april 12, 2020 easter - saints peter and paul catholic...
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APRIL 12, 2020 • EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
Saints
902 East 9th Street • Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H
AND SCHOOL
Established 1872
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apos-tolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian County.
Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor [email protected]
Rev. Fr. Michael Charles Abiero, Parochial Vicar [email protected]
Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes [email protected] Permanent Deacon, Mr. Roberto Cruz [email protected] Permanent Deacon, Mr. Trinidad Soriano Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet [email protected] PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) 885-8522 PARISH FAX: (270) 885-5296 PARISH WEBSITE: www.stsppchurch.org DIOCESAN WEBSITE: www.owensborodiocese.org VATICAN WEBSITE: www.vatican.va PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 8:00AM-12 NOON • 1:00 PM-4:00 PM MONDAY – FRIDAY
SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) 886-0172 SCHOOL FAX: (270) 887-9924 SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.stsppschool.org
Tru†h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio)
Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: 270-886-6027
Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: 270-632-1037 Store Hours M-F 10:00 am-3:00 pm. SECOND SATURDAY OF MONTH 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register with the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish
community are asked to let us know.
MASS SCHEDULE Saturday evening .................................... 5:00 PM Sunday ................................. 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Misa en Español ............... 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM Monday - Saturday ................................ 8:00 AM Wednesday ......................................... 5:30 PM Thursday (en Español) ............................ 5:30 PM
Saints Peter and Paul Church
SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY
The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by anyone
acting in the name of the Catholic Church, (priests, deacon, employee or volunteer), please call the Diocesan Pastoral Assistance Coordina-tor, using the dedicated confidential phone-line (270-852-8380) as well as the Diocesan web site (www.owensborodiocese.org/safe).
† SACRAMENTS † † Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and Wednesday at 4:30 PM. Confessions will be heard any time by appointment.
† Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class - Our next class will be announced. Please call the Parish Office to register.
† Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date.
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Parish Pastoral Council
Lana Bastin, Administration ...…...……...…[email protected] Stephanie Blankenberger, Principal…[email protected] Jan Buckner, Family Life ....…………[email protected] Dee Dailey, Vice Chair & Worship..……[email protected] Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate ..….…….…[email protected] Hilda Gonzalez, Social Concerns.………. [email protected] Fran Marko, Secretary ………….……………[email protected] Morgan Murray, Chair & Spiritual Life…..….……[email protected] Robert Tyree, Education….……………[email protected]
PARISH OFFICE Tom Buehrle ([email protected])….........................Director Of Stewardship Brenda Chaudoin ([email protected])....……..…. Parish Office Mgr. Libby Downs ([email protected])............................Pastoral Associate
Leigh Ann Johnson ………………….………Parish Assistance Coordinator Steve Kinnard ([email protected])...……….Maintenance Foreman Angie Phillips ([email protected])…………….....Thrift Store Mgr. Mayra Tirado ([email protected])…………Hispanic Ministry Asst. Sue Wassmer([email protected])............................Parish Secretary Dan Wilkinson([email protected])………...Parish Music Director
SCHOOL OFFICE
Stephanie Blankenberger
([email protected])….......School Principal Jaime Embry ([email protected])…………….….. Reception/SCRIP Jennifer Groves ([email protected])………….…. School Secretary
MINISTRY TO THE SICK
Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner who is ill or infirm may request anointing in extreme emer-
gency by calling the Parish Office, 270-885-8522.
PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in tak-ing hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament dur-ing the day and throughout the night, seven days a week. (Code required.) There is a regular schedule of adorers but all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please con-tact Bill & Jenny Rush at 270-885-2888, if you are interested in adopting an hour or if you can be a substitute or prayer partner Available hours: Sunday 12am, Monday 2am & 4 pm, Wednesday 2am, Thursday 5 pm & 6 pm, Saturday 1am, 9 pm & 10 pm. Need prayer partners Tuesday 9am & Saturday 9 pm. Please help!!
School News
We Miss Our Students!
