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May 15, 2022Thanks be to God we now are far from the days of 2020 and even 2021 when a new, unknown virus infected our Nation and hospitals were overwhelmed and people were dying. We prayed like we never prayed before. We refused to go out in public, we ordered our dinners as take-away and our groceries arrived by way of home-delivery. We washed our soup cans off and left our dry goods and the mail in the garage for 24 hours… washed our hands like clock-work and bleached everything in sight. State governments closed restaurants, shut down businesses and even our churches were mandated to live stream as the new conduit to visit with the Lord.
Today, we are in a much better place. While the virus has not been eliminated and perhaps never will be, it is following the course of all viruses—seeking to survive as it mutates to more “manageable” strains—perhaps more communicable but less dangerous. That doesn’t mean we don’t still protect ourselves to the best of our ability with vaccines, other medical treatments, and masks for those who are immunosuppressed or have other underlying medical conditions. Certainly one sure answer to this situation is that we continue to pray for God’s help and blessings in our lives, for cures and new treatments, and for Truth, which will always lead to the safety of all.
In the meantime, we here at St. Catherine of Siena and all people must live our lives. At our parish we have been blessed—even during the worst of days during 2020 and 2021 our parish remained open: We celebrated Mass albeit online, we were open every day for personal prayer, we collected food and distributed it to those in need, and, even continued our Faith Formation and Youth Ministry programs online—keeping that all-important community connection.
Today, we are close to pretty normal with our Mass attendance; Monday night and Saturday afternoon Confessions are busy, youth ministry and faith formation are fully operational, and our other ministries are back to work, and meetings are taking place. God is Good!
And while we continue to live-stream our Masses at this time, I believe it is vital to return to the Eucharist. I want to take this opportunity to invite those who have yet to return to Mass because of linger fears over Covid to ask God for the courage and strength to come home again and receive the Eucharist. We, as Christian people, need to do that! We cannot become a Eucharistic-free Faith. That is not who we are. We are connected to God and His Son, Jesus Christ, by the Eucharist. Catholicism is the only faith to have the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, and our faith-lives are nourished in-and-through the Sacramental life of the Church.
I invite us all to return to the Lord and to receive Him and all His Graces and strengths. I am confident that we can do this—and we must. As I go around town I see people out-and-about at Dunkin’s, Stop and Shop and Fitzgerald’s, at Abigail’s, The Coffee Spot and many other places.
Let me assure you, just like the above-mentioned locations, St. Catherine of Siena is a large and open Church with plenty of room and our building provides excellent ventilation. We also are non-judgmental when it comes to mask wearing—do what makes you feel comfortable. Our Eucharistic Ministers also where masks when we distribute Holy Communion so that anyone wearing a mask feels comfortable and safe to receive.
What we cannot do is to continue to encourage people to feel that the Eucharist isn’t needed and that watching Mass from the couch is the “same thing.” For the frail, the elderly or the homebound who cannot come out—the TV Mass is the best option, but for those of us who can come and receive, we should receive the Lord and all His Blessings in His Sacrament of Unity and Peace. For Christ Himself instituted the Holy Eucharist for our benefit here on earth; He did this because He knows we need Him, so He gave us His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—His Love, His Mercy and His Forgiveness. And in the midst of all that is now going on in our world today, that is surely what we all need.
Blessings and Peace to all. If anyone has any questions or concerns that I may answer, please do not hesitate to contact me at 658 1642.
