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Please join Flocknote so we can get you updates via text or email!
Due to the current climate and the fact that we are getting so many updates every hour, we need to be able to reach out to our parishioners easily. We have created a sign-up through a service called Flocknote that will notify you by text or email when a change is made at Epiphany and Our Lady of Consolation.
Click on the image to take you to the link to sign up, or you can text "Epiphany" to 84576.
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News & Updates
Saturday, February 13th, 2021:
Please watch the video that the Bishop released regarding obligation of Holy Mass, which will start again on the first Sunday of Lent (Feb. 20 and 21):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wddQutcrjmY&feature=youtu.be
Saturday, November 14th, 2020:
A note from Fr. Brian Gross:
Dear Parishioners of Epiphany and Our Lady of Consolation,
On Friday, November 13th, Governor Doug Burgum issued a mask mandate for the State of North Dakota. The order is effective from November 14th until December 13th, and requires masks to be worn at indoor gatherings as well as outdoor gatherings where social distancing is not possible.
Religious services are exempted from the Governor’s order. Additionally, Bishop Kagan has not required masks to be worn in the churches of our diocese. However, there is more to consider here than what is strictly required. Masks do help to control the spread of the coronavirus, and the desire for personal freedom of choice has to be governed by the call to exercise Christian charity, which is expressed in doing what we can to help keep one another safe and healthy.
I am grateful that we are blessed to still be able to come together and worship during this time. I ask you to consider wearing a mask when you attend Mass. It is a simple thing that we all can do to express charity and goodwill toward each other. As St. Paul said, “in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” (Phil 2:3-4)
The current coronavirus guidelines for the Diocese of Bismarck are available to view on the diocesan website. We will continue to adhere to these guidelines as it is always important for us to follow what our bishop asks of us.
Stay safe and never forget that God is still in charge.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian Gross
Pastor
Epiphany and Our Lady of Consolation
Friday, October 30th, 2020:
If you missed the parent meeting and need to watch Fr. Brian's talk, you can visit our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN0nXJzFxcU
If you have not filled out the survey (Family Faith Inventory), it is essential that you do so in order for us to better plan our catechesis going forward! Please visit wcepiphany.com/family-faith-inventory to fill this out!
Monday, October 19th, 2020:
The mandatory parent meeting for Faith Formation has been rescheduled to October 28th from 6:15 PM to 7:00 PM at Epiphany Catholic Church. You can either attend in person at the church, or via Zoom at this link:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9823162278
Meeting ID: 982 316 2278
Password: Epiphany
There will be a survey to fill out for parents at the end of the meeting.
We will not be able to provide childcare or any children's activities or food. Sorry for this inconvenience.
If you already registered for the last meeting, you will not need to re-register; but if you did not previously pre-register, please do so by going to wcepiphany.com/faith-formation-registration. Thank you!
God bless!
Monday, September 28th, 2020:
Fr. Brian will be out of quarantine to resume Mass on Wednesday, Sept. 30th, but will be gone Wed night through Friday. Please see graphic for Mass times!
Saturday, September 26th, 2020:
** A NOTE FROM FR. BRIAN TO PARISHIONERS **Dear parishioners,
We are not having the public celebration of Mass this weekend because I continue to quarantine due to a long period of close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. I was tested for the virus yesterday (Friday) and received a rapid test result of negative. Still, the ND Health Department asks that quarantine continues until the state lab can confirm that result. I am following their recommendations and the counsel of our good bishop and other priests and people of the diocese and parish. Assuming that the result from the state is a confirmed negative, we will resume public celebration of the Mass on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the usual time of 12:10 pm. Following this Mass, we will have one hour of Eucharist Adoration to beseech God for our protection and peace within our families and parish. Please attend if you are able. I have two points that I would like to make as I have had more time to pray and think during this week or quarantine.