APRIL 12, 2020 • EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD 3
the elements. Add a pillow for kneeling and that’s it. You’re good to go! You may even keep your home Altar set up year -long, changing elements with the changing seasons of the Liturgical year. Ideas for Holy Week: Holy Thursday: • The Liturgical color is WHITE. • Dress your Altar with white candles and cloths. • Add a loaf of Bread (Institution of the Holy Eucharist)
Good Friday: • The Liturgical color is RED. • Dress your Altar with red or even leave it bare. • Add candles, Crown of Thorns, a Cross or Crucifix.
Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday: • The Liturgical color is WHITE. • Dress your Altar with white candles and cloths. • Do you still have your Holy Water from Epiphany? • Flower bouquets, add flowers to the crown of thorns • Other symbols: Lamb, Dove, Stones (for the tomb) • Everyone write a list of things they are thankful for (Remember: If you don’t have it, make/draw it.)
CELEBRATING THE TRIDUUM IN YOUR HOME
HOLY THURSDAY: April 9, 2020 Traditionally Holy Thursday is one of the most moving Litur-gies of the year: Holy Oils are presented, we sing the “GLORIA” again, hear the story of the Last Supper of Jesus with His disciples, witness the Priest wash the feet of a number of representatives of our parish. After communion we process around the church to the narthex for Reservation of the Eucharist and pray until midnight, and the Altar stripped bare. ▪ The Liturgical color of Holy Thursday is WHITE. ▪ Readings of the day: http://usccb.org/bible/readings
Consider a Family Foot Washing ▪ Wash the feet of each person in the family; remind
them Jesus washed the feet of His disciples; explain this is a way we can serve one another.
▪ If children are in the home: After you wash their feet, ask them to wash each other’s feet and your feet, as well.
▪ Ask what it means to serve others. How do others serve you? Share ideas how we can still serve others, even in a time of social distancing and quarantine.
▪ Pray for people who serve you: family, teachers, coach-es, church leaders, community helpers. Offer a prayer from your heart and inviting them to speak the name of these people out loud. End by asking God to help you serve others, too.
Keep a Prayer Vigil in your Home After the Last Supper, Jesus went to the Garden to pray, yet the disciples He took with Him fell asleep. Matthew 26:40-41 (continued on next page)
Easter Sunday Welcome: We thank all of you who are join-ing us to celebrate Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that you find in our celebrations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, a place of Christ’s mercy, love and peace. We pray blessings upon your family, that you welcome the Risen Lord into your home, into your hearts. We thank you for praying with us, for gathering as family, for gathering as believers in giving thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father. Please know our parish staff misses you and waits with great antici-pation for when we can gather once again in our Church building, when we can actually see you and see the love of the Lord in your eyes and heart. Until then, let us continue to pray for and with each other.
Blessed Palm: When the church is able to assemble again for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, palm will be blessed and distributed at that time.
SET UP A CATHOLIC HOME ALTAR
Setting up an Altar in your home isn’t the complicated task you may think! It’s simple to do, there aren’t any rules, and it’s a great way to set the scene for the Domestic Church in your home:
Any surface to set it up on: a mantle, desk, table, top of the piano, shelf that hangs on the wall, a bookshelf, an area of your china cabinet - anything that works for you. Don’t let finding a surface stop you. It doesn’t have to be perfect and you can always move it later.
Religious items to place on top. Pull together objects you already have in your home: a Bible, candles, rosaries, statues, crosses, flowers, pictures, prayer books, medals, icons, etc. If you don’t have many items, make them.
Let the kids get involved: make a rosary, craft a crucifix or cross, color pictures, use blocks or Legos to build stages for
SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 4
children ask and how they take it all in. If you’re a grandparent, consider doing this over Facetime or the phone. For the very young, read the story from an age-appropriate Bible.
▪ Make a home Paschal Candle: When you light your Paschal Candle use this prayer from the Mass of Easter Vigil: By His wounds, holy and glorious, may He protect us and preserve us, He who is Christ the Lord. Amen.
▪ Color Eggs: Eggs are a symbol of new life and Easter joy. Have an egg hunt for the children, then encourage them to hide the eggs for parents/grandparents, as well.
▪ Sunrise Adventure: Wake your family early to experi-ence the sunrise together. Climb a hill or in your yard, watch the sun rise, pray together and share an Easter picnic breakfast.
