Pentecost is upon us, the Easter Season is over as of Evening Prayer on Sunday. Fifty days since Easter – some considerable stretch of time, the entirety of which we have been on “social distancing” and limited movement. While things look like they are breaking forward, there is no news to report (as of this writing) regarding further opening of the churches or the celebration of the Sacraments. As soon as there is noteworthy news I will again issue a general phone call to the parish to inform you of the developments.
We have been maintaining here fairly well. Thank you to all of you who have continued your contributions to the parish in whatever fashion you have chosen to do so. We are doing our best to hold non-essential expenses, and certainly some bills are reduced due to less use (electricity, gas, etc.). Hopefully we will be back to some celebrations soon. As we have held over 40 funerals – in Funeral Homes or graveside since this shutdown began, we anticipate many Memorial Masses and other funeral services once we are allowed to gather again. Likewise, there are many baptisms, weddings, First Communions, and Confirmations that will need to be celebrated as well. I am sure that we will hit the ground running when the time comes.
As a sign of some “normalcy” around here, beginning next Saturday (June 6th,) our summer seminarian intern begins his six weeks of formation with us here. We welcome William Clingerman, a Jackson resident, and a rising third-year theology student at Mt. St, Mary’s Seminary (Emmitsburg, MD) to our parish. A graduate of the Catholic University of America, Bill anticipates ordination as a deacon in May 2021. Interestingly, his father, Phil, is a candidate for the permanent diaconate and, as a classmate of Paul Remick, also anticipates ordination as deacon in the same ceremony. Let us pray for Bill as he begins his apostolate with us. Expect to see him as a lector at the Masses streaming next weekend.
Unfortunately we are unable to hold the in-person Summer Religious Education Academy this year. We have, however, through the efforts of Melissa Dayton and Mary McKelvey developed a very interesting hybrid program through an innovative Catholic web program called Catholic Brain. They have been wonderful to work with, adapting easily to our needs and ideas. As we are unsure of the ability or the prudence of gathering students for a traditional RE Program (after school on Wednesday) in the Fall, we are also adapting this program for their use. We are holding out hope that we will be able to run a version of the Confirmation Program (7th and 8th grade) this year. The presence of community is an important aspect of that formation, it would be sad to lose it.
I am happy to report that parents are holding out hope for the coming school year. We have seen five new registrations for the school in the past week. There are also other families making inquiry. This is a good sign for sure!
Continue to pray for each other and for us as we do for you. These days are dragging on and we feel your frustration for sure. Father JM and I are making the best of it.
Come, Holy spirit, and renew the face of the earth!