Dear Parishioners,

One thing that I’ve noticed since this pandemic began is how good people are at following basic health instructions. I’ve noticed for the most part, people have complied with staying home, not making physical contact and with wearing masks. These are all things that would have been unthinkable a couple months ago. Yet, human beings are flexible and will do what they need to in order to survive.

As Christians, we do believe that there is something more important than just surviving. Life here on earth is a great gift from God and something we should thank Him for daily. But it is also temporary. The best we can hope for with respect to our personal well-being is a long and healthy life. If this is all you think life can give you, then you are bound to eventually be disappointed in the end. I think many people deal with this fact by not thinking about death until they have to. That’s why so many people become so greatly remorseful when confronted with reminders of disease and death.

One of the great things about being Christian is that we can have hope in the face of death and disease. This life is described in the Hail Holy Queen as a valley of tears because it is often dis appointing. Yet, we can still be joyful and even greatly joyful because Our Lord Jesus has rose from the dead. He is what gives our hope meaning and empowers us to do good in the face of evil. We have hope in eternal life, where all tears will be wiped away and all joys will be fulfilled.

If we are willing to do what is right in order to preserve this life, as fleeting as it is, we should work even more to attain eternal life. We ought to avoid sin and bad habits even more than we avoid physical contact and wear masks because while a disease might harm us now, sin kills our relationship with God. We need that relationship in order to enter into eternal life because eternal life is that relationship. While we are waiting for this to be over, let’s prepare good habits of spiritual reading, prayer and being charitable to others. We cannot go to Mass right now. But, we can keep the faith!

God bless!

Fr. Carter