Memo from Msgr. Raun - Tuesday, July 7th, 2020
| My dear family, Greetings in the Lord Jesus! 5 Questions to Calm Your Fears as We Emerge from COVID-19 It seems as though this year has lasted forever, and we’ve barely passed the halfway point. So much uncertainty rules our lives in the face of COVID-19. And although some countries have emerged, or are in the process of emerging from the virus, many of us remain in the thick of the pandemic. Even as we approach a time we may be able to leave this virus in the past, many of us wonder what lies in store in our future. We may ponder questions such as, “What will the economy look like after this? Will we enter a major recession worldwide?” or “Do I have a secure job once this ends? Do I have pay cuts to look forward to and entire departments in my company disappearing?” or even “What will school look like in this next year for my son and daughter? Will they be safe in a classroom setting?” And of course, “Will we see a resurgence of this pandemic any time soon, and if so, will we be better prepared?” No doubt, we could spend our days coming up with anxious questions that boggle our minds about the future post-COVID-19. But do we have any questions we can ask that can assuage some of our fears? 1. How Has God Come through for Me in the Past? Not all of us keep prayer journals or a diary of our daily events, but we can all likely point back to some period of time in our lives where we worried about something. And God came through for us during that time, most often in a way in which we least expected it. Perhaps we worried about tithing at church because we didn’t even have enough to pay for groceries that week, and then a check arrived in the mail or a friend offered to purchase food for us for that week. Or maybe a family member experienced an illness or an injury, and God healed them. No matter what the case, we can likely identify dozens (if not hundreds), of instances where God came through for us in the past, especially when we feared for our future. The Bible says God does not change (Hebrews 13:8). If God remains the same, and he helped us in the past—of course he will come through for us in our future! Hope Bolinger Crosswalk.com ARCHBISHOP SHEEHAN'S BIRTHDAY IS THIS THURSDAY, July 9th. As many of you know, Archbishop Sheehan has been a great friend of our parish, and now that he is retired, has actually been our parishioner, living at Fairwinds Senior Living. This Thursday he turns 81. Well, of course the residents there are still in quarantine, but Thursday evening we are going to have a "drive-by" to wish him happy birthday. You can decorate your car with signs or balloons if you wish, but it's quite fine if you just come and honk and wave out of the window. We will meet at Fairwinds at 4:55 pm for a 5 pm drive-by. I know it would make him happy to see you! ANOTHER WAY TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION: It's come to my attention that we have some people who just don't feel comfortable yet coming into the church, but who wish to receive Holy Communion. So, starting this Sunday, at the end of the 9 am Mass, we will have a Eucharistic Minister go to the front of the Religious Education Building with the Blessed Sacrament to distribute Holy Communion outdoors. You can come to church at 9 am, listen to the Mass on your radio (106.5 FM), and then receive Holy Communion. We will see how many people respond to this in the next few weeks. I hope this allows more people to be able to receive our Lord. Remember, for anyone who is worried for health reasons about being present inside the church for the length of Mass that at any Sunday obligation Mass you can listen to the Mass in the parking lot on your radio, and then pop in to the end of the Communion line in church. OUR LORD STILL NEEDS SOME VOLUNTEERS: Just today I was told that we have nine home-bound people who want to receive Holy Communion, but no one under 60 has come forward to serve them as a Eucharistic Minister. If you are a practicing Catholic under 60 years of age, our Lord needs you and some of these nine people need you. Indeed, lots of ministries in the Church need you. HOW TO GO TO MASS: 1. All Masses - just show up. But remember that we have to close off the church when we reach 250 people in attendance. 2. Wear a mask. 3. Be prepared to receive Communion in the hand. IF WE REACH 250 PEOPLE AT A MASS, and a person arrives after that, they will be invited to come to another Mass, or they can go to their car and wait, and they will be allowed to join the Communion line at the end of Mass. Together with this, we are now broadcasting every Sunday Mass on our new low-wattage FM transmitter, at 106.5 FM. You can receive this signal from anyplace in the parking lot of the church. If you still do not feel comfortable going into the church for Mass, you can listen to it in your car and at the end of Mass come in to receive Holy Communion! CONFESSIONS: Weekdays: 8 am and 5 pm Saturday: 8 am and 2:30 pm BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES,SICK CALLS and FUNERALS are all taking place, albeit under the restrictions mandated by the Archbishop and the Governor. Just call the parish office and we will gladly help you with the preparations needed. PLEASE SHARE ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET! HOLINESS TIP : The Supernatural Power of Humility, According to the Saints “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.” (St. Augustine) LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE: my Dad sent me these !
OUR PRAYER FOR THE DAY: Fr. McKee sent me this prayer by St. John of the Cross O Blessed Jesus, grant me stillness of soul in Thee. Let Thy mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O thou King of gentleness, King of peace. Give me control, control over my words, thoughts and actions. From all irritability, want of meekness, want of gentleness, O dear Lord, deliver me. By thine own deep patience give me patience, stillness of soul in Thee. Make me in this, and in all, more and more like Thee. 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 |
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