Dear Parishioners:
On Monday, Governor Raimondo announced that beginning next weekend, houses of worship in RI could open for public worship. The details of the safeguards and guidelines were made available this week. With new guidance from the Diocese of Providence, we are presently working on a plan to offer public Mass at OLM. Beginning next week please note that when public Masses resume that the schedule of Masses will be limited to ensure time to clean and sanitize the Church before and after each public Mass. The number of people allowed to attend will be very limited to allow for the six feet of separation and social distancing. The communal singing of hymns is not encouraged and our music will be limited as the hymnals have been removed from the pews.
The dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass is still in effect, and therefore you are not morally obligated to attend. We urge all parishioners who are elderly and infirm and those who have underlying medical issues or are sick in any way not to attend Mass. The safety and well-being of every parishioner are of paramount concern. Those who choose not to participate in public Mass out health and safety concerns are entirely justified in their decision. Also, we urge everyone to wear a face mask during the Mass and to wash their hands before Mass. We want everyone to be safe. As we resume public Mass, know that not everyone might be able to attend due to limitations on the number of people.
As the parish staff and I continue to plan for the resumption of public Masses at OLM, I ask for your patience and understanding. We hope to communicate the details of our plan this week by Flock Note and on the webpage. If you have not yet signed up for Flock Note, I encourage you to do so now as this is the most efficient and timely way for us to communicate to the parish.
It is not a time for us to be reckless or rebellious but rather to practice unity and charity. Recently I have noticed an increased lack of charity and civility towards people working on the frontlines in stores and also regrettably even towards our parish staff. People quickly berate workers when they don’t get the answer they desire. I assume it is the result of isolation, fear, and frustration during a crisis. However, such rude impatience with others and harsh criticism offered uncharitably and sometimes angrily are not the way of the Christian. They are more than a bad habit, but instead, they are quite sinful! This week might be the week to make the way back to the Confessional and worthily prepare for Holy Communion.
After all, the reception of Holy Communion worthily is not a trivial matter. The Catechism teaches what the chief effects of a worthy Holy Communion are: “First, a closer union with Our Lord and a more fervent love of God and of our neighbor; Second, an increase of sanctifying grace; Third, preservation from mortal sin and remission of venial sin; Fourth, the lessening of our inclinations to sin and the help to practice good works.”
Over these weeks of isolation due to the pandemic, the Mass is being celebrated daily across the globe. Christ comes to us every day through the Sacred Priesthood and the daily offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. While many have had to fast from the Eucharist temporarily, many of our fellow Catholics across the globe, have gone without weekly Communion for much more extended periods due to war, persecution, famine, and remote location. One sage commentator noted: “Neither our faith, nor our salvation, nor the centrality of the Eucharist depends on insisting on our ‘right’ to receive Communion every Sunday.”
While the Church encourages the faithful to receive Communion regularly, there is an obligation only to receive once a year, especially during the Easter season. I hope that the fast from the Eucharist leads to a renewal of faith and a greater understanding of the real presence of Christ. May, the absence of Holy Communion, make our hearts grow fonder for the Eucharistic Lord.
As a parish family, we patiently prepare for public Mass with an abundance of prudence and caution always striving to serve the common good not our individual needs. So too, we should prepare ourselves individually for the reception of Christ in the Eucharist. Let us do so with prayer and devotion, unity and charity, the avoidance of sin, the mercy of a good Confession, and the proper interior spiritual preparation so we might indeed receive Our Eucharistic Lord worthily.
Be Well. Do Good! Stay safe! God Bless. Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us!
Fr. Healey