▪ Instructive animated presentations on FORMED.org “Brother Francis” - children to age 8. Watch these epi-sodes: “He Is Risen” and “Bread of Life: Celebrating the Eucharist” “The Witness Trilogy” - children 7 years old to adults.
▪ Make Easter Story Cookies - Each ingredient represents a part of the Easter story. This printable recipe has cor-relating Bible verses right on the same page. (No more eggs on your Bible!)
https://www.catholicicing.com/how-to-make-easterstory- cookies-with-a-printable-recipe/ ▪ Make Resurrection Eggs - Number 12 plastic eggs from
1-12, then you and your kids get to embark on a scav-enger hunt of sorts to find the objects that go inside each egg. (Or you can buy them.)
https://www.kelloggshow.com/how-to-make-your-own -resurrection-eggs/
DIOCESAN NEWS
Calling all Catholics in the Diocese of Owensboro: Though it is not possible for Catholics of our diocese to gath-er in our parish churches for the celebration of the Easter Vigil, we can still be united in our prayer. A most striking and moving element of that liturgy occurs at its begin-ning. There a great fire is blessed, the Paschal candle is lit, and its light is shared with all who received the Light of Christ at baptism. Later in the liturgy, the newly baptized receive a lighted candle and are asked to “keep its flame burning brightly.” In these dark days, we invite all Catholics of Western Kentucky to engage in a project meant to communicate faith and hope to our neighbors and be a sign of encouragement and support to all who are suffering.
Beginning at 8:00 PM on April 11, Holy Saturday, and through May 31, Pentecost Sunday, use the symbol of light as an outward sign in some way on your property as a witness to all of the prayers burning in our hearts and as a reminder that the light has come into our world and has conquered even death.
Bring out the Christmas lights you have stored away. Wrap a strand around a door or window, visible to all who
Just as we process to the narthex to stay and pray, commit to one hour of silent prayer in your home tonight. Sit outside on your porch to pray ‘in the garden’ with Jesus, or create a sacred space in your home and light a candle to stay and pray.
GOOD FRIDAY: April 10, 2020 Good Friday is the day we remember the Crucifixion of Jesus, the day Jesus died, a day of solemn remembrance of the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. In our world this year, most are required to stay home from work and school, but keep fun to a minimum today and take time to repent of your own sins today. ▪ The Liturgical color for Good Friday is RED. Wear red. ▪ Read the Passion Story (John 18:1 to John 19:42) or
from the readings of the day: http://usccb.org/bible/readings
▪ Fasting is required if you’re healthy and 18 years or older. Encourage your children to skip snacks & frivo-lous eating.
▪ Prayer - Jesus hung on the cross for 3 hours before he died. Historically, we observe this from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm with a time of silence. Turn off all electronics, sit in the silence and pray, remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for you.
▪ Almsgiving - Do extra good deeds and sacrifices. If you have a method for tracking sacrifices such as a crown of thorns, encourage your kids to do this today.
Pray the Stations of the Cross We are not be able to walk the Stations of the Cross in our own church this year. Stations are available online for both adults and children: https://churchnextblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/
resource-online-stations-of-the-cross/
HOLY SATURDAY/EASTER SUNDAY: April 11-12 This year we are making a history we never imagined would happen in our lifetime, and discovering new ways to celebrate one of our most Holy Days in the church-year. ▪ The Liturgical color for Easter Sunday is WHITE. ▪ Readings of the day: http://usccb.org/bible/ readings ▪ Walk through the entire Holy
Week with your family so they more fully understand why we celebrate on Easter Sunday.
▪ Holy Saturday Resurrection Garden: Create a mini Resurrection Garden in a container base or your yard. Make it as simple or complex as you wish.
▪ Alleluia Project: Use whatever you have (sidewalk chalk, paper, paint, crayons, string, scraps of wood, etc.) to create an “Alleluia” banner/sign/message for Easter Sunday.
