Dear Parishioners:
Grocery stores are now limited to number of people who may enter at one time.
We have begun to live in what the Governor calls a "Pause" for the next two weeks. Many businesses are closed or have had limits and restrictions placed upon them. Thankfully Churches are open, and our parish school continues on with in-school classes.
Field hospitals in RI are now open due to increase of COVID 19 infections.
The rate of COVID cases is rising, as are hospitalizations. The "Pause" is to stem the rising rate of infection and curtail the need for hospitalizations. The state has opened two field hospitals to help ease the stress on our hospitals. The week before Thanksgiving, I spent three days in Kent Hospital with bacterial pneumonia. Thankfully I twice tested negative for COVID-19! I can attest that the hospitals are full. I spent my entire time on a gurney in the Emergency Room as no rooms or beds were available. There were over 40 patients in the Emergency Room, waiting for rooms, and none were available.
It was terrific to return home to my own bed and be back at OLM! I am on the mend and feeling much better. My doctor tells me it will take several weeks to recover fully. I am genuinely grateful to Fr. Barrow, who has provided invaluable assistance during my illness.
It's hard to believe we are already preparing for Christmas, but prior planning is essential in these uncertain times. In this week's bulletin, we have published the Christmas Mass Schedule. It will be slightly different than past years and includes an extra Vigil Mass. Usually, the 4:00 PM Christmas Eve Vigil Mass garners the biggest crowd, and the church is full.
With the uncertainty of these times, it is hard to know how to plan for Christmas Masses properly. After discussion and reflection and with the Bishop's permission, we are scheduling two Vigil Masses on Christmas Eve. One is at 3:00 PM (allowed only for this year due to COVID), and the second at 5:00 PM.
Also, we will celebrate the Christmas Night Mass at Midnight, and it will be live-streamed. So those who cannot stay up will be able to view it on Christmas morning. On Christmas Day, Masses will be at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 10:30 AM. Not knowing how many will show up for Mass, this schedule affords us some flexibility. You too might be more flexible in choosing what Mass you attend on Christmas as we are limited to 125 people per Mass.
In your own planning for Christmas Mass, understand that seating is limited to first-come, first seated. Please ensure you arrive 15 minutes before Mass, wear a face mask, wash your hands and keep a social distance. With your patient cooperation, Christmas should be just as faith-filled and joyous as it always is.
Of course, planning and preparing for Christmas means that we should also cleanse our souls of sin. We continue to have Confessions on Saturdays at 3:00 PM and Mondays at 6:00 PM. Our OLM School students continue to come to Advent Confessions on Monday afternoons, and our RE Students will be coming on Monday, December 7th at 6:00 PM.
On the Monday before Christmas, December 21st, we have scheduled two hours of Confessions from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. There will be three priests available to hear Confessions for each hour. It is an excellent opportunity to give yourself the best Christmas gift possible, God's forgiveness of sins and the grace of the Sacrament!
This Tuesday, December 8th, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Under this title, Our Lady serves as the patroness of the United States of America.
Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854 declared Our Lady immaculately conceived stating that the Blessed Virgin Mary "in the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."
We celebrate this great feast with a Vigil Mass on Monday at 5:00 PM and Masses on the Holyday at 7:30 AM and 7:00 PM. There is a 9:00 AM Holyday Mass for OLM School, but only the students may attend. The 9:00 AM Mass will be live-streamed for those who cannot participate in Mass.
Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good. God Bless. May the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for our nation and us!