My beloved sisters and
brothers,
I wish you the peace and
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I celebrated the Sunday
Mass and remembered all of you at the altar of the Lord. But it was very
different. In my nearly 22 years of priesthood I have never felt this kind of
emptiness and sadness at my Sunday Mass. Yet I want you to know I prayed for
you and offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for you all at this difficult
time.
Pope Francis told his virtual audience that “in the
present situation, in which we find ourselves living more or less isolated, we
are invited to rediscover and deepen the value of the communion that unites all
the members of the church.” He reminded that, “united to Christ we are never
alone, we form one body, of which he is the head.” He explained that “it is a
union that is nourished with prayer, and with spiritual communion in the
Eucharist, a practice that is much recommended when it is not possible to
receive the sacrament. I say this to everyone, and especially to those living
alone.”
Apostle Paul
says it well, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.Then
the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
What remains most
essential is our Christ-centered unity in witness to God’s unconditional love,
enduring grace and power to save. During this time, I invite you to
be bold and courageous while remaining smart and careful. While we
deal with interruptions to our community and sacramental gatherings, let us not
lose sight of our responsibility to the poor, the vulnerable, the lonely, the
elderly, the sick and the dying.
Those over age 60 should
be especially cautious during this time of “social
distancing.” Please do call each other to support and tell them we
are a family. Your patience, understanding, solidarity and, most especially,
prayers, are greatly appreciated.
Be assured of my prayers
for you. I invoke God’s blessings upon you, and may God protect you. I entrust
you to the care of our Blessed Mother and her spouse, St. Joseph. Be safe.
Jesus loves you
Fr. Benny