First, the public celebration of the Mass is the heart and soul of parish life and the life of every individual Catholic and Catholic family. It is at the Mass that we come into the saving and peace-filled presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and his active
presence of dying and rising for our salvation. The Mass is an activity of God that saves the world because it is the re-presentation of the one sacrifice of Jesus. When we come to Mass, we are as present to Calvary and the Cross as St. John and the Blessed Mother were when they stood below Jesus in His final moments. When we come to Mass, we are as present to the Resurrection of Jesus as St. Mary Magdalene was when she stood outside the empty tomb and our Divine Lord appeared to her commanding her to proclaim His Resurrection to the Apostles. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass with the proper disposition of mind, soul, and body, we are united to Him. Our blood mingles with His Blood, and our body mingles with His Body. The Mass is everything because it is the place we find Jesus and, hopefully, the place that Jesus finds us! I remind you of these simple and profound truths because when we cancel Mass, it should sadden us and cause a certain pain in the soul. Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John 6:51-58,
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Jesus Himself ties our worthy reception of the Eucharist to our eternal salvation. The intensity of his statement, “...whoever eats this bread will live forever.” and earlier, “...unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” can not be understated. Our hearts must be awakened again and anew to these truths. Our Lord desires to see us face to face and heart to heart. He wants to actually commune with us so that our lives and hearts become a place where he perpetually is present and welcomed. When we commune with Him, we are healed and filled with a peace that the world cannot give. Jesus tells us at the Last Supper (the First Mass) as he prepared for His death, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
Second, we must diligently guard against a form of faith that does not direct us toward the celebration of the Mass and the worthy reception of the Eucharist. During these days, Bishop Kagan continues the dispensation from attendance at Mass. Still, you must not allow your spiritual life and faith to become privatized and fall into a pattern where your belief exists only as a private endeavor to fulfill only your needs and your own personal desires. To be more clear, a pseudo-faith you create for yourself. In St. Paul’s Second Letter to St. Timothy 4:1-5, he warns us against this,
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.”
Each person must intentionally discern before God in prayer and through attentiveness to the teaching of Christ is His Church what He wants for you. For some, He definitely wants you back at Mass! I am very much edified by the desire of those who are legitimately unable to come to Mass because of health concerns, etc. When I visit them, their great desire is to be with us. They want Jesus in the Eucharist and they want the comfort and peace Christ gives through the community.
Finally, Jesus is moving during these days. He does not remain still. Our God is an active God, and many times His ways are difficult to understand at the moment. We stay close to Him because nothing and no one else will satisfy us. Do not allow the distractions of life to take you from Jesus. Jesus is all. Jesus is for you. Jesus heals. Jesus loves. Jesus loves you. Jesus waits for you to love Him back.
With continued prayers for you,
Fr. Brian
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020:
A reminder that the parent meeting for Wednesday, September 23rd at the Civic Center to kick off our year of catechesis has been canceled/postponed until further notice.
Also, this is our Mass schedule for this week:
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020:
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM FR. BRIAN TO THE PARISHIONERS OF EPIPHANY AND OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION:
Good afternoon parishioners,
I was called yesterday by the North Dakota Department of Health and it was determined that I have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. I have been instructed to self-quarantine for the required 14 days from first contact with the person that tested positive.
At the moment I show no signs of the virus, but will get tested in a few days as a precaution. This means, sadly, that we will have to cancel our Faith Formation kickoff meeting for the families of the parish tomorrow. Many of us in the parish have put over 100 hours into planning this event and were really looking forward to it. We will reschedule at some point soon. This also means that Masses are cancelled for the rest of this week and into next week as well.
I will update you on the status of my quarantine when that becomes clearer. Please continue to pray for an end to this awful virus and especially those who it has severely affected. Be assured of my continued prayers for you.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian
Sunday, June 21st, 2020:
Please read the Bishop's latest statement here: https://bismarckdiocese.com/news/changes-to-covid-19-restrictions
Monday, May 11th, 2020:
Mass times this week are:
Tuesday - 7:00 PM
Wednesday - 12:10 PM
Thursday - 9:00 AM
Friday - NO MASS
Confession schedule:
Tuesday - 6:15 to 7:00 PM
Saturday - 3:15 to 3:45 PM
There will be a live Rosary via Zoom this Friday, May 15th, at 7:00 PM! Join the Zoom Meeting at https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9823162278
Meeting ID: 982 316 2278
*** NO PASSWORD REQUIRED! ***
Or go to our Facebook page and click "Interested" or "Going" on the event to be reminded!
