Memo from Msgr. Raun - Tuesday, March 31st, 2020
My dear family in Christ,
Here is another testimony I received today from Deacon Frank Smith, who is directing our Care Kits ministry:
A good neighbor emailed me on behalf of Tom, his neighbor, who was in need. I called Tom on the number given; the person who answered said, “there is no Tom here, may I help you?” I briefly explained that I was calling from St. Thomas Aquinas church because we were given this number for Tom since he needed food but could not go out and we want to deliver food to him. Then I asked how he was doing. He stated he was doing fine was then so very complimentary on what the church is proactively doing in our outreach to those in need. He thanked us profusely for that!
Remember the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ :"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Do you have a testimony from this time that you would like to share with me or with the parish family? Email me at pastor@stanm.org. Let us support and encourage one another!
---------------------------------------------------
GOD BLESS YOU PARENTS: Often people, with good intention, say to me "Oh Monsignor. You priests make such sacrifices!" Well, that's very kind, but I know it's not true. The people who make great sacrifices are parents.
And if your kids are still at home, you are being asked to make extra-big sacrifices right now. The younger kids are scared at all the news and their schedule being disrupted. The older kids are being snarky about being cooped up at home and not being able to do things with their friends. You are trying to look after them while you still have to go to work, or are trying to work from home.Even with the best "on-line" learning being provided by your child's school, every parent is suddenly become a "home-schooler". It's a whole can of unexpected worms. And it will go on for at least another month. Good heavens!
First of all, know that your pastor is praying for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom to know how to deal with your children in these trying times. Pray for your kids. They are as confused and fearful as the rest of us - maybe even more so.
Now I am the last person to give you first-hand advise on raising kids! I have only a kid sister, who is only 19 months younger than me, so I didn't even grow up with really younger children around me! But in my 38 years as a priest, I've seen a lot of families operate. I guess I would like to share just two observations:
1. Pray together as a family. Have set times for morning and evening prayers, and do your best to stick to it. Without starting World War III, do your best to encourage the teen-age kids (and adult kids you have at home) to join in. Let these two times be the anchors of your day as a family - a few minutes of faith, unity, and peace.
2. Have a schedule for the day. The last thing we want are the kids sitting around all day in their pajamas, playing video games and getting into who-knows-what sort of trouble with unsupervised nonsense on the Internet. I realize this schedule will be different for everyone. But their needs to be time for study, and time for the kids to go outside, get fresh air and sunshine, and work off some of their energy. Try really hard to have at least one meal a day together as a family, with everyone sitting around the table and the TV off.
Oh - and a personal suggestion. Tell everyone to make their bed when they get up. Don't ask me why this is important, but it is. Somehow it starts the day "rightly-ordered".. When I go to another rectory and see that a priest doesn't make his bed, I have a feeling that something is wrong. I know, it's goofy, but I think it's true. Just a suggestion.
I found this article about having your kids at home and how to teach them which you might want to read :https://www.ncregister.com/blog/guest-blogger/advice-and-5-tips-for-teaching-kids-at-home-from-a-veteran-homeschool-mom
I see how good can come out of this situation. Perhaps we can learn how to pray together as a family. Perhaps we can rediscover the art of conversation with our loved ones. Perhaps our families will grow stronger through all this. And that is good news, because everything in our Church and our society rests on the strength of our families.
Anyhow, please know that you pastor is thinking of you and praying for you in these hard times. I know you are all doing your best! May our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph pray for you, and guide you in your important vocation as parents during these unusual days!
---------------------------------------------------
THE HOLY MASS is being offered by Fr. McKee and me each day at 9 am. You can watch it on the website any time during the day. I am offering the Holy Mass each day for the intentions of our fellow-parishioners. Unite yourself in your heart to the divine mystery of the Holy Mass. Sorry for any technical glitches. We are doing this off my I-Pad !
---------------------------------------------------
HOLY HOUR is being aired every night on our website and app at 6 pm from the rectory chapel, being lead by Fr. McKee. Join in adoring the Holy Eucharist, and praying the Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
---------------------------------------------------
CONFESSIONS are being heard each evening, Monday through Saturday, in the church at 5:30 pm. The priest will remain until the last person in line has confessed. Friends, what this means is that if you want to go to Confession, show up at 5:30 pm. The priest will hear the confessions of those people in line. He will then go home. If you can never make it at 5:30 pm, give a call to the parish office and we can set up a special time for you.
We are using the Adoration Chapel for Confessions. This is working out very well.Please follow the directions on the sign.
Also, remember what the Pope said a few days ago:
"I know that many of you go to confession before Easter… Many will say to me: ‘But Father…I can’t leave the house and I want to make my peace with the Lord. I want Him to embrace me… How can I do that unless I find a priest?’
