The irony of this time when we cannot gather for the celebration of the Eucharist is that I feel a far greater desire to be close to Jesus and close to you even when we are physically separated. We are the Body of Christ. That said, I wish I could tell you when and how we will be able to return to church for the celebration of the Eucharist. I know that many of you feel like you are truly in the desert, fasting not from bread but from Christ himself. In a sense we are but spiritually we are not. Think of the times in history when Catholics could not openly participate in the Mass: in the ancient world, in England and Ireland, in Mexico, in Cuba, in countries behind the Iron Curtain, etc. They did not lose their faith. On the contrary, many found a relationship with Jesus Christ that was much deeper and firmer. But for that to happen, the homes of Catholic families must be domestic churches, places where the family prays together, blesses the food that they will share in the home, and strengthen faith mutually. I can promise you that families that enter into a home-based life of prayer will return to the church for sacraments with a far greater appreciation for the Mass, the sacraments, and the word of God and will truly experience the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord and will know what the Pentecost experience did for the apostles and can do for us.

Concretely what can you do? We are putting the Sunday Mass on our parish web site and facebook page. Masses are being said in private for all your intentions. You can watch as a family. You can come to the church daily to pray for our community and the world. You can adore the Blessed Sacrament which is exposed at all the times when we would normally have Mass. You can pray the Rosary as a family and/or read the daily Mass readings and pray with scripture. You can watch EWTN or NET. You can watch FORMED movies or instructional programming. You can share religious education lessons with your children who are preparing for sacraments. And you can PRAY. Pray constantly. Try Psalm 91:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Amen