From the Pastor

In March of 2020 as the world tried to come to terms with a global pandemic and we learned more and more about how Covid-19 spread, Houses of worship across the country (and indeed the world) were closed. We came to understand the potential danger of large gatherings of people in relation to the spread of the virus. When that happened Archbishop Lucas issued a general dispensation from the Sunday Obligation (to attend Mass). When our churches we’re allowed to reopen in May of 2020 with restricted capacity, the dispensation remained in place. In fact it is still in place. However, after 14 months, the dispensation will be lifted Pentecost weekend (May 22/23) and all the faithful will be invited to come back to Mass in person. Now with that said, we obviously can not predict the future, and we can not say that the pandemic will be better or worse at the end of May. If, God forbid, things are getting worse, the Archbishop has said we can always hit the pause button and leave the dispensation in place. And, Archbishop Lucas has been very clear that the law is flexible enough to excuse people who have serious reasons why they cannot come to Mass. He has publicly stated and written that anyone who feels a heightened concern about catching Covid-19 or communicating it to someone else, either because of their own health or people they are taking care of at home can consider themselves excused. Will people come back after being away for a year? I truly hope and pray that they will. And if you are back, I want to ask you to invite other Catholics who are healthy and even perhaps vaccinated to come back. I can not stress enough how how important it is for us to personally invite those who are tentative to come back. Maybe they could dip their toes in the water by coming to a daily Mass when there are fewer people. I have found that the most effective way to get people to come to Mass is not by telling them why they should go, but rather talk about how much you get out of going to Mass. Talk about how important your faith and Jesus and the Eucharist are to you. People who have been away from Mass for some time may not find it easy to start going back. Invite your friend or family member to come with you and your family. State when you are going, and what time you are going, and offer to take them or meet them outside the door.

It will be necessary for me to start taking off ropes to allow for more seats, but we will do this gradually. I hope we can all be patient and compassionate with one another, and treat each other as we would treat Christ himself. And lets not go back to “normal” but to better.

Blessings, Fr. Rodney