An Update from Fr. Paul - Monday, May 4th

I hope this finds you well.  As I mentioned on Friday, the bishop has tentatively set May 30/31 as a date for weekend Masses to start up, if parishes can be ready.  Tomorrow morning the parish Leadership Team will meet to begin reviewing the list of directives and planning how we can meet them.  Watch these updates for more information. Please keep this process in your prayers: we want to begin celebrating together as soon as possible, but we also want to be as safe as possible.

Remember: there are "Give Us This Day" reflection booklets outside the church doors.  Please pick one up, when you are out on essential business.  And remember to reach out to those who are isolated.

Yesterday I had a Skype call with a priest I ministered with in San Juan de Río, Querétaro, Mexico, and a different one with a friend from my days of living in Rome.  Later I had a family Zoom call with my brothers, living in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.  In my local community, there is a member from Kenya and someone who ministered in Tanzania for almost 50 years.  Each night at supper, they share what is happening in Africa.

Last night, as I reflected on these interactions and the varying experiences these family, community members, and friends were experiencing, I was struck by how we are more alike than different, no matter where we are and our own, personal experiences.

Perhaps that can be a positive outcome of this whole experience: a deeper realization that, as human beings, children of God, we are more alike than different.  We have the same hopes and fears, the same needs and desires.  Perhaps we can become a more loving and caring human family. 

​God bless.