Dear Fellow Parishioners, I have moved from “numb” to “listening.” Since George Floyd was murdered, protests began and our racism has fully been exposed, I realize that listening to each other’s stories and listening to our hearts is the only way we can restore our humanity as a nation.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, We are open, and I am so very thankful that we started with no problems with following and respecting the procedures we set in place. I wish to thank those who have come forward to as ushers and greeters. They have the added responsibility of cleaning and disinfecting the pews, bathrooms and door handles before the next Mass takes place. Our plan is to continue with two Masses, one at 4:00 P.M. on Saturday and continue with the 8:30 A.M. on Sunday for three weeks; now until June 6 and 7. We will then evaluate the need for the two Masses and decide our practice for the next phase.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Our safety, health and patience are most important as we tread carefully to begin joining together as a community of faith in the weeks ahead. Guidelines have been prepared for us by state and Diocesan Officials. It is up to us on the local level to follow them as our facilities and staffing allow. It takes time to ready the church; making sure everything is clean and the pews are marked so people can be directed where to be seated. Even though the directives state we can open at 40% of our capacity, that number does not at all allow for proper social distancing. We will only be able to safely accommodate 20-25% of our seating capacity.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, I wish to thank all our Parish Life Teams for continuing their work throughout this pandemic and working through Zoom meetings and e-mails to help keep things up and running. Our parish staff continues to work to make sure everything happens like clockwork without a hitch. How pleased I am when we seek ministers to serve at live-stream Masses, directing traffic on Mother’s Day, helping with flowers, whatever the need, there is always a willingness to serve. Rob and Gina Russell and Steve Chaplin have not missed one live stream Mass and have volunteered their services throughout this time.
Happy Easter and Happy Mother’s Day! I guess this will be a Mother’s Day to remember. How I always looked forward to inviting all the mothers to come forward to receive a blessing from the community. On this Mother’s Day, we will send the blessing over the live stream and then have a drive thru blessing from 10-11:00 A.M. Motherhood has become an all consuming “adventure” with the added responsibilities of nurse, teacher, short-order cook throughout the day, pandemic rules enforcer, entertainer, peacekeeper, barber - truly a Jackie of all trades! That is why I am reminding everyone that this is the beginning of Mother’s Day WEEK!
Happy Mother’s Day! Got your attention didn’t I? I know Mother’s Day is not until May 10th, however it has been our tradition in our Catholic Community of Sacred Heart to give all of our mothers a special blessing at the beginning of Mother’s Day WEEK! So, here’s the plan so you can prepare.
Happy Easter everyone! I am missing everyone so very much. Celebrating Mass in an empty church is so foreign; I thought I would get used to it, but there is nothing like being in common-union with each other. This week we will hear the Gospel of the Road to Emmaus. The closing line speaks of exactly why we gather together as Catholics; “He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread!”
Happy Easter Everyone! I am hoping that everyone had a spiritually uplifting Lent 2020. Together we had an opportunity to “Be Open” to the Spirit, to Listen, to Living Waters, to See, to Believe and even be open to Death. I am sure this was just a part of your spiritual growth and development during this Lenten Season. I am encouraging you to look back at the journey and highlight the positives of your journey and the negatives that brought challenge. If need be, you can return to any of the Sunday Homilies on these topics to refresh, renew or restart the spiritual growth begun as a community of faith.
