This weekend we welcome into our faith, Mike Collins and Stephanie Pansch. Since both are already baptized Christians, they will make their profession of faith, be confirmed, and receive Eucharist for the first time in the Catholic Church. Originally, both were scheduled to be received during the Easter Vigil back in April, but due to the “shelter in place” restrictions it had to be postponed. Permission was recently granted by the bishop to proceed with the initiation. Pentecost seemed to be the perfect day to celebrate this coming of the Holy Spirit. It was on this day that the power of the Holy Spirit entered the hearts of the Apostles and not only gave them understanding, but courage to proclaim the good news by their words and deeds. The Acts of the Apostles states that on the day of Pentecost over 3,000 people were added to the number of believers. Mike and Stephanie continue that tradition as they profess their faith and receive that empowerment of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. Since it is not possible to celebrate in the context of a gathering of the parish, we will do so at our weekend Mass that will be livestreamed. In the near future, we will have two more to be initiated. Neither of them has been baptized so their initiation will include baptism, as well as confirmation and Eucharist. In the meantime I ask you keep them all in your prayers as they enter the Catholic faith and the Blessed Sacrament community.
One thing worth noting by this celebration is that despite the precautions and restrictions placed on our worship by the pandemic, the church continues to grow. It reminds us that this growth is not simply what we do, but rather what God does. He is the primary cause for its growth. The present situation presents challenges, but cannot and will not stop the faith from spreading. The message of Christ finds a place in the hearts of those searching for a deeper meaning of life. This is good news. It is encouraging to see that God is still opening the hearts of the faithful to hear the Word and to act. Do we hear God’s word in these unusual times? Have we seen the works of His hand? God is still doing remarkable things in our midst.
People want to hear the Gospel. People want to be inspired by spirit-filled people whose hearts are on fire. The church needs people who act selflessly and generously in the face of difficult obstacles. The Feast of Pentecost reminds us that you and I are called to be these witnesses.
May the Spirit live in your heart today.
Father Jeff
This past Sunday we began a process of resuming public worship by holding communion services throughout the diocese. It is the first step that will eventually lead to the opening of churches for Mass. Here at Blessed Sacrament we offered communion from 9:30 to 10:30 am and again from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Despite the rain, we had around 240 people come to receive communion. Everyone brought masks and observed the rules of social distancing. Ushers were in place to help direct traffic and hand out umbrellas while people waited for their turn. They approached the entrance to the school in small groups where they were greeted by the priest and led in a short prayer service. They received communion and closed with a prayer and blessing. It took about five minutes. Another group then approached and the service was repeated. For the most part everything seemed to run smoothly. We plan to do it the same way this coming weekend. The times will remain the same (9:30 am to 10:30 am and 11:30 am to 12:30pm.) My hope is that in a few weeks we will be able to attend Mass in the church. I know that most of us certainly look forward to that time.
Sometimes we don’t know what we have until it is no longer there. Celebration of Mass, reception of the sacraments are things that too many of us took for granted. Suddenly they were not there and many began to realize something important was missing. This loss even brought some to tears. I remember the same thing when I was at the refugee camp in Africa. Because of violence and unrest, many had not been able to attend Mass or receive sacraments for quite some time. When they could finally go again, their response was not anger, but tears of joy. Maybe this pandemic will give us a new appreciation of what Jesus has given us. Jesus is not something we can take when we decide we want him. He is a gift. We neither deserve nor earn him. Letting Jesus control our lives can give us a new way of living in a world that we cannot control. It gives us a destination. It gives us someone to trust. If we find ourselves angry and upset at the things we cannot control, now would be the time to renew that surrender to Christ.
As the church struggles to get back to “normal”, this would be a good time to re-examine the treasures of our faith. Do we appreciate the word of God and listen to it regularly? Do we cherish the sacraments and receive them frequently? Do we see the needs of others and respond generously? For these are gifts from God to bring us peace of heart. The day may come when we are unable to find these gifts. Instead we will see unhappiness, frustration, and anger. Please don’t wait until then. It may be too late. Now is the time to seek God’s peace.
Father Jeffery Grant
I am happy to announce that, beginning this weekend, parishioners will be able to resume receiving communion. This is our first step in a process which we hope will soon make public Mass possible. Sacraments (especially Eucharist) are an important part of our faith life and as the community begins to reopen this first step will allow for this reception of Christ in Holy Communion.
