It is with heavy heart that we go through this period with no public Masses or liturgies. We will have gone through our Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, before you once again can receive the Bread of Life. This is a trial for you and for many in the U.S., Italy, France, Spain, India, and many places across the globe where public liturgies are being suspended with the hope of slowing down the spread of this epidemic.
Father Beal is in Pennsylvania, where, while caring for his mother, he became sick. He is recovering, but unable to travel back to Ohio. He will continue to offer Mass for the intentions of our parish while remaining there. The 2
nd page of this letter lists the Mass intentions he will be saying over the coming weeks for our parish.
With no public services, no office hours, no parish school of religion classes, adult studies, etc. we as a parish are left with two main tasks.
First, to Pray. Keep your spiritual life a priority each day during these crazy times. We will from time to time post on Facebook & our parish website various resources to help you in that. Try to make your home what the family is called in Church documents, “The Domestic Church.” Each day make a Spiritual Communion or at least on Sundays when you normally would have received our Lord sacramentally (see our website StMaryWaverly.org for such a prayer).
What is a Spiritual Communion? Often in hospitals if a person cannot receive communion for some reason, we lead them through this prayer. The idea is that you spiritually unite with Jesus in the Sacrament since you cannot at that time physically unite with Him in the Sacrament.
Our second task is to take care of those who are vulnerable. Think of who you know from the parish or your neighborhood who may need to be checked on. Think of those who have no family in the area. Give them a call, ask them if they need anything. Sometimes just the voice of someone who cares will be the calming influence they need. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple, brief, phone call to let someone know that they are not forgotten in this time of isolation.
Along with this, Pike County Outreach is continuing to operate. With the shutting down of much of the service industry, many people who live paycheck to paycheck are going to be in need. We can expect a considerable uptick in persons needing assistance.
To this end I ask you, particularly if your wages are not being affected in this time, to please consider contributing to Outreach. You can do so by sending a check, payable to Pike County Outreach, to 107 W 2nd St, Waverly, OH 45690.
Finally, we are working on plans to Live-Stream my private Mass from St. Peter’s on Sunday morning on Facebook. If you are on the web check our website for updated information about that.
I also want to let you know that the first private Mass I celebrated after the ban on public Masses, realizing that I and the other priests will not be able to feed you with the Bread of Life for these next number of weeks, was painful. It was what we were ordained to do and is one of the greatest joys of the priesthood. I know the Lord has great plans if he is asking the Church to walk through this desert without his Sacramental Presence. The Cross always leads to the Resurrection. I also know He wants to reveal himself more fully in your daily life, in the power of His Spirit, in these coming days. Wait on the Lord. Be Attentive. The Psalm Response of that Mass was: “Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God?”
- May this Eucharistic Fast of the Church intensify in us longing for God and the things of God!
In Christ,
Fr. Hahn
Upcoming Mass Intentions
for our Parish by Father Beal:
Wednesday March 18: Mass for the Good Samaritan who returned a parishioner’s purse.
Sunday March 22: Jim Streitenberger by the Streitenberger Family
Wednesday March 25: Charles Davena by Michael & Angel Migyanko
Sunday March 29: Cecilia Hoffman by Michael & Angela Migyanko
Palm Sunday April 5: Dorothy & Stanley Skowronek by Tony and Cynthia Skowronek
Easter Sunday April 12: Jim Streitenberger by the Streitenberger Family
Wednesday April 15: Clete Moorman by Jean Moorman
We pray that public Masses will be restored by this week.