Happy Easter Everyone! We are live streaming the Triduum Services each night at 7:30 P.M. Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. I wish to thank everyone who came forward to assist with these services. Because most of these volunteers are involved in ministry every one of these evenings, I will ask you to celebrate this Easter Sunday by watching the Easter Vigil if you did not join us Saturday night or can live stream Bishop McManus at the cathedral at 10AM - https://worcesterdiocese.org/holy-week-livestreams, so that those who have so graciously have given their time all week can spend Easter Sunday with their families.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Here’s the plan for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. We are trying to connect while social distancing and provide limited exposure. The plan may change as the week unfolds but this is what we have decided to do:
Dear Fellow Parishioners; Several people have asked how I am doing celebrating Sunday Mass in an empty church; looking at empty pews. Several have suggested adding a tape of parishioners talking, coughing and other familiar distractions. Pam texted me Sunday afternoon to remind me that I was supposed to wear pink vestments for the 4th Sunday of Lent. Ooops! It is very different from all the 40+ years of my priesthood to be celebrating Mass with congregation that is unseen. However, as I posted last week, your feed back regarding Mass helps to know that the flock is appreciative of our efforts to continue to keep Holy the Sabbath and to be nourished and nurtured by the Word of God.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, “What a difference a day makes!” Well, these days we need up to the second information regarding our journey together, or apart by at least six feet during this pandemic. Little did we know Lent of 2020 would really be an invitation into solitude and an opportunity to “Be Open” to the many ways God is speaking to us and giving us the space to declutter our schedules so we can really pay attention.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Be Open! And what a challenge that call is for us as we are faced with that which we have planned as a parish, that which the Diocese expects of us, and along comes the coronavirus, aka Covid19. It helps me to step back and look at what is happening; to put some order and perspective to what is happening. Here are my thoughts. I hope this perspective helps.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Our Lenten journey is enhanced by all our senses as we gather during this 40-day communal desert experience. It starts as we enter the church and reach into the holy water font. The pebbles remind us that we in the dryness of the desert; we need to thirst for a deeper relationship with God and deepen our spiritual selves. The absence of candles reminds us that without the light of Christ we stumble in the darkness of sin.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, “Be Open;” the challenge for us this Lenten season is before us! “Be Open to be led by the Spirit,” “Be Open To Listen;” “Be Open to living water,” “Be Open to see,” Be Open to Believe,” “Be Open to death,” “Be Open to New Life!”
Dear Fellow Parishioners, In Haiti, lots of preparation and effort goes int a huge week-long celebration of Mari Gras. There is lots of music and dancing as they make ready for the Lenten journey. The celebration is said to be necessary because the Haitian lifestyle is like a continuous Lenten journey. There is constant prayer - that lives will improve in some way, for the sick, and for work to support their families. Fasting for many is simply part of their existence; most people survive on one meal a day. Acts of charity abound when, just like here, someone is in need, others come to the rescue. A spirit of sharing is part of the culture so that no one is left behind.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Hopefully you have noticed that the Partners in Charity banners are placed at the front and rear entrances of the church as well as the bulletin insert for the annual campaign that supports all the ministries and charities we perform as Catholics in our Diocese. This weekend we will watch the campaign video reminding us all of the work that is accomplished when each of our parishes join as Partners in Charity and how we make a difference in Worcester County by doing so.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Many questions arise in my heart as I continue to journey with you here at Sacred Heart. One that I have right now is: “How do we form community as a parish today?” There have been many different ways that people came together in the past; Men’s Leagues, Women’s Clubs, League of Catholic Men (Women), Couples Clubs, and most recently our family gatherings at Chicken BBQ’s, Italian Night, Harvest Fest.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Many people have commented on how pleased they are that I am reviewing the sacraments and how important it is to be rooted in the sacraments. It was great to know that the children going to “Kids chapel” knew that there were seven sacraments and remembered which ones they had received so far at their ages. Our faith is rooted and nourished by “Word” and “Sacrament.” Therefore, ritual and sacramentals are so important for us as Catholics. The very definition of sacrament brings to light all the senses that come to us from the sacraments “An outward sign” reminds us that sight, sound, touch, taste, smell is all included in the outpouring of God’s grace into our lives.
Dear Fellow Parishioners, The Beatification of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen has been in the news lately. Many of the older folks (not me) will remember his TV series “Life is Worth Living.” The program explained the Catholic Faith and viewers were able to submit questions about Catholic faith, theology, spirituality and more. The show enabled Catholics to deepen their understanding of their Catholic Faith and at the same time many non-Catholics joined our faith because of the program which was on ABC stations.