Having said this, I want to make sure it is done in a safe and reverent way. The current crisis is far from over and therefore how we do this will not be “business as usual.” After consulting both medical and religious experts, there is agreement that this crisis presents a serious threat to the lives of many. As Catholics who are called to respect all human life, act responsibly in the manner you conduct yourself. First, keep in mind that you have a general dispensation from attending Mass and receiving communion until further notice. Therefore, if you are not feeling well or you have health issues that put you or others at risk, please stay home. A spiritual communion is valid and has been long recognized as the means of communicating when one does not have access to the Eucharist. No mortal sin is committed if you decide it is best for you or your family not to attend.
Please note that the priest, deacon, or minister will be masked while giving out the sacrament and will follow strict hand sanitation to help keep everyone safe. The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) advises that receiving in the hand is the safest way to receive communion. The medical community is for the most part in agreement. Our local epidemiologist told me the highest concentration of coronaviruses is found in the saliva. Therefore, for the time being, I ask you receive in the hand.
As your pastor, my concern is to distribute communion in a safe and reverent manner. We will evaluate after Sunday and continue to consult with those who are most knowledgeable in these areas. As things improve, hopefully we will see another step when we can gather in church for Mass. From all indicators, I am sure this will be a gradual process that will take time.
I am grateful for the patience and perseverance that so many of you have shown during this challenging time. I am also well pleased by the stories I hear of parishioners who have sacrificed to help others. This is the type of charity Christ calls us to do. I encourage all to practice charity to your neighbor as well as pray for the sick, their caregivers, those out of work, and all affected by this pandemic. I also encourage you to worship with us by watching the parish Mass on our website. Come to communion if you are able and above all, keep safe. Your health and the health of others is a gift from God. Treat it with the utmost respect. Please know you are in my prayers as we go through these challenging times together.
Yours in Christ, Father Jeffery Grant
Be happy. Be healthy. Be holy. Someone asked me about this little phrase that I have used when talking to parishioners at the end of Mass. “It sounds a little sugary, Father, considering the problems we face.” I certainly don’t mean it that way. I really mean it as a wish and prayer for each parishioner during these difficult times.
Be happy. It is hard to be happy when the future seems uncertain. We have lost many things. We cannot go out to eat. We cannot go to the barber or beauty shop. We cannot easily travel or take a vacation. We cannot go to Mass. There are many things we have lost and if we focus on that, I can guarantee we will be unhappy. But I also know that when Jesus was crucified, the disciples were unhappy. They had lost the most important thing in their lives—or so they thought. When he rose from the dead, they began to realize he had never left them. He was very much alive and their joy became something no one could take from them. That is the kind of happiness I want you to have. I want those who are worried and unhappy to discover that.
Be healthy. Sometimes we get tired of taking care of ourselves, let alone the lives of others. However, one of the greatest gifts God gives us is our body. As Christians we believe this body will rise on the last day. You cannot separate it from our soul. Reckless behavior that damages our bodies is immoral and indifferent behavior that puts others needlessly at risk is also immoral. The danger of the coronavirus is that there is yet no vaccine to protect us. All we have are pro-active measures to help prevent it from spreading. My prayer is that each of us may receive the physical and emotional stamina to do what it takes.
Be holy. Some say self-preservation is the strongest instinct we possess. When push comes to shove, it is natural to choose oneself. However, it is not always the case. Humans are known to make sacrifices for those they love. Jesus died on the cross because his love for us was greater than the debt of our sins. Holiness is based on this love. It is selfless rather than selfish. Holiness is not about praying or studying scripture or theology as much as it is about giving of ourselves. My prayer is that we will never grow tired of giving—even when we think we have run out of things to give.
We face difficult times. People’s health is at risk. The fragile economy was not as strong as we thought. Unemployment is high. Emotions are raw. It seems we have lost many things. Yet, Jesus is still alive. We have not lost him. We are tired. We need strength so as not succumb to the physical or spiritual symptoms of the coronavirus. This disease has the power to kill not just the body but the soul as well. Finally we have the opportunity to shine as true disciples of Jesus. Gold is tested in the fire. Living a life of trust, charity, patience, and self-sacrifice in difficult times is the sign of true holiness. So my prayer for each of you remains: Be happy. Be healthy. Be holy.