Memo from Msgr. Raun - Tuesday, August 18th, 2020
| My dear family, Greetings in the Lord Jesus! WAYS THAT COVID SHOWS HOW DESPERATELY THE WORLD NEEDS GOD Only God Can Lead in a Mess Like This Well, it seems that a lot of people are angry with one government official or another nowadays! Truthfully, only God has the answers, only He can govern our hearts and our world in truth and justice. Only God can get us out of this mess or guide us through it. We’ve grown accustomed to doing our own thing and when the government says “shelter in place,” “keep a 6-foot distance” and “wear a face covering” it flies in the face of what we feel are “our rights.” We either mistrust leadership altogether, believing this is a plot to strip us of our personal rights, or we follow blindly thinking because someone is in a position of authority, they know best for us. Jesus’ heart broke as He saw humans “confused and helpless like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Just like the people of Jesus’ day, we are confused and helpless during this time, willing to follow whoever offers a chance of hope. Never have we needed to listen for God’s voice as much as we do now. God, what are you saying to the church during this time? God, what are You wanting us to do differently so that we can shine Your light in this darkness? God, when do we listen to You and not the government? And when do we submit to our leaders and be an example of good citizenship? We need discernment. We need clarity in a time that can be confusing and fearful. We need the truth. We need Jesus, who said “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). On that subject, I give you the EVERY FOUR YEAR REMINDER : It is a general election year. It seems that some people at this time suffer from a type of temporary insanity. As a pastor, the weaker part of me would like to go hide in the hills until after the election. So, I remind everyone: - The Church does not endorse political parties. - The Church does not endorse political candidates. - The Church does endorse policy positions. - The Church encourages all of us, as Catholic Christians, to be good citizens and to exercise our right to vote. Our choices in voting should be guided by the moral teaching of the Word of God, as rightly taught by the Church. Church property is private property. Ultimately, it belongs to God, and for better or for worst, He has placed me as His steward of this parish. So, no one has my permission to put political signs on our property. No one has my permission to distribute political propaganda on this parish's property - including on the windshields of cars. I'm told that the little strip of land between Sara Rd. and the sidewalk in front of the church is public property, so I can't forbid signs going up there. However, it is my heartfelt desire that no one put them up. When they do put signs there, I get all these nasty phone calls: "How dare the Church endorse that #@!%#@!" I do not forbid people wearing political buttons, shirts, hats, etc. from church, but I really wish everyone would leave that stuff at home when coming to Mass. We are blessed to live in a great free and democratic nation. We may agree or disagree over politics all we want. But nothing excuses a Christian from the law of charity towards others. IF YOU ARE UNDER 60 YEARS OLD, the parish really does need your help right now as an usher or a Eucharistic Minister. This past Sunday we were blessed with a thousand people coming to Mass. But this was made possible by a handful of volunteers. One of our Eucharistic Ministers served at three Masses in a row and then went to give Holy Communion to the homebound. We are going to "burn out" these good people! So if you are under 60 - I really need you to think and pray about serving your parish. Just call the parish office (892-1511) and leave your name and number. We will find a place of ministry for you! FR. McKEE'S MONDAY NIGHT TEACHINS ON PRAYER have been going very well! Some of you have been wanting to send in questions for him to answer. That's wonderful! Please send them to https://www.stanm.org/prayer-questions 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 Fr. D'Arco Parish Hall 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 EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT : Monday through Friday, 10 am to 6 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 “From self-knowledge flows the stream of humility, which never seizes on mere report, nor takes offense at anything, but bears every insult, every loss of consolation, and every sorry, from whatever direction they may come, patiently, with joy.” (St. Catherine of Siena) LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE: These are "play on words". They are really clever, but you have to think about them. Sometimes it helps to say them out loud: A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail. A will is a dead giveaway. With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress. A boiled egg is hard to beat. OUR PRAYER FOR THE DAY: a prayer to our Blessed Mother assumed into Heaven, that we celebrated last Saturday... Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen. We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we offer you our devotion and love. We are confident that you watch over our daily efforts and needs, and we take comfort from the faith in the coming resurrection. We look to you, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary. 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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