Opportunity to Celebrate Mass

I rejoice with all of you at the opportunity to celebrate Mass with participants present in the church itself in significant numbers. We had a
total of more than 450 people who participated at the eight Masses we offer. Fifty-five people per Mass is not so many when our church holds about 600, but it is a step.

We cleaned and sanitized the pews, door handles, and bathrooms between each Mass. We followed Diocesan directives about creating healthy conditions in which to worship, with social distancing, mask use, and with hand sanitizers available near the entrances to the church. All of the books have been removed from the pews for now so that they do not become a means by which to pass infections to one another. Many elderly members wisely chose to stay home, as well as those with respiratory and other types of illnesses which make them susceptible to COVID-19. Still, we hope that those who have been fearful of coming to church for Mass, may find that it is a safe and welcoming environment. Daily Mass, at which there are fewer people, may be an excellent alternative, in the short-term, for those who are cautious about a larger congregation on Sundays.

And we celebrated our great Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. A solemnity of Christ, it is also a festive day on which we recognize that we are what we eat, the Body of Christ in the world (See St. Augustine). We also
rejoiced with 10 newly baptized members of the Church, including a mother and her new born baby! Then we welcomed them to the Sacrament of Confirmation along with 6 others, and all of them to their First Communion. We look forward to celebrating the Eucharist with them
many, many more times throughout their life, even thousands of more times!

Peace, Fr. Andy