Do what the catechism says. It’s very clear. If you can't go to a priest to go to confession, speak to God. He’s your Father. Tell Him the truth: ‘Lord. I did this and this and this. Pardon me.’ Ask His forgiveness with all your heart with an act of contrition, and promise Him, ‘afterward I will go to confession.’
You will return to God’s grace immediately. You yourself can draw near, as the Catechism teaches us, to God’s forgiveness, without having a priest at hand."
---------------------------------------------------
THE CHURCH is open from 7 am to 7 pm. Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is present in the Tabernacle. Our parish staff is disinfecting the church three times a day.
HOLY WATER AND BLESSED SALT are available in the back of the church. These are two very powerful sacramentals that we can use to protect ourselves and our homes. Traditionally we sprinkle our homes with the holy water, and sprinkle the blessed salt around our property. Please take what you need (bring your own container for the holy water. The blessed salt is pre-packaged.
The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and 24 Hour Adoration has been suspended for the duration of the emergency.
CARE CALL: Reaching out to our parish family with phone calls of concern and prayer. If you would like to volunteer for this, please email your name, phone number, and email address to viana.sikes@stanm.org
CARE KITS: Taking essential household goods and food to those who have no way to leave their house: If you would like to volunteer for Care Kits, please email your name, phone number, and email address to frank.smith@stanm.org (Please: no one over 60 or with serious health problems should volunteer for this ministry.
If you need a Care Kit, please call the parish Office at 892-1511. Please give this number to people you know who might need a Care Kit.
---------------------------------------------------
THE PARISH OFFICE and the ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY are open, but not for walk-in traffic. Please call on the telephone first.
---------------------------------------------------
YOUR TITHING : Friends, for those of you who are able to support the parish, we are really going to need your tithes and offerings at this time. The best way to do this is on-line: Go to the parish website stanm.org and click on the "Three Ways To Give" button. You can use your credit card or checking account, and you can set it up for a one-time gift or a reoccurring donation. If you can't do that, mail it to the parish office.
---------------------------------------------------
Father Young is has a little chest congestion, but is basically OK, and is helping with confessions. Fr. McKee is fine, but will be in self-isolation. Everyone else is fine.
---------------------------------------------------
CHATTING WITH THE PASTOR: We thought that it might be good to do a weekly 20 minute video of me answering questions you may have at this time. If there is interest, I'm happy to do it. Please email any questions you may have to Deacon Ed at ed.leyba@stanm.org. We will let you know when the video will air.
---------------------------------------------------
WONDERFUL FREE PRAYER RESOURCES :
The Magnificat: the prayers and readings of daily Mass, and a simplified form of Morning and Evening Prayer : https://us.magnificat.net/free
Live-Streamed Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament : from the chapel of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit: http://savior.org/
---------------------------------------------------
SPIRITUALLY ADOPT A PERSON WHO IS DYING ALONE : This is really on my heart, friends. These coronavirus victims in the ICU units are dying alone. No family and loved ones, no priest and sacraments. Often, I am afraid, little or no knowledge of God or faith in His love for them. Just facing death terribly alone.
It's real simple: Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Then say to our Heavenly Father words to this effect: " Dear God, I offer up this Chaplet for that person whom You know is at this time dying alone."
I think this is a great work of mercy, much needed at this time!
---------------------------------------------------
Prayer, dear friends, prayer!
Remember, Christians are to set the best example in following the directions of our civil and public health officials.
In all of this let us in a dark world be bright lights of Christian patience, service to others, cheerfulness, and Christ-like love.
---------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE NUMBERS ! EMAIL ADDRESSES ! There is a lot of ministry going on in this parish right now, and we want to minister to each person in our parish. But I need your working current phone number. Many of you registered with a land-line, then got cell phones and dropped your land-line without telling us. Please, if you have not received a phone call from the parish in the last week, please email your name and phone number to viana.sikes@stanm.org Help others, especially the elderly who do not have the Internet, to get their phone numbers to us!
Also, I keep on talking to parishioners who have no idea that we have a website, daily email, on-line services, and so forth. Please - when you talk to parishioners, ask them if they are getting my emails. If not, encourage them to right away go to our website, stanm.org and sign up for our emails and download our parish app.
This is the only way we have to directly minister to people right now, and I do not want any of our parishioners to be missing out on the spiritual resources their parish has to offer them to get through these difficult times!
---------------------------------------------------
Our Prayer for the Day: A Prayer to our Lord in His Passion :
I beseech you, most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, grant that your Passion may be to me a power by which I may be strengthened, protected, and defended. May your wounds be to me food and drink, by which I may be nourished and overjoyed. May the sprinkling of your Blood be to me an ablution for all my sins. May your death prove to me life everlasting, and your cross be to me an eternal glory. In these be my refreshment, my joy, my preservation, and sweetness of heart. Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.
