Archangel Mikhail (1408) by Andrei Rublev (-1430). St Michael, God’s Protector in times of Malady (Public Domain)
With the spread of Coronavirus everything in our world has changed. This is also an unusual and unanticipated time for us as a Catholic parish. With the return of the celebration of Mass we can continue to nurture the spiritual hearts and souls of our parishioners.
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While QR coding and face-mask wearing have become relaxed, we continue to encourage you to wear a mask to all services.
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If you can be vaccinated please do so. Pope Francis has directed that the common good should be our guide in this matter.
Keep Praying
Health authorities encourage us to create space with others (“Social Distance”) and maybe even to isolate ourselves, if need be. This is a very difficult discipline, especially when we enjoy being with others. However, from a spiritual point-of-view, being alone can open a space for communion with God. There are so many helpful prayer resources for praying over the Mass readings. These are all accessible on our parish website. Click: “Prayer, Liturgy and Readings at Mass”. Check out these resources and spend time with them.
‘The Vatican has published Strong in the Face of Tribulation: The Church in Communion – a Sure Support in Time of Trial. This is a digital publication which contains a collection of prayers, intercessions and homilies from Pope Francis to help sustain our sense of communion amid the coronavirus pandemic. It is free to download here and will be updated regularly during the week as ancient and newer prayer resources are located. Return to the site regularly.”
“We are the World”
Finally, to offer something uplifting at a time when everything seems difficult, look at this YouTube video and the song “We are the World”. In 1985, musicians and singers came together to offer generously their talent to help address the famine that devastated parts of Africa. That song retains its relevance even more today as people and parishioners seek to know that they are not alone, but part of one family—the parish and the wider human and environmental community.