Dear Parishioners,
As you know there has been a spike in the Covid-19 cases, and there is a current Stay-at-Home order. You might think that this means stay home from church, but our Bishop Edward Malesic this past Friday, November 20th issued several statements, of which here are a few that pertain to all of us:
- Review your specific county and state orders that were issued this week and adhere to these instructions. Please note that none of them are asking us to close our churches to access for individual prayer or communal worship at this time.
- High risk and vulnerable parishioners should stay home and participate in live-streamed Masses via our website, etc.
- Continue safe distancing practices, wearing a mask, and recommended cleaning protocols. Face coverings for church attendees are NOT optional. The mask order has an exception for an individual who is an officiant of a religious service.
- No social gatherings are permitted for the remainder of the year, such as doughnut socials, funeral luncheons, etc.
- PSR programs are to be remote through the end of the year 2020.
I would like to remind all of you that your parish of Queen of Heaven is also your home. All the more reason to come home to visit our Adoration Chapel, to visit our church, or to come to celebrate the Eucharist. Our Mass schedule continues to be daily Monday through Saturday at 8:30 a.m.; Saturday Vigil at 4:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. Confessions are available Fridays from 9:00-10:00 a.m.; Saturdays from 3:15-4:15 p.m.; and by appointment. During Advent additional confessions are on Tuesdays from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. with five priests available on November 24th at Nativity; December 1st at St. Paul’s in Akron; December 15th at Queen of Heaven; and December 22nd at St. Francis de Sales.
Mark your calendar for our Christmas Mass schedule: Christmas Eve at 4:00, 7:00, and 10:00 p.m. and on Christmas Day at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. For social distancing, each of these Masses will be backed up with a Mass in the Parish Life Center only if needed.
During these difficult days we will continue to keep hope and trust in the Lord and our Blessed Mother.
I’d like to conclude with these words from our Holy Father’s Wednesday audience held this past week: “Mary accompanied Jesus’ entire life in prayer, right up to His death and resurrection; and in the end, she continued and she accompanied the first steps of the nascent Church…Mary’s prayer at her Annunciation, in particular exemplified prayer ‘with a heart open to God’s will.’ Mary was praying when the Archangel Gabriel came to bring his message to her in Nazareth. Her small yet immense ‘here I am,’…was preceded throughout salvation history by many other ‘Here I ams,’ by many trusting obedience’s, by many who were open to God’s will.” The Pope recommended the prayer “Lord, what You want, when You want, and how You want.”…”Mary did not autonomously conduct her life; she waits for God to take the reins of her path and guide her where He wants. She is docile, and with her availability she prepares the grand events in which God takes part in the world.” Mary rejected fear with a prayerful yes even though she likely sensed that this would bring her tremendously difficult trials. The Holy Father encourages us to pray during moments of trials and restlessness.” Prayer knows how to calm restlessness, knows how to transform it into availability…prayer opens my heart and makes me open to God’s will.”
Thank you for your prayers, and I’m promising you mine. Have a blessed Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas.
Sincerely in JMJ,
Father Dave