I send you my fatherly blessing, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Msgr. Doug Raun
Here is another testimony I received today from Deacon Frank Smith, who is directing our Care Kits ministry:
A good neighbor emailed me on behalf of Tom, his neighbor, who was in need. I called Tom on the number given; the person who answered said, “there is no Tom here, may I help you?” I briefly explained that I was calling from St. Thomas Aquinas church because we were given this number for Tom since he needed food but could not go out and we want to deliver food to him. Then I asked how he was doing. He stated he was doing fine was then so very complimentary on what the church is proactively doing in our outreach to those in need. He thanked us profusely for that!
Remember the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ :"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Do you have a testimony from this time that you would like to share with me or with the parish family? Email me at pastor@stanm.org. Let us support and encourage one another!
---------------------------------------------------
GOD BLESS YOU PARENTS: Often people, with good intention, say to me "Oh Monsignor. You priests make such sacrifices!" Well, that's very kind, but I know it's not true. The people who make great sacrifices are parents.
And if your kids are still at home, you are being asked to make extra-big sacrifices right now. The younger kids are scared at all the news and their schedule being disrupted. The older kids are being snarky about being cooped up at home and not being able to do things with their friends. You are trying to look after them while you still have to go to work, or are trying to work from home.Even with the best "on-line" learning being provided by your child's school, every parent is suddenly become a "home-schooler". It's a whole can of unexpected worms. And it will go on for at least another month. Good heavens!
First of all, know that your pastor is praying for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom to know how to deal with your children in these trying times. Pray for your kids. They are as confused and fearful as the rest of us - maybe even more so.
Now I am the last person to give you first-hand advise on raising kids! I have only a kid sister, who is only 19 months younger than me, so I didn't even grow up with really younger children around me! But in my 38 years as a priest, I've seen a lot of families operate. I guess I would like to share just two observations:
1. Pray together as a family. Have set times for morning and evening prayers, and do your best to stick to it. Without starting World War III, do your best to encourage the teen-age kids (and adult kids you have at home) to join in. Let these two times be the anchors of your day as a family - a few minutes of faith, unity, and peace.
2. Have a schedule for the day. The last thing we want are the kids sitting around all day in their pajamas, playing video games and getting into who-knows-what sort of trouble with unsupervised nonsense on the Internet. I realize this schedule will be different for everyone. But their needs to be time for study, and time for the kids to go outside, get fresh air and sunshine, and work off some of their energy. Try really hard to have at least one meal a day together as a family, with everyone sitting around the table and the TV off.
Oh - and a personal suggestion. Tell everyone to make their bed when they get up. Don't ask me why this is important, but it is. Somehow it starts the day "rightly-ordered".. When I go to another rectory and see that a priest doesn't make his bed, I have a feeling that something is wrong. I know, it's goofy, but I think it's true. Just a suggestion.
I found this article about having your kids at home and how to teach them which you might want to read :https://www.ncregister.com/blog/guest-blogger/advice-and-5-tips-for-teaching-kids-at-home-from-a-veteran-homeschool-mom
I see how good can come out of this situation. Perhaps we can learn how to pray together as a family. Perhaps we can rediscover the art of conversation with our loved ones. Perhaps our families will grow stronger through all this. And that is good news, because everything in our Church and our society rests on the strength of our families.
Anyhow, please know that you pastor is thinking of you and praying for you in these hard times. I know you are all doing your best! May our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph pray for you, and guide you in your important vocation as parents during these unusual days!
---------------------------------------------------
THE HOLY MASS is being offered by Fr. McKee and me each day at 9 am. You can watch it on the website any time during the day. I am offering the Holy Mass each day for the intentions of our fellow-parishioners. Unite yourself in your heart to the divine mystery of the Holy Mass. Sorry for any technical glitches. We are doing this off my I-Pad !
---------------------------------------------------
HOLY HOUR is being aired every night on our website and app at 6 pm from the rectory chapel, being lead by Fr. McKee. Join in adoring the Holy Eucharist, and praying the Holy Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
---------------------------------------------------
CONFESSIONS are being heard each evening, Monday through Saturday, in the church at 5:30 pm. The priest will remain until the last person in line has confessed. Friends, what this means is that if you want to go to Confession, show up at 5:30 pm. The priest will hear the confessions of those people in line. He will then go home. If you can never make it at 5:30 pm, give a call to the parish office and we can set up a special time for you.
We are using the Adoration Chapel for Confessions. This is working out very well.Please follow the directions on the sign.
Also, remember what the Pope said a few days ago:
"I know that many of you go to confession before Easter… Many will say to me: ‘But Father…I can’t leave the house and I want to make my peace with the Lord. I want Him to embrace me… How can I do that unless I find a priest?’