▪ Read the Easter story with your family of all ages. You may be surprised at the depth of questions your young
APRIL 12, 2020 • EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD 5
Monday, April 13
8:00 am WINTER NICHOLSON & PAUL RUSH
Tuesday, April 14
8:00 am AL C. RUTLAND
Wednesday, April 15
8:00 am NO MASS
5:30 pm GEORGE BARNES
Thursday, April 16
8:00 am † TERESA CHONG
5:30 pm SUZIE MANALANG
Friday, April 17
8:00 am † RYAN STINE
Saturday, April 18
8:00 am † POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY
5:00 pm † KATHLEEN BARNES
Sunday, April 19 DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
8:00 am †
GEORGE & LOUISE MCSHANE
BROCKMAN & JOHN BUCKO
10:30 am †
JOHN J. CHEWNING &
JOHN J. CHEWNING II
2:00 pm Spanish MAYRA TIRADO
10:30 pm Spanish FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
† Indicates Requiem Mass
SANCTUARY LAMP FOR POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY
DURING THIS TIME, MASS INTENTIONS WILL BE HONORED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. FOR THOSE MASSES NOT CELEBRATED, THESE INTEN-
TIONS WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE. WE ARE REQUIRED TO OFFER ONE WEEKEND MASS FOR “ALL PEOPLE”.
LET US CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR EACH OTHER.
pass. Place a flower wreath on a door and weave through it a strand of light. Two stands of lights can be used to form a cross on a garage door. Strings of light can be woven through bushes, or even a small tree. The candles you put in your windows at Christmas can be placed there once again. Be creative! Each night, as you “turn on the lights”, you might also light a candle and say a prayer to the one “who sheds his peaceful light on all humanity” (the Exsultet from the Easter Vigil) for an end to the pandemic. Let’s unite with one another in prayer this Easter season and remind one another and our neighbors that we are nev-er beyond the reach of God. Let’s light up the world! Share your pictures on social media and use the hashtag: #EasterLightsKY
USCCB President Calls for National Moment of Prayer on Good Friday
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has invited the faith-ful to join him in a moment of prayer on Good Friday (April 10) to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart. Praying together as a nation, the archbishop asks that we seek healing for all who are unwell, wisdom for those whose work is halting the spread of coronavirus, and strength for all God’s children.
Friday, April 10, 2020 (Good Friday) 11:00 AM CDT
Text of Litany of the Sacred Heart: English / Spanish
A livestream of the Litany of the Sacred Heart with Archbish-op Gomez will be available on the Archdiocese of Los Ange-les’ website: www.lacatholics.org and on the USCCB Face-
book page: www.facebook.com/usccb.
Good Friday is a day when Christians around the world sol-emnly commemorate the day when Jesus suffered and died on the cross. Catholics traditionally mark the day with fasting, penance, and reflection on Jesus’ loving sacrifice. This oppor-tunity to pray together during the coronavirus pandemic of-fers a special moment of unity for the faithful during a time when communities throughout the United States and world-
Mass Intentions Readings for the week of April 12, 2020 Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23/1 Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 or Mt 28:1 -10 Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33/Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9 -10, 11/Mt 28:8-15 Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41/Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22/Jn 20:11-18 Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10/Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9/ Lk 24:13-35 Thursday: Acts 3:11-26/Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9 / Lk 24:35-48 Friday: Acts 4:1-12/Ps 118: 1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25 -27a /Jn 21:1-14 Saturday: Acts 4:13-21/Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16- 18, 19-21/Mk 16:9-15 Next Sunday: Acts 2:42-47/Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24/ 1 Pt 1:3-9/Jn 20:19-31 Lpi©
wide are physically unable to congregate for Holy Week
and Easter because of COVID-19.
Additionally, with special permission received from the Ap-ostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See, a plenary indulgence is available for those who join Archbishop Gomez in praying
the Litany of the Sacred Heart on Good Friday.
