May 24, 2020May 24, 2020

Father Mike’s Communication for May 24, 2020

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Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

-Acts 1:6

May 24 2020

Brothers and Sisters,

The Gospel of Luke opens up with Jesus descending in humility, as a baby, one among us, and concludes with Jesus ascending to heaven in glory as the disciples offer praise. Through Luke, we hear of the Annunciation, at which Gabriel announces to Mary the Good News and in her cooperation, the Holy Spirit comes upon her. Luke is concerned with the impact of Jesus, sharing far more healing miracles than the three other Gospels report. As Luke transitions in the Acts of the Apostles, the story of salvation continues, describing what was promised to Israel in the Old Testament and accomplished by Jesus, now under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Inspired by this truth, we learn to trust and raise our eyes to God and continue to look for ways that God is guiding us, as we learn clearly his voice amongst the many.

In the preparation prayers at the Altar as the chalice is prepared, the deacon or the priest prays, “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” As we hunger for a share in eternal life, I hear and understand your own hunger and longing to return to the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, as our glimpse into heaven. With you, I continue to pray for you and a safe return in communion.

This past Friday our Novena Prayers to the Holy Spirit began with a particular focus on the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The fruits are ultimately cultivated by listening to the Holy Spirit, who guides us, and by living out the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in charity. Our hungering community and the world are in desperate need of God. Let our good works cooperate, as Mary cooperated with the Holy Spirit. While they may not seem adequate nor worthy of being the source of God’s grace, the Lord Jesus is present by the power of the Holy Spirit in all our thoughts, words, and actions rooted in love. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Our parish was able to offer outdoor confessions this past week and time for prayer and Eucharistic Adoration in the church. Thank you for following our protocols to create a safe environment to worship the Lord: Slow, Steady, Safe. We will continue to maintain our digital presence, so that parishioners may receive the best spiritual care possible for those unable or not yet comfortable joining us on campus. For the coming week, Adoration & Prayer hours have been modified to allow for a Marriage Ceremony on Thursday. Please surround your fellow parishioners Brendan and Morgan in prayer as they celebrate the sacrament of Marriage. May the Lord fill their lives with the grace of the Holy Spirit that they may be the best witnesses to God’s love in the world.

An event summary for the week of May 24:

▫ Sunday Mass live-streamed each week at 9 am;

▫ Daily Mass, live-streamed Monday, May 25 at 9 am for Memorial Day, Tuesday, May 26, Wednesday, May 27, Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 39 at 8:30 am, and Thursday, May 28 at 9:30 am with a focus to our parish and school families. Know that we will continue to offer our Thursday school mass at 9:30 am until June 11;

▫ Pentecost Novena, live-streamed each night at 8 pm, concluding with the Pentecost Vigil Mass at 7 pm on Saturday, May 30;

▫ Adoration and prayer on Wednesday, May 27 (12 Noon to 4 pm), on Thursday, May 28 (4:30 pm to 7 pm), and on Friday, May 29 (4 pm to 7 pm);

▫ Outdoor Reconciliation on Wednesday, May 27 from 10 am to 11 am & 4 pm to 6 pm and on Friday, May 29 from 4 pm to 6 pm;

For those joining us on campus, there are important expectations we are placing upon you, our parishioners, as you choose to engage in these activities. Please note, we are not yet able to open the church for  Mass, yet we are exploring options to safely offer Mass as soon as feasible

  • Check your temperature; if it is above 99°, please remain home;
  • Wear your mask (with the exception of those children who are 2 years old or younger) any time while on campus, whether inside the church or in your car, awaiting confession;
  • Practice “physical distancing” and do not engage in conversation in the church or near the entrances;
  • Be mindful of the limit of 10 people in the church;
  • Please plan in advance so you do not have the need for the restrooms. As necessary, the family restroom is the only restroom available to facilitate our efforts to clean and sanitize all spaces;
  • As you come and go, please use the Narthex or front entrances to the church. These doors will be propped open. The side entrances will remain locked and should only be used to exit in emergencies.
  • Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to keeping yourself and fellow parishioners safe while on campus.

Please continue joining us in prayer as we implore the grace of the Holy Spirit for the sake of our families, our community, and our world. As we celebrate Memorial Day, please offer prayers for all our deceased men and women who have served our nation, as well as those who are currently serving in our military.

In the Risen Lord,


Rev. Michael S. Triplett