I hope this note finds you well. It is hard to believe that we are approaching the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord this Thursday May 21st. Will forty days after Easter have passed already?! Please check the website for live-streaming opportunities especially this Thursday when we will not only be live-streaming Masses and 10 am and 7:30 pm for the feast, but will also be starting a special Novena to the Holy Spirit in anticipation of Pentecost Sunday on May 31st.
One one of the most popular and understandable questions these days is "
when will our churches be open for Mass and when will it be possible for the sacraments to be celebrated, especially with the homebound." Although no official changes to the current restrictions have been made, the Archdiocese of New York has been working on strategies for opening up our doors in response to the Governor's plan for slowly reopening New York State. No specific date has been given, but I anticipate that the Church will follow a phasing-in approach that could happen very soon. Most likely, we will start with opening for weekday Masses, baptisms, Memorial Masses, and weddings. As we acclimate, the next and final step will be Sunday Masses. Until that happens, please remember, that in danger of death, provisions can be made for a priest to come to celebrate the sacraments. For now, please remember what our Holy Father has shared with us, namely, that we are able to receive our Lord in a very real way in Spiritual Communion during our televised and live-streamed Masses and that we can receive the gift of our Lord's mercy by saying a meaningful Act of Contrition until confessions are made available again with respect to social distancing. These are
different ways of receiving our Lord's graces and experiencing His presence that are not meant to replace the sacraments. Please remember that these restrictions are
temporary measures.
The desire that so many of you have to receive the sacraments and return to Mass is uplifting, inspiring, and a wonderful sign of your faith and love for the Lord. Our doors will open! Trust me...Deacon Tom, Fr. Reuben, Fr. George, and myself have been eagerly waiting for all of you to return! Let us pray that as our desire to "open the doors" increases so will our patience! Speaking of prayer, please remember that you are welcome to pay a visit to the church to pray at any time between 9 am and 9 pm excepting times when we are live-streaming Masses (Saturday you can come from 10:30 am - 9 pm). Let us also continue to pray for those entrusted with the responsibility and cross of making decisions that impact so many lives on so many levels. As we anticipate Pentecost Sunday in just a couple of weeks, let us pray that they be strengthened by the Holy Spirit's gifts of wisdom and courage.