Love Your Neighbor

Dear sisters & brothers in Christ,

I pray you are blessed, safe and healthy. Even if you have been “hiding under a rock,” (do you have a spare one for me to use?) you have no doubt heard about the surge in COVID cases around the world. So too, do the numbers of people close to us. We have had several parishioners diagnosed recently, and I have had several friends diagnosed with COVID as well. I am sure most of you can sadly say the same. Let us keep them, as well as all of those caring for them, in our prayers.

In an effort to try and get ahead of this, keep people safe, and keep our churches open, the bishop has updated the policies and procedures of the Diocese. He has strengthened the language about the necessity of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing at all parish events, even those held outside. He encourages those who are at high risk to consider staying at home. And of course, if you are showing any symptoms of COVID or the flu PLEASE stay at home. The last thing we want is for anyone to get the virus at mass or while participating in a parish event. We also do not want the church closed down again.

I realize this is dragging on far longer than most people suspected, at least, many of us felt we would have better control of it, but the opposite is true. While there are some promising vaccines being tested, we must remain diligent. Remember it is not just about protecting your own health and that of your loved ones, but it is also about protecting the health of our neighbors. Our Lord commands us to “love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.” Even if you hate wearing a mask and consider yourself to be a very healthy individual, wear the mask out of love for others. I don’t think that it is too much to ask. Besides, we have all heard stories of very healthy people getting COVID, and even dying from it, including athletes and the young.]

With the holidays quickly approaching, I would like to remind you that we tend to let our guard down when we are with people we know, especially relatives. Just remember, these are the people you love most, so let us do all we can to protect them. Along with the bishop and health care experts, I urge you to wear a mask whenever you are in public, as well as, when you are around family and friends who are not in your present household.

I know I sound like a broken record, and some have complained that I sound more like a sheriff than a pastor, but I do this out of pastoral love for all of you. Enforcing all of this, no matter how unpleasant it may be, is part of my job. I would rather have a few people mad at me and living, then disliking me and... Well, enough said.

Fr. Bernie’s departure is also quickly approaching. Sunday, November 22nd, will be his final day with us. While we cannot have a large farewell party, we are working on a few ideas. The 11:00 am mass will most likely be his farewell mass. One idea is to have a “drive-by” farewell. If you would like to help please call the office.

Finally, we have had a number of funerals recently, as well as, a number of parishioners who are seriously sick. We have put the prayer list back by OLPH. Feel free to add someone to the list. And, of course, please keep all those listed in your daily prayers. My sisters and brothers, fortified by our faith, strengthened by God’s Grace, and with the perpetual help of our Mother Mary, we will get through this. And we stand a much greater chance together then we do apart. Let us keep in mind that we are all Children of God. So, let us “walk together children.”

In the Redeemer, Fr. Rick