First Communions and Confirmations are all completed for this calendar year. Normally the sacraments are celebrated during the Easter Season, but we were challenged by the pandemic. Still, the sacramental grace flowed, and we are so pleased to welcome our young people to the table of the bread and congratulate our confirmandi who completed their Sacraments of Initiation.
We began gathering for Mass at the end of May, following the seven pages of directives created by the Catholic Dioceses in Massachusetts along with guidance from the civil authorities in our Commonwealth. We have made every attempt to follow the directives. I am so pleased that everyone coming to church since we began gathering have fully cooperated and understood the necessity of keeping everyone safe and healthy.
Many of our ministers are in the “high-risk” category and we have asked others to come forward to assist especially with A/V and live streaming. Several people came forward to ensure that we can continue to worship in person and from a distance. I am so grateful.
A sincere thank you to all the catechists who shared their faith throughout the year, and then were challenged to do so virtually as everything closed. How proud I am of the parents who encouraged their children to receive their sacraments and emphasize the importance of keeping Holy the Sabbath by coming to Mass each weekend. Now more than ever our faith is the stronghold that assists us in recognizing the presence of God during the pandemic, turmoil, and unrest in our nation.
Presently, we are considering various ways we will be able to provide Faith Formation in the fall. There are so many unknowns, and again we want everyone to be protected, healthy, safe and most of all sane! I ask everyone to be open and flexible as the days unfold and we try to navigate unchartered waters.
On a personal note, I have come to realize the importance of touch. The absence of it is a real challenge. It is so difficult to comfort, mourn and grieve with people who have lost loved ones, blessing the children who come forward with their parents at communion time, greeting people at the door or saying goodbye as people are dismissed. The laying on of hands is essential to sacramental ministry. I do my best to make sure my mask is on correctly, and even though our sanctuary has no stairs I sometimes worry I am going to tumble when my mask hides the next step I take. Like all of you, I wish to make sure that all of us are as safe and healthy as possible as the Catholic Community of Sacred Heart!