MONSIGNOR is Watching:  As part of the “new normal,” many families are trying to adjust to watching live-streamed masses.  As I mentioned last week, it takes some getting used to celebrating mass with no one in the Church.  It’s also a whole new reality of keeping my eyes fixed on the camera.  But it never dawned on me what it must be like to keep squiggly little kids focused on mass when they’re watching it from the comfort of their couch with their trusted blanket and in their comfy clothes!
 
Earlier this week, I received a text from a parishioner who has two little boys.  She was sharing how difficult it was keeping her kids quiet and focused during our live-streaming mass.  She then told me, “I had to stretch the truth a bit … I told them that you could see and hear them just as we could see and hear you!”  That got the kids quiet!
 
Finding Humor during COVID-19:  In the midst of all the COVID-19 stress, it’s been important to find humor in all that we are doing.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching so many locally produced videos and videos from around the country as people try to adapt to the “new normal” or, as Father John said in a recent homily, the “OLD normal.”  One I saw the other day of a mom’s prayer to God as she adapts to home-schooling her child had me on the floor laughing.  You can see it here: videoprayer.stjoan.church.
 
Another cute video was produced by our own Brocker Family.  This one was produced during the first days of the stay at home order.  I can’t wait to see the sequels (hint hint).  You can see the original Brocker Family video at brockers.stjoan.church. 
 
If you have any videos or posts you’ve enjoyed (that are clean and funny I might add), please pass them on to me!  I’d love to share them to brighten other people’s day!
 
Confessions during the COVID-19 Crisis:  As we near the great festivities of Easter, one aspect of our sacramental life (besides not going to Church) that cannot generally be realized for most right now is going to confession.  The Holy See issued a reminder that is good to pass along:  “Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness (that which the penitent is at present able to express) and accompanied by … the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones (Note from Apostolic Penitentiary).  The conditions for perfect contrition are: 1) love of God, 2) a sincere desire for forgiveness, and 3) an ardent commitment to receive the sacrament of reconciliation when available.
 
Father Craig Marion, the Associate Pastor at St. Paul on the Lake, recently wrote the following to the faithful of St. Paul’s Parish regarding confession during our COVID-19 reality.  Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’m quoting it here: “We must remember, God’s mercy goes beyond anything we can ever comprehend. Until our state is able to lift the restrictions for gatherings, there are the two prayers that can be prayed, with the intention of going to confession, once the ‘stay home, stay safe’ restrictions are lifted.  Act of Charity:  O my God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul because You are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.  Act of Contrition:  O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
 
“This should not ‘feel normal’ because it is not. We are living in extraordinary circumstances. We do this because we know that the more people who stay home, we will indeed be safe.  Again, I believe God’s mercy goes beyond all that we can ever know, and so at this time, these prayers are most appropriate to pray.”
 
Holy Week LIVE:  I was reflecting with Father John, Father Rich, and Ann Tobin in the sacristy this morning that we should have known Lent was going to be different … WAY different … when we had a snowstorm on Ash Wednesday that prevented many from attending Church that day.  As I reflect on that Ash Wednesday and all we’ve gone through these days of Lent, it truly has been the “Lent-iest of Lents.”
 
But as we enter this Lent-iest of Lents experiences, that WILL NOT stop us from experiencing the beauty of these most sacred days.  Yes, it will be ONLINE and live-streamed, but it can and will be beautiful.
 
One mass that many people have not seen or experienced is the Chrism Mass.  The Chrism Mass this year will be live-streamed on MONDAY of Holy Week at 7:00 PM.  In this mass, which will be live-streamed from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral at aod.org, priests will renew their priestly promises (from home).  Then Archbishop Vigneron will bless the oils of catechumens and the oil of the sick and consecrate the holy chrism; oils we use in our sacramental life throughout the year.  It is moving liturgy; I encourage you to watch this beautiful liturgy.
 
All of our Holy Week and Easter liturgies will be live-streamed at livestream.stjoan.church.  Mass of the Lord’s Supper will take place at 7 PM on Holy Thursday.  Stations of the Cross on Good Friday will start at Noon with the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion taking place at 1 PM.  Our Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30 PM.  Mass on Easter Sunday will take place at 8 AM.
 
I saw a great article in Our Sunday Visitor this week entitled, “Making the Most of Holy Week at Home.”  You can find the article by going to: OSVHolyWeek.stjoan.church.  One of the suggestions from the author was that the faithful should consider setting aside a special place to pray in their homes.  “One common practice in homes is to have a domestic prayer altar with a simple cloth, a crucifix or other sacred images, or a candle. Other items can be kept there as well, such as rosaries, the Bible or holy water.”
 
It will indeed be a different type of Holy Week for all of us.  But God will be present, and he will be glorified.”
 
Happy Holy Week.  Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
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