Several people have asked why I continue to wear my mask at communion. I wear it to protect you! Every Wednesday I bring communion to Countryside Nursing Home and Blair House, visit our parishioners in the hospital, including patients in ICU, and the Emergency room. At Countryside I get my weekly Covid-19 rapid test before I visit individuals. In any of my visits I could be exposed to Covid-19 and so I wear a mask at Communion just in case I am asymptomatic. I do not want to expose anyone to this virus when we are in such close quarters during communion.
We are making plans to celebrate the Seder after the 4:00p Mass Palm Sunday eve (April 9th). In trying to keep everyone safe we will socially distance, limit our numbers, and try to limit our time together by celebrating the Seder ritual only, and holding off on lengthening our time together by sharing a catered meal. We are trying to keep everyone safe and not lose this wonderful spiritual tradition as part of our Holy Week observance. An E-vite has been sent to everyone by e-mail. If you missed it and would like to attend, please call the office.
The pandemic restrictions are slowly lifting. I am still remembering the Holy Week I celebrated in an empty church. Talk about making adjustments. I took the time to go back to my journal from that week and reflect upon my experience. I realized how isolated I felt and wondered how isolated everyone else must have felt while watching the services. Never as a priest did, I ever think these would be the circumstances. This year we will be able to gather for our Holy Week services. If you have never attended, please consider coming as we take time to ritualize the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
I thank you all for your contributions to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. The total donated these past two weeks is $4,340.00 Fr. Bill