Friends,
Like many of the pastors in the Archdiocese, I am taking this opportunity to tell you where we are at in the process of starting to offer Mass again. When the Governor and the Archbishop said that we could start having Mass (within the guidelines), it seemed as though everyone would start as soon as they could. However, as Pastors talked to each other and as parish leadership thought through the challenges, it became much difficult to do than was initially expected.
I have decided to start having Mass during the week, Tuesday through Friday at 11:30. We are going with a later time in the hopes that it will allow more people to attend. We will not be starting Sunday Masses next weekend, but will monitor the situation. We will let you know when we start but will continue to offer the Mass online until then.
One of the struggles we have is making the space safe for you. That means we will have to keep social distance and to purify the pews and doors between Masses. Masks would need to be worn and missalettes could not be used. If we follow the rules for social distance, then only about 60 to 70 people could come to any one Mass. There would be only one communion line and people would have to stand six feet back from each other. Anybody whose health is compromised or who is older than 60 years of age should probably not attend (if we followed that rule, then I could not attend!).
I know that the absence of communal Mass and the inability to receive Eucharist has been a sadness for many of you. However, I cannot risk your health with so much uncertainty still in the air and with the cases of COVID-19 currently increasing in Nebraska. We will resume public Masses once it is safe to do so; trust me on that. In the meantime, the church is open from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm for your personal prayer and we will continue to provide other opportunities online.
In his letter to the faithful last week, Pope Francis is encouraging all of us to pray the Rosary during the month of May for an end to the pandemic. In the letter he said, “It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view. For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities.”
We have produced a couple recorded versions of the Rosary on our website for those who would like to pray with someone else or have someone else “lead” the Rosary for them. Pope Francis also wrote a couple of prayers to pray at the end of the Rosary asking for Mary’s help.
Here is one of the prayers:
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.
In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.
Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.
Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.
Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.
Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.
Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.
Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.
Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.
Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his
all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.
To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving,
O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.”
Peace,
Fr. Damian