Dear Parishioners,
 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been, for countless people around the world, a great and unexpected trial.  But for Catholics, this trial is not only economic, social, or medical—it is spiritual. Plunged into a time of darkness and separated from the sacraments and our parish communities, the faithful are feeling isolated, disheartened, and uncertain about what the future holds. Yet this might also be a time of great spiritual opportunity and transformation.

In the first place, the coronavirus—like many tragedies before it—has forced us to confront a general truth about the nature of things, a truth that we all know in our bones but that we choose, typically, to cover-up or overlook: the radical contingency of the world. This means that everything in our experience is unstable; it comes into being and it passes out of being. And though we habitually divert ourselves from accepting it, this contingency principle applies to each of us. Whenever we get really sick, or a good friend dies, or a strange new virus threatens the general population, this truth manages to break through our defenses.  I think it is safe to say that things will not return to "normal" anytime soon. 

For us here at St. Margaret's, we have to wait until our governor gives permission for churches, synagogues, and mosques to open.  This past week the maintenance man and myself marked out the pews in our church with small pieces of duct tape, 6' apart skipping a pew between each sitting area.  We also marked out our small choir loft and our large hall downstairs.  We came up with a total seating arrangement of 131.  Checking last October count we have an average of 134 parishioners on Sat. night (4 p.m. Mass) and an average of 150 on Sunday (10:30 a.m.)  When we are allowed to open, I don't think we will hit these numbers, so we could accommodate 131 people per Mass safely having a 4 p.m. Saturday Mass and our 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.

We could live-stream the Mass from the church and display it on the widescreen TV in the church hall.   Eucharistic ministers will wear latex gloves when giving Communion.  Bulletins will only be available online.

So we are ready to go whenever the day comes to reopen our church.  I pray that it will be soon.  Your presence here and your prayer at Mass are greatly missed!  Thank you to all of you who continue to send your church offerings to our office. I encourage you to watch our live-streamed Mass each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 

Please know that you are in my daily prayers.

Many thanks. God Bless You,  Fr. Paul J. Alciati