Ministries (such as Rosary Guild, WOE, etc.) will resume once we hear from Bishop Kagan that it is okay to do so. Thank you for your patience!
If you'd like to join the Genesis to Jesus Bible Study, it is not too late! We are on lesson 3 this week, but you can watch the videos from lessons 1 & 2 as well (the videos are only 20+ minutes long). Please go to our Facebook page for details! https://www.facebook.com/groups/242035610480696/
The Knights of Columbus are accepting food donations in the parish hall - both non-perishable and perishable - for those who are in need. If you can donate, please leave the non-perishable items on the counter, and perishable items (meat, eggs, cheese, milk, etc.) in the refrigerator or freezer. If you'd like to donate money, please contact Bob Nelson at 701-609-0103 (if you are writing a check, please make payable to "Council 6446" and write "parishioner support" on the memo line). If you need grocery items, please go to the parish hall and take what you need!
Eucharistic Adoration is every Friday from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM. All are welcome to come and pray before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament! If you'd like to sign up to be a scheduled adorer or a substitute, please contact Stephanie Ray at 813-415-8486.
Tuesday, May 5th, 2020:
Sunday, May 3rd, 2020:
Mass times for the week of May 4th will be:
* Monday - no Mass
* Tuesday - Mass at 7:00 PM live-stream only
** The rest of the week, we will have both public Mass, and live-stream Mass (guidelines for public Masses can be found in the video of Fr. Brian in the post below this one)
* Wednesday - Mass at 12:10 PM
* Thursday - Mass at 9:00 AM
* Friday - Mass at 9:00 AM
* Saturday - Mass at 4:00 PM
* Sunday - Mass in Alexander at 8:30 AM; Mass in Watford at 10:45 AM
** There will be Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday and Thursday following Mass for one hour.
*** Friday, we will resume our normal Eucharistic Adoration schedule (9:30 AM to 9:30 PM)
Please continue to check back for more updates!
Saturday, May 2nd, 2020:
Fr. Brian has made a video discussing how we will be going forward this next week and next weekend with public Masses:
https://youtu.be/OWKehWOLupc
Friday, May 1st, 2020:
Here is the letter from Bishop Kagan in full:
https://bismarckdiocese.com/news/public-masses-resume-on-may-6?fbclid=IwAR2O6_OirJyg5QSxnBiHMFBhQ6AFVwAyAT3p4KNyKPLDrgFO2u0RMgokNYQ
Father Brian will be making a video addressing the re-opening of our parishes, and that should be up on Facebook (which will be linked here) on Saturday, May 2nd.
Thursday, April 30th, 2020:
- The Diocese of Bismarck has resumed public Masses in the diocese starting Wednesday, May 6th. ** We will post on here and on our Facebook page when we know what our parishes are doing specifically.** THERE WILL NOT BE PUBLIC MASS THIS WEEKEND, the Mass will still be live-streamed on Sunday, May 3rd.
- We will have live Rosary via Zoom this Friday, May 1st. Please see our Facebook page for the details under "Events"!
- There are two online conferences being offered - one this weekend, and one next weekend! Please check out the websites listed on the graphic below for more details!
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020:
Please go to Epiphany's Facebook page (facebook.com/wcepiphany) to comment your suggestions OR email wcepiphany@gmail.com!
