We hope these resources will aid your family in reflecting on the readings for the weekend and inspire faith conversations with your friends and family.
We will be live-streaming the 4 PM, Saturday and the 10 AM Sunday Mass. You can find these Masses and all of our live-streams here, even if you don't have a Facebook account.
From Fr Moser
(Please Read)
From Archbishop Jackels and Fr Moser:
First - from a public statement by Archbishop Jackels: In recognition of how the spiritual and emotional needs of the Catholic faithful are met in great part by the parish community gathering for Sunday Mass in church ... And in view of the ever-increasing number of parishioners who are vaccinated, and who have a holy desire to worship at Sunday Mass with others in church ...
On 5/6 June 2021, the dispensation will expire that excused Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dubuque from participating at Sunday Mass in church.
As the pandemic isn’t over, even without a dispensation Catholics can still legitimately excuse themselves from Sunday Mass if they are afraid of getting COVID, or if ... They are frail from age or illness, or caring for someone sick, homebound, or an infant, or weather makes driving hazardous, or work and Mass schedules conflict. In short, there is no sin in missing the Sunday obligation if you would go if you could go, but you can’t for reasons outside your control.
Second from Father Moser in regards to COVID safety measures: my goal is to proceed cautiously as we relax the CDC recommendations and the measures encouraged by state or local health officials:
ropes / tape on the pews... in an attempt to balance between those who want this extra measure of social distancing and those who do not, some of the pews in church will remain roped off for the upcoming months.
social distancing and wearing of masks... both are appropriate [not required nor compulsory] for the months of May and June as we welcome larger attendance at Mass. During this period of transition we encourage everyone to continue to be sensitive to those with differing degrees of comfort with masks or social distancing.
Church/Parish Halls will be fully reopened and available to be used by parishioners and the public. I am setting a reopening date of May 26, 2021. Yes, this means that having funeral dinners catered in the church hall will be an option after that date. However, the St. Patrick volunteers who were serving funeral dinners are now questionable due to the age and health vulnerability of these great volunteers. We will be addressing this in the near future.
Questions to Reflect upon this week:
Adults- How is love of others connected to love for God?
Adults- How is love of others connected to love for God?
Children- Who needs Jesus' love this week? How can you show them his love?
Choose one of the Following Activities to help your family live the readings this week
- God loves, forgives and welcomes everyone. Think about ways that your family can love, forgive and welcome others. On a sheet of paper create three columns with the following headings: Love, Forgiveness and Welcome. Brainstorm with your family ways you can reach out to others. Write the responses under the appropriate headings. Post the paper in a prominent place in your home.
- Make a list of newcomers to your community. Choose one family and think of a way you can welcome them.
- Jesus extends God’s love to all. Find out about a group that works for social justice in your community. Invite someone from the group to explain the group’s activities to your family. Decide if there is a way you can help.
- Think of a family whose national or ethnic heritage is different from yours. Talk with them about their family customs and celebrations.
Weekly Justice Challenge
St. Damien of Molokai is honored on May 10. Damien was canonized a saint because of his dedication and service to the lepers on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. Lepers were considered pariahs who were a threat to healthy people because of their contagious illness. Many of them were torn from their families when they were diagnosed with leprosy. They were taken to Molokai and never saw their loved ones again. (Lepers at the time of Jesus faced a similar alienation. They were often forced to wear a bell around their necks so that people could run from them when they heard the bell.) Damien ministered to the physical and emotional needs of the lepers on Molokai. He followed Jesus’ example of reaching out to these rejected human beings, offering them the human contact—the simple touch—which they were denied. Your challenge this week is to look for a leper in your life, but not necessarily in the literal sense of a person with a skin disease. Rather, look for someone who craves human contact and human touch but is denied it. It might be someone who is lonely or angry, smelly or dirty, mentally ill or imprisoned in some way. Whatever the person’s reality, reach out in love and compassion. Offer the human touch which every person on earth needs to survive and thrive.
©Center for Ministry Development. Published by the Pastoral Center / PastoralCenter.com. All rights reserved.
Saint of the Week
Saint Isidore the Farmer
Feast Day-May 15
Feast Day-May 15
Patron Saint ofFarmers
Click on the image below for a short bio and reflection
Click on the image below for a short bio and reflection
Videos for Adults
Videos for Kids and families