Fr. Daniel's Letter to his Parishioners

 

Dear Parishioners,

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, I am so hoping that this letter is being read by the larger number of people who came to Mass.  The COVID restrictions are easing up and now we can have 50% capacity.  We are still following all the same protocols of mask wearing, contact tracing, no missals in the pews, no choir, and social distancing so we will most likely run out of spots for people before we reach the capacity.  Regardless, it is still a step in the right direction.  Please be patient with us because we are used to only handling 50 people in the Church and 50 people in the overflow.  It has been a year since we celebrated Holy Mass with a larger number of people so it will feel great to see some of you.

Palm Sunday starts Holy Week, the highest and holiest week of the year for us.  Hopefully you will take advantage of the many services we have to celebrate the last days of Jesus’ life on this earth.  We will have Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy

Saturday in three churches this year because when we planned the celebrations, we did not know the number that would be allowed to attend.  My goal was to make as many seats available as possible while also maintaining a safe place.  With the multiple celebrations in the area, everyone who wants to attend, will be able to attend.  Also, for those who are not yet comfortable    entering the Church, we will live stream all of the liturgies from the Basilica. 

I would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Brian Wilson who organized the Consecration to St. Joseph and the 33 days of prayer leading up to it.  Pope Francis has declared this the year of St. Joseph.  My hope is that since some of our parishioners come from the former St. Joseph Church on Main Street, we will do a few prayerful events during this year to ask for his              intercession and to reconnect those who attended the Church.  I have come to find that there is a special bond that exists among people who prayed together in a Church that persists even after the Church was closed.  I believe it is important to honor that relationship.

Have a very prayerful and holy “Holy Week.   ~  Fr. Daniel

 


Popular posts from this blog

Mary, Pray for Us!

Image
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life Mary, Mother of all Life, help us to respect human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. -Mary, pray for us. Mary, Mother of Compassion, You showed us how valuable a single life can be; Help us to guard and protect the lives of all people entrusted to our care. -Mary, pray for us. Mary, Mother of the Child Jesus, with St. Joseph you formed the Holy Family. Guard and protect all families in this earthly life; R. Mary, Mother Most Holy, You sanctified the vocation of motherhood; Pour out your heavenly aid on all mothers and help them to be holy. -Mary, pray for us. Mary, Mother of Sorrows, Simeon’s prophecy foretold that a sword of suffering would pierce your heart; Bring comfort and hope to all mothers who suffer over their children. -Mary, pray for us. Mary, Full of Grace, You had a choice in responding to God’s call; Help us always to say “Yes” to the will of God in our lives, And strive always to do whatev...
Read more

Fr. Daniel's Letter to the Parishioners

Image
  Dear Parishioners,   As we approach the holy celebration of the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, many of us will be experiencing it in a very different way.   Certainly, the crowds of people who come to the Sacred Mass will not happen this year due to the limited number allowed.   However, we are hoping that the reception of Holy Communion during the scheduled hours will help connect many people to Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.   For those who are not comfortable staying for the period of time inside the building, we invite you to come with your whole family, say a prayer in the Church and prepare for Holy Communion, receive Communion and pray a prayer of Thanksgiving and return home.   This would only take a few minutes and you will have marked the Holy Night and Day with a Sacred Action.   Please let me know if you have any questions about the process as you consult the times and places where Holy Communion will be distributed. ...
Read more