Budget News April 5, 2020
Contributing Households
Envelopes 37 $4,537
Online Donations/EFT 42 $5,860
Loose collection Cash 0 $0
Loose collection Checks 18 $4,695
Weekly Total 97 $15,092
Weekly Parish Budget Needs $20,500
Capital Campaign/Legacy Donations 48 6,179
2019/20 Diocesan Assessment due 6/2020 $55,700
SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 6
Divine Mercy Chaplet (prayed on your Rosary Beads)
1. MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 2. OPTIONAL OPENING PRAYERS: You
expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
(Repeat three times) O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! 3. OUR FATHER: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hall owed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen. 4. HAIL MARY: Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. 5. THE APOSTLES’ CREED: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resur rection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. 6. THE ETERNAL FATHER: Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Be loved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. 7. ON THE 10 SMALL BEADS OF EACH DECADE: For the
sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. REPEAT FOR THE REMAINING DECADES: Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the follow ing "Hail Mary" beads. 9. CONCLUDE WITH HOLY GOD (REPEAT THREE TIMES)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
10. OPTIONAL CLOSING PRAYER; Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — in exhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mer cy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence sub mit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Divine Mercy Sunday: In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. From 1931 to 1938 Our Lord revealed the secrets of his mercy to St. Faustina. He desig-nated the first Sunday after Easter as the Feast of the Divine Mercy of God. This year the feast is on April 19. To prepare for the Feast of Divine Mercy, Jesus asked a Novena be started on Good Friday. This 9-day Novena prays each day for a different group of souls so as to immerse them in the sea of God’s Mercy! The souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:
Good Friday - All mankind, especially sinners. Holy Saturday - The souls of priests and religious. Easter Sunday - All devout and faithful souls. Easter Monday - Those who do not believe in Jesus and
those who do not yet know Him. Easter Tuesday - The souls of separated brethren. Easter Wednesday - The meek and humble souls and the
souls of children. Easter Thursday - The souls who especially venerate and
glorify Jesus' mercy. Day 8: Easter Friday - The souls who are detained in pur-
gatory. Day 9: Easter Saturday - The souls who have become luke-
warm. During the Solemn Novena leading to Divine Mercy Sunday, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy should be offered each day for the day's intentions.
Please Pray for our Deployed Military & Families
Ryan Harrison & Trey Johnston
In Need of Prayers… Bradford Heights – Lynda Combs Carriage Way Assisted Living- Eleanor Rogers, Albert Weakly Covington Convalescent– Pat Chesnut Western State Nursing Facility- Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center- Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holubecki, Christine Mills Others.. Helen Allard, David Arnold, Dick & Jackie Arnold, Sherry Beck, Holly Bivins, Becky Bramble, Ruth Britt, Joan Brockman, Carolyn Brown, Helen Brown, Louise Brown, Judy Brummett, Adley Shay Buckner, Colleen Buehrle, Sherry Calhoun, Dixie Chapman, Sam Chesnut, Chris, Tamara & Katelyn Cox, Ken & Peggy Cunningham, Wood-ly ‘Damon’ Dunn, Martha Fowler, Nancy Freeman, Bill & Mary Gilliam, Ron & Janice Godot, Scott Godot, Jim Gorman, Bill Han-cock, William Hancock, Bill Henney, Heather Jeffries, Leigh Ann Johnson, Tony Jones, Charlie Keel, Delaney Keel, Nina Keller, Jane Lucas, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Kathy Lytle, WP Meredith III, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Jim Milazzo, Cecelia Omundson, Teresa Pazin, Rachel Pictor, Martha Reed, Tara & Dylan Rush, Al Rutland, Debbie Schock, Frank Selph, Karen Shehan, Eddie Shepherd, Kristian Shouse, Albert Sisk, Mary Catherine Smith, Beth Snyder, Rocky Spader, Brenda Stites, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Sves-tka, Mary Swicicki, Jerry & Bernie Thomas, Ian Thorne, Ron Todd, Clyde Wallace, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack, Pamela Mez-zoni Wofford, Reubin Wyatt.
APRIL 12, 2020 • EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD 7
The New Covenant attests that, simultaneous with the
terrestrial battles against evil and death, there is another, a
spiritual battle, which is being fought with spiritual weapons. The Commander in Chief is the Crucified and Risen Lord Je-
sus Christ, envisioned astride a white charger and armed
with the invincible sword of God’s Word. His general is
none other than St. Michael the Archangel leading the hosts
of Heaven who are joined by the spiritually armed faithful bearing the name and the sign of the Lamb of God. The
Christian defeats the spiritual enemy with the blood of the
Lamb and the word of their testimony.
