My Dearest Parishioners,

 I pray that you all are well and and that Our Lord is working wonders in your lives although you might not feel it just yet.  I want to first of all ask God's richest blessing upon all of our Fathers, both living and those who are truly living in God's Kingdom.  More than ever our world needs the heroic example of true fatherhood and I thank God for all of the fathers in our great parish.  You are an inspiration to me and I join in your prayers for your children and grandchildren.

As we continue our communal worship in this time of pandemic I would like to thank you for your concern for your brothers and sisters in Christ and for your patient compliance with the protocols that are being asked of us.  As you know the mayor of Raleigh has asked that people over the age of 12 use face coverings in spaces where it is not possible to maintain social distance.  There is an exception for people who cannot wear a face covering due to medical or behavioral conditions (As pastor, I can vouch that many of y'all fall into the latter category!)  I would like for us not to judge or question why someone at Mass is not wearing a face covering.  Due to privacy laws we must not ask if someone has a medical condition and for that reason is not wearing a mask.

Another source of concern for many is those who receive Holy Communion on the tongue.  I would ask, if it is at all possible, for us to receive Holy Communion in the hand during this time of pandemic in order to protect the minister and everyone else receiving communion.  This cannot be mandated by me or any priest because reception of Holy Communion is a very personal and sacred act.  The normative way to receive is on the tongue and it was in 1977 that communion in the hand was officially permitted through an indult.  But in this time of emergency and out of charity and concern for the priest and the extra ordinary ministers, not just our fingers which we will purify with hand sanitizer, but for our closeness to hundreds of open mouths which masks don't protect us from, I invite for now those that can, to receive on the hand. If you can't, PLEASE don't worry or be agitated.  You may continue to receive on the tongue.  We are employing a new protocol where the minister will purify his or her hands with hand sanitizer after every mouth communion.  If everyone receives on the tongue then the communion flow will take a very long time due to the constant pausing and it also puts us close to hundreds of open mouths. 

We now have hand sanitizer bottles in the main aisle and on the side aisles for those who would like to purify their hands while they are in the communion line.  I know that all of this is very different from what we are used to but let's flip the script and use this as an exercise in humility, charity, and patience.  If you receive in the hand, ask Our Lord to transform your hands into instruments of healing and not agents of sin.  If you receive on the tongue, ask Our Lord to give you temperance of speech and loving words, especially when speaking of your shepherds who only want what is best for you.

Asking a Catholic to be obedient at times is like herding cats (Ask our Bishop whether I am a cat or a sheep!) but our model for obedience, charity, humility and patience is Jesus Christ.  I beg your prayers for me.  I am only a man of flesh and bone with feelings just like anyone else.  I love you more than you will ever know and I pray that together we will be better disciples through the many sacrifices that we offer together.

Our offertory is down by $45,000 with just two Sundays left in the fiscal year.  Rightfully so we are concerned about covid-19 and the amount of deaths that are occurring worldwide.  But far more people have died of hunger during this time and many more will die because of the depletion of funds to help the poor.  The poor need us more than ever, especially our Children of God program which has not been able to have their monthly sales of Fair Trade coffee and chocolate.

Please consider making a Holy Hour in the Adoration Chapel in the next week or two and pray for all of those in need.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Pat

Saturday 5pm: 111

Sunday 9am (Church): 144

Sunday 9am (Fallon Center): 13

Sunday 11:30am: 66

Sunday 1:30am: 171

Sunday 5pm: 26

Saturday 5pm: 176

Sunday 9am (Church): 186

Sunday 9am (Fallon Center): 14

Sunday 11:30am: 144

Sunday 1:30am: 243

Sunday 5pm: 71

Saturday 5pm: 195

Sunday 9am (Church): 158

Sunday 9am (Fallon Center): 12

Sunday 11:30am: 117

Sunday 1:30am: 276

Sunday 5pm: 124

Saturday 5pm: 147

Sunday 9am (Church): 227

Sunday 9am (Fallon Center): 15

Sunday 11:30am: 201

Sunday 1:30am: 246

Sunday 5pm: 142