Memo from Msgr. Raun - Tuesday, August 4, 2020

My dear family,
Greetings in the Lord Jesus!
WAYS THAT COVID SHOWS HOW DESPERATLY THE WORLD NEEDS GOD


Only God Can Give Us the Peace We Need
We are an anxious, fearful, and worrisome species. It’s natural for us to worry when we can’t see a clear or prosperous future. Yet, Scripture tells us “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

If you’re trying to figure all this out, or create your own sense of peace and serenity, you’re fighting an uphill battle.

Only God can give you and me the peace that comes from knowing this did not take Him by surprise. He is sovereign. And when all seems out of control, we can not only look to, but rest in, the Only One who really is in control.

EUCHARISTIC EXPOSITION TO RESUME : On our next First Friday, August 7th, we will expose the Blessed Sacrament in the church for Adoration from 10 am to 6 pm, concluding with Benediction before the 6 pm Mass.

We will see the response to this time of Adoration, and off of that make decisions about future expansion of times for Exposition. Of course our ultimate goal is to resume 24 hour Eucharistic Adoration when conditions permit.

OUR ON-LINE HOLY HOUR did a great service at the beginning of the pandemic, when many found it impossible to come to church to adore the Blessed Sacrament. But now the church is open for all who wish to come adore, and we are resuming Exposition this Friday. Thus, understandably, the number of people watching the on-line Holy Hour have fallen sharply. To broadcast it every day takes up much time and effort for our parish communications team. Therefore, this Wednesday, August 5th, will be our last on-line Holy Hour. I want to especially thank Fr. McKee, who so faithfully provided the Holy Hour for us.

PRAISE REPORT: We continue to provide Care Kits for those in need. Deacon Frank Smith shared this moving message with me: This beautiful letter came in from an elderly couple (both age 78) last week:

“Walt and I received our gift groceries and we never have been so thankful. We were so surprised about the large amounts and the wonderful assortment. I have enclosed a donation to your wonderful work. Thank you so much.”

(Since green beans, a regular item, have been unavailable, I have added a few perishables to the deliveries: milk, bread, eggs, potatoes, apples, and oranges, and the goodie bag from St Vincent de Paul. The recipients love it!)

The Care Kits are provided , free of charge, to anyone who is not able or does not feel safe going shopping. They are made possible by your generous donations. If you need a Care Kit, or know someone who does, just call the parish office. (892-1511).

Many thanks to Deacon Frank and his Care Kit team for the wonderful work they do!

MONDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY : For the month of August, Fr. McKee will be teaching on the 4th (and I think, most beautiful) section of the Catechism : Prayer. These teaching will unlock the meaning of this precious gift. Every Monday night at 7 pm - you can view it on the website or the parish app. They will also be saved so that you can watch it later in the week.

COMMUNION OUTSIDE AFTER THE 9 AM SUNDAY MASS has been a success. We have about 20 people listening to Mass on their car radio, and then receiving Communion outside. As of this Sunday, we are moving the location to outside the doors of Fr. D'Arco parish Hall. Two reasons for this: it is easier for the disabled to reach, and there is less traffic in that location.

CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION will resume this Fall. It's going to be a trick. We just received guidance from the Archdiocese about this, and right now we are figuring out how this will happen. The safety of our kids is a major concern! Right now, I can say:

THE SCHOOL: Will open next week on-line only for the month of August. We hope to start in-person in September, but we will have to wait and see what the situation will be. No matter what, on-line will be offered for those parents who do not feel comfortable sending their children to in-person.

CATACHISM AND YOUTH: will resume in September. We will offer all programs on-line, and depending on the situation, will also offer in-person classes as soon as practicable.

In all this, we will be following the guidelines of the State and the Archdiocese: 25% capacity of classrooms, social distancing, frequent disinfection of facilities, etc. It is all very complicated! It will require much more work for our staff and volunteers. But we are working on it. More details will be shared in the weeks to come as we figure it all out.

But no matter what, it is of the greatest importance that all of our children and youth continue their religious education. Parents and godparents - remember the promise you made at your child's baptism! A strong and informed Faith is needed now more than ever. For the sake of our children's souls, we cannot afford to lose a generation of Christians.

You can register for all programs (including First Confession, First Communion, and Confirmation) on our parish website : stanm.org

PLEASE PRAY FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI : Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is “suffering from a painful disease,” the Vatican has reported. Pope Benedict’s personal secretary Archbishop George Ganswein said “the health conditions of the pope emeritus are not of particular concern, except for those of a 93-year-old who is going through the most acute phase of a painful, but not serious, disease.”

Benedict’s biographer Peter Seewald met the pope emeritus at his home in the Mater Ecclesia monastery in Vatican City on Aug. 1. Seewald said after Benedict visited his brother in Germany in June, the pope has been “very frail” and his voice “barely audible.” However, he added that the pope remains in good spirits.

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. 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.

Communion outside the doors of the Religious Education Building is distributed after the Sunday 9 am Mass for those who do not yet feel comfortable going inside the church.

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
“A soul does not benefit as it should from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble.
Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor is it willing, to probe with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery.” (St. Faustina)

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE:
Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet!
I don't trip over things; I do random gravity checks!
I don't need anger management. I need people to stop making me angry!!!

OUR PRAYER FOR THE DAY: Today is the feast of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests. Blessings to Fr. Mansfield and all the parishioners of our daughter parish of St. John Vianney! This is a prayer written by St. John.....

I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until the last breath of my life.
I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You.

I love You, Lord and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally...
My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.

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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