Hope and
Reconciliation in the Risen Christ
Pentecost always falls on
the 8th Sunday of Easter. Having celebrated the 4th Sunday of Easter, and now
that we celebrate the 5th Sunday of Easter, it means that we are more than
halfway through this special season of hope and reconciliation.
This hope is rooted on the
fact that Jesus Christ rose victorious from death, and therefore nothing can
separate us from his love. On Pentecost, we will celebrate the gift of the Holy
Spirit and we will pray that we may be renewed in this Gift.
We are sealed with this
Gift during the Sacrament of Confirmation, which is ordinarily administered by
the bishop. By the way, I spoke with Bishop McElroy
on the phone this past Monday, and I asked permission to have drive-in Masses
in our parking lot. He will not allow them, but other activities are allowed.
For example, we are having drive in adoration on Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Please stay inside your vehicle if you come. Restrooms are not available. We
are also doing drive-Thru confessions for our many students of first communion,
and when we finish hearing their confessions, which are staggered for the next
coming weeks, then we will resume Drive-Thru confessions for everyone else.
Back in mid March, The
Diocese had made tentative plans that we would be returning in some
fashion to having public Masses on Pentecost. Those projections, it seems now,
were not that far off, since we hear more and more about reopening in society.
By the end of next week, the Bishop is planning to issue further guidance on
what reopening of public masses with social distancing will look like. However,
according to the County, Public Masses fall under phase 3 of the State plan,
which is still months away. In one or two weeks, I should have more clarity from
the Bishop. By the way, we can now email this column to those of you who have
supported us by way of online giving.
If you know someone who
would love to receive these weekly emails, please let them know they can
support us with online giving, and we can reach them more easily by email. I am
very grateful to our parishioner Kay Murner, for all her work in helping us
update the emails for our new data software, and also on another online
newsletter provider. Thank you, Kay!
This month then is a month
of reconciliation for our students, as they experience God’s mercy. This month
is also a month of Mary. As part of Mass, we crowned the statue of Our lady of Fatima.
It was in Fatima, Portugal that Mary first appeared to three young shepherds on
May 13th, 1918. In order to commemorate that special day, we will have a Mass
at 9:00 AM on May 13th accompanied by harp and song thanks to Dr.
Marsha Long. It will be live streamed on YouTube.
Besides, the changes I
mentioned about a new data software, we are also changing to a new envelope
company because the new company has integrated technology to allow us to upload
information more easily. It will also be cheaper for us. God willing you will
receive the next batch on time. We will send more envelopes per mailing, since
this will be cheaper for us. If you are enrolled in online giving, and do not
need envelopes, please let Aida, our bookkeeper, know.
We continued to need your
financial support. We found termites in various areas inside the church, and
three different companies have inspected. The cost of tenting and fumigation is
in the vicinity of $30,000. We are working with these companies so that we can
pay in monthly installments. Please consider making a donation to our building
fund to help us pay for this needed and large expense.
We also continue to
collect food and grocery store gift cards for our Food Pantry for families in
need. Last Sunday was our second operation in food distribution. We are still
being processed by San Diego Food Bank to see if we
can receive food from them.
Lastly, I would like to
share the wonderful news that we were blessed to receive from the government,
the Payment Protection Program funds for 2 months of payroll, but not knowing
when public Masses will resume, we continue to need your financial support. We
have an old church with many needs, and a wonderful staff that we need to keep
beyond the two months.
God bless, Fr. Carlos
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