Hello, my Holy Family! What a great week we begin when we celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a time for us not just to give lip service to the idea, but to commit ourselves to gratitude. I am convinced that choosing to be grateful is one of the most important keys to being holy and happy. Choose gratitude today!
Speaking of gratitude… Fr. Le is amazing, if you haven’t noticed yet. We are just getting to know each other, but he has already “dove on the pile” as it were and begun serving. I’m excited about him being here, as it means we can serve more of you better, I hope.
I’m also grateful for the people of St. Casimir in Lansing. I hope we remember and share with our kids that part of the reason our new Church will be so lovely is because of their giving in the midst of pain. It is an amazing reflection to me that, while they were/are hurting because of the closing of their parish, they responded to that pain by reaching out to so many parishes and giving. May we all be inspired to do the same in the midst of our sorrows and hurts.
In regard to Covid, we’re making some pretty big decisions here at Holy Family and I ask you to pray. Due to the rising number of Covid positive cases, the Holy Family Executive Team has made the following decisions: Holy Family parish office will be open for appointments only beginning Wednesday, November 18, through Tuesday, December 8. There will be no school on Wednesday, November 18. Holy Family School will switch to virtual learning from Thursday, November 19 – Wednesday, November 25 (half day). We plan to return to school in-person on November 30th. Holy Family Parish wants to do its part to help prevent the spread of this virus. At this time, Mass attendance will continue as normal and we will continue to livestream Masses. Our Bishop has extended dispensation until Tuesday, February 16. Please pray for our Parish family. I know we’re all tired of the overreaction and underreaction to this virus and I totally get it. As your Pastor, I want to make sure I balance the responsibilities that personal freedom requires of us with the fact that a few can affect the whole by exercising their freedom.
In the end, one thing I know, and I type this with sorrow, is that we are definitely going to limit attendance at the Rededication of our Church. We’re literally going to pray this Mass with just the Bishop and the essential servers and participants at Mass. I’m deeply sorry and I hate this, but I believe with all my heart we have made the right call.
I’m also grateful for some time off! Dad and I will be taking a “vacation” starting after my last Mass on November 22nd, lasting for one week. Because of Dad’s age and my bad lungs, I don’t think traveling is really an option for us so we’ll probably just stay around here and get some work done in the rectory, while sleeping in (that’s 5:30 am for Dad!) and taking walks and such. It’ll just be nice to go a week without making decisions!
So, that’s it here…I hope you know how very grateful I am to God for you. I am humbled by your graciousness and your mercy. When I worry about all the people I simply can’t get back with, I think of how often you understand and it soothes my heart. You deserve my best and I pray for the grace to always give that to you.
fjk