Greetings in Christ, all!
I have some very big news. Please read this over and share as you see appropriate.
Next weekend is Pentecost and, beyond what that usually means (we’ll get to that), it means something new and different this year: the diocese is ending the dispensation from attending Mass and the state is relaxing some of the restrictions that we have joyfully labored under for the last 16 months or so.
What will this look like?
Well, first, hopefully it means people who haven’t been going to Church will return. If you have friends or family who have stayed away, now is a good time to invite them to come back with you. Go to breakfast with them afterward if you want!
At our Church we will be taking down the ropes and opening up all the pews. That really is the biggest difference.
Beyond that we’ll ask people to wear masks like we have been and we who distribute the Eucharist will continue to purify assiduously during distribution and before.
We will not be reinstituting the Sign of Peace and we will more or less continue to do music as we have, though obviously we will want everyone to sing who has not been singing out of fear of spreading the virus.
Please, please, please, if you have a fever or are showing signs of sickness, stay home and pray for us and know we will pray for you.
We will continue to livestream Mass every day for our digital parish and for those who cannot attend in person, either regularly or occasionally.
During the last few months, we have been offering a place in our hall for those who want to come to Mass but need a smaller, more controlled space to be safe. What I am looking for from you is whether or not you would still like us to do so. Since we are opening up our hall too, it will mean that we will have to move it to the “small hall” instead of the big one, as the big one will be in use for other things throughout the week.
If you have an opinion on whether or not you would like to continue to use the hall as a place for the vulnerable who still want to feel safe, please email us at holyfamily@hfgb.org and let us know. The fact is, the number of people going down there for Mass has become much smaller and we don’t want to continue the practice if we don’t need to. At the same time, if you need that option, please let us know so we can serve you well.
I’m so glad for this newest step in the return to normalcy….let’s celebrate this with great joy.
Your faithfulness to The Mass has been a fuel that keeps me going during difficult times. I am simply blown away that I get to be your priest.
Next week we celebrate the Birthday of the Church: Pentecost Sunday. This is the day when God sent His Holy Spirit upon the disciples, who then took the Gospel to the world. This Spirit is given to you and me in our baptism and it is strengthened through the Sacrament of Confirmation. We’ll talk about it during the homily in more detail.
God bless you all!
fjk