Monday, April 20th, 2020:
Mass schedule (to be live-streamed on Facebook) this week is:
Tuesday: 8:00 AM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM
Thursday: 8:00 AM
Friday: 8:00 AM
Sunday: 10:00 AM
Confession days and times this week are:
Tuesday: 6:15 to 7:00 PM
Friday: 5:30 to 6:00 PM
Saturday: 3:00 to 4:00 PM
These will take place in the parish hall in order to utilize the dividers for everyone's safety!
We have established online e-giving for our parish! You can go to our website at wcepiphany.com and online giving can be accessed on the home page, or under the Resources tab > Parish E-Giving. You can also mail your contribution to PO Box 670. This way of giving is secure and saves time for our parishioners. You can make a one-time gift, or a recurring gift! Thank you for your continued support of Christ's Church and its mission!
Live Rosary via Zoom on Fridays, with Fr. Brian, at 7:00 PM! Please go to our Facebook page under Events to find the details (and to get a reminder the day of, please indicate that you are "Interested" on the event),
OR
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9823162278
Meeting ID: 982 316 2278
*** NO PASSWORD REQUIRED! ***
If you have a prayer request you'd like prayed for during Rosary, please email wcepiphany@gmail.com with your intentions!
Please hang on to your rice bowls until we are able to have public Masses again, as we have no secure place for drop-off. Thank you!
Word Among Us books can be picked up on the entryway table in the main entrance of the church!
Faith Formation workbooks are available in the parish hall to take home for your child(ren)!
Flocknote is a convenient way for our parishioners to receive texts or emails with updates, news, and important reminders! To sign up for this service, we ask that you either:
Text the word EPIPHANY to 84576
OR
go to wcepiphany.flocknote.com! Thank you for helping us by signing up!
If you'd like to view all of our Live Facebook events, please visit our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVN3P3aavVU7NVcg5m08E8A?view_as=subscriber. We have also uploaded Ben and Isaiah's vocation stories! Please take a look!
Thursday, April 9th, 2020:
Divine Mercy Novena starting on Good Friday!
The link for the Novena daily intentions:
https://www.getfed.com/how-to-pray-divine-mercy-novena-6035
The link for the Chaplet:https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/how-to-pray-the-divine-mercy-chaplet?aid=5849&new=yes&engine=GFblog
- Holy Thursday - Mass of the Lord's Supper will be live-streamed at 5:30 PM on Facebook. You will be able to view it anytime after that either on the Facebook page, or on our YouTube channel!
Tuesday, April 7th, 2020:
Confession schedule for Holy Week:
Monday, April 6th, 2020:- Blessed palms are available in the church entryway! Please use the disposable gloves provided to protect you and your family.
- Please also take a Word Among Us booklet from the entryway to use for when you watch the live-streamed Masses!
Sunday, April 5th, 2020:
Holy Week schedule, Masses will be live-streamed to our Facebook page!
Monday, March 30th, 2020:
During this time of social distancing and quarantine, we will be working hard to keep the parishioners of Epiphany and Our Lady of Consolation updated as soon as things are known, and we will be doing so using our Facebook page, our website, and through Flocknote. (More info on these below.) If you know someone who does not utilize these, please help us to get the word out! Thank you!
Epiphany now has online giving available! E-giving can be accessed on our website at wcepiphany.com/parish-e-giving. If you prefer, you can also mail your tithes to the church at PO Box 670, Watford City, ND 58854. Thank you for your generosity!
We will be live-streaming the Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM each Sunday from our Facebook page until the time when we are able to celebrate it together. You can find our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wcepiphany - you do not have to have a Facebook account to be able to go to the page and view it! You do not have to tune in at the exact time if you are unable, as you can view it anytime after as well.
We also will be uploading the Mass videos to our YouTube channel, which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVN3P3aavVU7NVcg5m08E8A/
Remember to please sign up for Flocknote! Flocknote is an easy and efficient way for us to be able to get updates and news to you quicker via text or email, as they happen. You can sign up two different ways:
Text the word EPIPHANY to 84576
OR
Connect with us online at wcepiphany.flocknote.com!
Please join us in a live Rosary lead by Fr. Brian every Friday at 7:00 PM via Zoom!
