will receive exclusive access to all seven episodes. 

We hope you will enjoy this very special series of documentaries.