Dear Parish Family,
From my perspective, September is the “Start Up” month for the year. A new school year begins, Church activities and committees get fired up, religious education prepares to welcome back the hundreds of young people that are part of our parish family, and the Pastor says a Hail Mary that the Church year will be a great one.
This September, however, just like the previous six months will be very different. The new norm of social distancing, face masks, and taking extra precautions for our most vulnerable will greatly impact the month of September. Our many large gatherings in liturgies, meetings, classes, ministries, and social gatherings will have to wait until we get a vaccine for the virus. But that doesn’t mean we put up a CLOSED FOR BUSINESS sign on our Church doors. God’s work never takes a hiatus. This virus has forced us to get creative and the staff, councils, clergy, ministries, and volunteers have been and will continue to work diligently to make sure that we do our best to bring Christ to His people. We’ll continue to livestream our weekday and Sunday Masses. Religious education will have some very innovative activities, lessons, and outreach for our students via zoom and livestreaming (don’t forget to register them!) A Zoom Bible study will begin this month. Our parish mission team is preparing different activities, devotions, and talks on Spirituality, Evangelization, and Service via livestream. Ministries will meet via Zoom or in small groups. We have a great parish and we all need to pray that God continues to guide us especially during these stormy times. Hang on to your faith with all your might and be Christ’s light to those walking in darkness. Here’s a familiar prayer that seems very appropriate right about now.
God, grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.
Peace,
Fr. Rick