Topic: Live Rosary
Time: This is a recurring meeting - Fridays at 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9823162278?pwd=SFBhU0cyV1kzRUR6ejh1R2ozRC9kdz09
Meeting ID: 982 316 2278
Password: Rosary
Please see our e-bulletin, which is a PDF and has clickable links, for updates at www.wcepiphany.com/bulletins.
Sunday, March 29th, 2020:- Mass will be live-streamed today at 10:00 AM, but is available at any time after that for viewing. A guide to make spiritual communion can be found here since we are unable to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at this time:
https://aleteia.org/2018/09/20/cant-receive-the-eucharist-heres-how-to-make-a-spiritual-communion/
- Since we are not meeting for Mass due to the health crisis, we have an e-bulletin available here on the website at www.wcepiphany.com/bulletins, or the link to the PDF file is: https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/11108/bulletins/20200329.pdf
- We have a YouTube channel! Please go to our channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVN3P3aavVU7NVcg5m08E8A/ and subscribe! We have uploaded today's Mass onto the channel.
Saturday, March 28th, 2020:- Just a reminder that Mass will be live-streamed starting at 10:00 AM on Sunday, March 29th from our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wcepiphany/, and can be viewed by anyone even if you do not have a Facebook account! The live-stream will also be available anytime after that, so you can view it later if you would prefer.
- Online giving is now available on our website! Go to the Resources tab > Parish E-Giving and click the button to donate!
Tuesday, March 24th, 2020:
A note from Fr. Brian:"Although public Masses have been suspended for the foreseeable future, you are still able to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There will only be confessions behind the screen and no face-to-face confession. Times are:
Tuesday 6:15-7pm
Friday 5:30-6pm
Saturday 3-4pmWe will soon be streaming daily Masses via Facebook and YouTube. We are currently working on getting the sound quality as good as possible. Stay safe everyone and daily prayers for you all.
Fr. Brian"
Thursday, March 19th, 2020:- Adoration until 3:00 PM today, at which time there will be the Benediction and a rosary said (in conjunction with the Pope in Rome - Luminious Mysteries).
- The church will remain open for anyone who wants to go and pray at any time, as we know Our Lord is always present in the Tabernacle.
- If you don't already use FORMED.ORG, please utilize the free access that our parish has for us. Log onto formed.org and use the code KR7MJE to get access! They are offering a special virtual Bible study today! "The Word of God gives us many examples of what to do in times of crisis and uncertainty. Let us come together for a special virtual bible study, today, March 19, at 2PM EDT (1 PM Central) where we reflect on what the early Christians did and how we can be inspired by them today. Watch this invitation from our host, esteemed Scripture expert Dr. Tim Gray. From, the Formed Team." https://watch.formed.org/…/in-times-of-uncertainty-promotion
- Since Faith Formation has been canceled until further notice, this is a nice resource for your child(ren)'s faith education! Thank you to our DRE Sara Millet for sharing this! https://www.teachingcatholickids.com/downloads-for-your-f…/…
Wednesday, March 18th, 2020:
1. Eucharistic Adoration will commence as normal today (Wednesday, March 18th), as planned.2. Tomorrow, Thursday March 19th, there * WILL BE MASS * at 9 AM.
3. The Eucharist will be exposed after daily Mass on Thursday, with Adoration to continue until 2:45 PM, at which time we will say a Divine Mercy Chaplet, and then the Benediction at 3 PM.
4. From 3 PM and forward, per Bishop Kagan, the Masses have been suspended for the faithful; however, the church will remain open.
5. Please review the Bishop's statement here: https://bismarckdiocese.com/…/important-message-from-bishop…
6. The Knights of Columbus fish fry has been canceled.
7. We will be figuring out a way to livestream the weekend Holy Mass - we will post more when we know.8. All Faith Formation classes have been canceled until further notice.
9. Stations of the Cross are canceled, as well as the poverty meal.
We will have more updates as they come in! -