Here are some important updates from the Diocese of Worcester that I would like to share with you regarding the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments during this time of pandemic:
Mass
In cooperation with Governor Baker’s announcement yesterday, the Diocese of Worcester has issued the following statement by Bishop Robert McManus, Bishop of Worcester:
"After carefully reviewing the sound advice of medical professionals and the recent order by Governor Baker to limit gatherings to 25 participants, I have decided to suspend all public celebrations of Mass until further notice in the hope of slowing and, God willing, halting the spread of this disease. The obligation to take part in the Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is thereby lifted."
Participating in the Mass at Home
We’re all encouraged to continue to pray with the local Catholic community by virtual attendance at the Sunday Mass and Daily Mass which is carried on Spectrum (Charter) Channel 193 each weekday morning at 9 am and Sundays at 6 pm, and also streaming on worcesterdiocese.org.
While public Masses have been suspended, know that our pastor, Fr. Nick, will offer Mass privately each day for you and your intentions. It is our hope to be able to live-stream these Masses each day on the “Saint Mary’s Church, Uxbridge, MA” Facebook page. We wouldn’t want you missing any of his pearls of wisdom!
If you scheduled a mass to be offered for your loved one during this time, Fr. Nick will fulfill the intention during his private Mass. If you’d like to reschedule the Mass, please call the office.
Joining in Spiritual Communion
The suspension of the public celebration of Mass is upsetting for many of us who hunger to receive Jesus in the Eucharist regularly, but let us also remember that grace is being offered to us through spiritual communion. What is spiritual communion? It’s a prayer professing faith in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist and inviting him to come to live in our heart.
Our beloved Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI reminds us that even when we cannot go to Mass and cannot receive Holy Communion “it is beneficial to cultivate a desire for full union with Christ through the practice of spiritual communion, praised by Pope John Paul II and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life” (Sacramentum caritatis, no. 55).
How do you make a Spiritual Communion? Begin by examining your conscience and making a good Act of Contrition. Then pray one of the prayers recommended by the Saints for inviting Christ into your heart. Here is one by Saint Alphonsus Liguori:
“My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there, and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”
A Spiritual Communion can never fully take the place of receiving Holy Communion at Mass, but in these extraordinary times it can help us to stay close to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
What About the Other Sacraments?
In regard to the pastoral care of the sick, in each area of the diocese, two or more priests will be assigned and will be trained to act as designated ministers to the sick. They will provide pastoral care to the quarantined, the sick and the dying. If a person is in need of a pastoral visit, this will be referred to one of the designated priests for our area.
In regard to the Sacrament of Penance, with the suspension of person-to-person contact, the Sacrament of Penance will not be available, except to the most seriously ill from the Designated Priest Ministers of the Sick.
What Do I Do If I Can’t Go to Confession?
Each of us should regularly examine our consciences. When we are conscious of sin, we should go to Confession and seek absolution from the priest. When this is not possible, the Church recommends that we make as perfect an Act of Contrition as possible.
Contrition is “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that when such contrition “arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.”
There are many forms of the Act of Contrition. Here’s just one:
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against You Whom I should love above all things,
I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against You Whom I should love above all things,
I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.
Will the Church Be Open for Private Prayer?
Yes, for now the church will remain open from 7:00 am – 5:00 pm for private prayer. However, the number of people in the church at any given time cannot exceed 25 people.
What About the Parish Office? Will It Remain Open?
In order to minimize the risk of infection to our parish pastoral staff and those to whom they minister, our parish offices are closed to the public. All members of the parish pastoral staff are available by phone at 508-278-2226, or by email. Please check our parish website (www.stmaryuxbridge.org) and Facebook Page for the latest updates. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Financial Stewardship During the Pandemic
We are always grateful for your generous support and we hope that you will continue to financially give to our parish even though Masses have been suspended. In order that the other work of the Church may continue, we are asking that you continue to support our parish financially in any of the following ways:
1. Mail in your weekly envelopes
2. Mail a check
3. Sign up for automatic transfer from your checking account (call the office)
4. Click on the “Donate” button on the upper-right hand corner of the parish homepage (www.stmaryuxbridge.org)
Thank you is not enough to express our gratitude for your generosity!
Communication During the Closure: Don’t Just Delete It!
While it isn’t our intention to inundate you with daily emails, there is important information that will need to be shared regularly. Because the situation is so fluid, we will be sending you an update about once a week unless it’s imperative that we get the information to you sooner. We hope you’ll view each of the items we send, and we bet you’ll even enjoy a lot of it! We have some good stuff coming your way!
A Final Thought from Father Nick
Saint Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And might I add, “nor COVID-19”.