I will fight to the end, though I suffer and die, for
the cause that is good, that is true, that is right.
For this cause is God’s love and the Lamb is its sign. All may seem to be lost, but I do not lose
hope; for the victory is Christ’s and is already
mine.
During this 2020 pandemic, may we fight the good fight of
the spiritual battle against the evil spirits of this present darkness, while we also use the weapons of medicine and
science to conquer this viral disease. Our hope and our trust
is deeply founded on the victory of Jesus Christ. From the
prayer of the Easter Vigil I pray: “May the light of Christ
rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.” He is Risen! Alleluia! Fr. Richard
Attention First Holy Communion Children and Parents: Though we are not gathering for our PSR Classes, our chil-
dren preparing for First Holy Communion have been contacted by their teachers. A link to our “Blessed” First Holy Communion program through Dynamic Catholic is available free on line for these families and children as they con-
tinue their preparation. Parents, please help your daughter or son to continue their desire to join us at the table of the Lord. If you need assistance you may contact their teacher or Libby in the parish office.
Confirmation Preparation: As we cannot yet gather with our middle and high school youth, our preparation for Con-firmation continues. Students, your teachers have been in contact with you and provided you with the necessary links to continue your preparation. Parents, please help by encouraging this continued preparation and submitting their work back to the teacher. Bishop Medley has cancelled all Confirmation celebrations scheduled for the month of April. They are working on a plan on how these and future Confirma-tions will be celebrated. It is necessary that our students be ready and have submitted their materials. Confirmation students, if you have yet to turn in your Patron Saint report please email it to Libby at [email protected]). This is essential. Please submit your weekly completed work to your teachers. Know that our parish is praying for you dur-ing this time.
Pastor’s Greeting,
THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM AND THE COVID-19
WAR
The metaphors drawn from war in
this COVID-19 pandemic seem apt, par-
ticularly as they are drawn from the wars
which we have fought defensively, e.g., World War II. We have been wrongfully invaded by a terrible enemy. We
were not expecting the invasion. It is necessary to mobilize
rapidly and marshal our resources for an effective defense
drawing on military, civil, and civilian capacities, re-
directing peaceful industry toward a war-time footing. The
medical infrastructure, oriented toward ordinary necessi-ties, after an initially stunned alarm, is rapidly re-orienting
to the new emergency, participating in the “war-time” mo-
bilization. Ready-to-hand materiel is found to be in short
supply in many places and the “war front” is vast with a
number of hot spots. The population seeks shelter from the attacks.
Unlike most wars, the enemy here is a micro-organism,
a new corona virus. This war reminds me of science fiction
“alien invasion” story lines. Just reduce the outer space
alien to an inner space alien which doesn’t need a space-ship or energy weapons and the story line becomes eerily
life-like. The extreme measures NASA utilizes to prevent
contamination from any object returning to earth from an
extra-terrestrial environment (remember the quarantined
astronauts returning from the lunar landings) consider just such an alien invasion for which we might have no in-place
defenses. That such an invader could show up as an unex-
pected mutation from the non-human biosphere of earth is
not that much different. Our weapons must be re-tooled
for the fight as we throw everything at it which might plau-
sibly work (without causing us even more harm). Independ-ence Day and Battleship and many other movies follow this
line. People pray, refuse to surrender, explore all sorts of
weapons in and out of the tool box, and cling to the hope
of a victory.
J.R.R. Tolkien names the undefeatable hope in our souls as our universal expectation of what he called a
“eucatastrophe.” He grounded his idea on the structure of
our humanity, in our human design. For some reason, all of
us ultimately demand a happy ending to the human story.
Christian faith reveals that this is written within us by God.
The divine design “codes” all of us for this in preparation
for us to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the ultimate
victory of Christ’s Resurrection. Tolkien says that the discov-
ery that the Gospel is true prompts us either to respond
with rage or with a transcending joy. Anticipation of its truth keeps us fighting on, even though all appears to be
lost. In World War II this resolution was given voice by
both Churchill and Roosevelt. Before ever it was emblem-
atic of British or American spirit, however, it was and is to
be found in the Christian faithful, evangelists, missionaries, and martyrs. The Gospel is the purest expression of that
resolve.