Do what the catechism says. It’s very clear. If you can't go to a priest to go to confession, speak to God. He’s your Father. Tell Him the truth: ‘Lord. I did this and this and this. Pardon me.’ Ask His forgiveness with all your heart with an act of contrition, and promise Him, ‘afterward I will go to confession.’
You will return to God’s grace immediately. You yourself can draw near, as the Catechism teaches us, to God’s forgiveness, without having a priest at hand."
---------------------------------------------------
THE CHURCH is open from 7 am to 7 pm. Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is present in the Tabernacle. Our parish staff is disinfecting the church three times a day.
HOLY WATER AND BLESSED SALT are available in the back of the church. These are two very powerful sacramentals that we can use to protect ourselves and our homes. Traditionally we sprinkle our homes with the holy water, and sprinkle the blessed salt around our property. Please take what you need (bring your own container for the holy water. The blessed salt is pre-packaged.
The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and 24 Hour Adoration has been suspended for the duration of the emergency.
CARE CALL: Reaching out to our parish family with phone calls of concern and prayer. If you would like to volunteer for this, please email your name, phone number, and email address to viana.sikes@stanm.org
CARE KITS: Taking essential household goods and food to those who have no way to leave their house: If you would like to volunteer for Care Kits, please email your name, phone number, and email address to frank.smith@stanm.org (Please: no one over 60 or with serious health problems should volunteer for this ministry.
If you need a Care Kit, please call the parish Office at 892-1511. Please give this number to people you know who might need a Care Kit.
---------------------------------------------------
THE PARISH OFFICE and the ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY are open, but not for walk-in traffic. Please call on the telephone first.
---------------------------------------------------
YOUR TITHING : Friends, for those of you who are able to support the parish, we are really going to need your tithes and offerings at this time. The best way to do this is on-line: Go to the parish website stanm.org and click on the "Three Ways To Give" button. You can use your credit card or checking account, and you can set it up for a one-time gift or a reoccurring donation. If you can't do that, mail it to the parish office.
---------------------------------------------------
Father Young is has a little chest congestion, but is basically OK, and is helping with confessions. Fr. McKee is fine, but will be in self-isolation. Everyone else is fine.
---------------------------------------------------
CHATTING WITH THE PASTOR: We thought that it might be good to do a weekly 20 minute video of me answering questions you may have at this time. If there is interest, I'm happy to do it. Please email any questions you may have to Deacon Ed at ed.leyba@stanm.org. We will let you know when the video will air.
---------------------------------------------------
WONDERFUL FREE PRAYER RESOURCES :
The Magnificat: the prayers and readings of daily Mass, and a simplified form of Morning and Evening Prayer : https://us.magnificat.net/free
Live-Streamed Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament : from the chapel of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit: http://savior.org/
---------------------------------------------------
SPIRITUALLY ADOPT A PERSON WHO IS DYING ALONE : This is really on my heart, friends. These coronavirus victims in the ICU units are dying alone. No family and loved ones, no priest and sacraments. Often, I am afraid, little or no knowledge of God or faith in His love for them. Just facing death terribly alone.
It's real simple: Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Then say to our Heavenly Father words to this effect: " Dear God, I offer up this Chaplet for that person whom You know is at this time dying alone."
I think this is a great work of mercy, much needed at this time!
---------------------------------------------------
Prayer, dear friends, prayer!
Remember, Christians are to set the best example in following the directions of our civil and public health officials.
In all of this let us in a dark world be bright lights of Christian patience, service to others, cheerfulness, and Christ-like love.
---------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE NUMBERS ! EMAIL ADDRESSES ! There is a lot of ministry going on in this parish right now, and we want to minister to each person in our parish. But I need your working current phone number. Many of you registered with a land-line, then got cell phones and dropped your land-line without telling us. Please, if you have not received a phone call from the parish in the last week, please email your name and phone number to viana.sikes@stanm.org Help others, especially the elderly who do not have the Internet, to get their phone numbers to us!
Also, I keep on talking to parishioners who have no idea that we have a website, daily email, on-line services, and so forth. Please - when you talk to parishioners, ask them if they are getting my emails. If not, encourage them to right away go to our website, stanm.org and sign up for our emails and download our parish app.
This is the only way we have to directly minister to people right now, and I do not want any of our parishioners to be missing out on the spiritual resources their parish has to offer them to get through these difficult times!
---------------------------------------------------
Our Prayer for the Day: A Prayer to our Lord in His Passion :
I beseech you, most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, grant that your Passion may be to me a power by which I may be strengthened, protected, and defended. May your wounds be to me food and drink, by which I may be nourished and overjoyed. May the sprinkling of your Blood be to me an ablution for all my sins. May your death prove to me life everlasting, and your cross be to me an eternal glory. In these be my refreshment, my joy, my preservation, and sweetness of heart. Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.
I send you my fatherly blessing, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Msgr. Doug Raun
Posted in Daily Memo from Msgr. Raun
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