As we look with hope to the new calendar year and at some point a return to normal (whatever that means) due to the widespread use of the vaccine to combat and sooner than later defeat the coronavirus, it is always appropriate to look back to "soon to end" year 2020 were many, especially with the realities of the coronavirus which include missed Masses and for even more missed receptions of Holy Communion. Early on almost everyone, except for priests, were deprived of the Eucharist because public Masses were not happening due to the concerns of the coronavirus. The laity for a short while ( and for some all these many months) were encouraged to make a "Spiritual Communion" at the time the priest (and now others) receive Holy Communioin. I hope and pray that they will at some point come back to the reception of Holy Communion at Mass and recognize that it is one of the great blessings of our Catholic life that enable us to grow in our relationship with God and one another.
It's also due to the coronavirus and concerns about "getting it" that many people have been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation for longer than they ever have before. As I compose this column, I am hoping and praying that there will be a good turnout of people today (December 17) to receive the sacrament that graces us with God's forgiveness, that of the community of faith, and help to assist us in growing in virtue and our witness to Christ, especially his love and mercy. If you were not one of those who humbled yourself by receiving the Sacrement of Reconciliation during Advent to "prepare the way of the Lord" to come more deeply and strongly into your life, I pray you will not wait until the Lenten season to do so. I have temporarily moved the "Reconciliation Room" to the Library (which is next to our chapel) for safety and health reasons due to the coronavirus. I encourage you to come and experience the healing, comforting, peaceful touch of the Lord either at the normal times we offer the Sacrament as the front of the bulletin indicates. Doing so as we start a new calendar year, may inspire a more frequent reception of this Sacrament during the coming year, which hopefully will lead to more reasons to give thanks to God by the end of 2021. Drawing near to the Lord has many more rewards than we can ever imagine!
It's also due to the coronavirus and concerns about "getting it" that many people have been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation for longer than they ever have before. As I compose this column, I am hoping and praying that there will be a good turnout of people today (December 17) to receive the sacrament that graces us with God's forgiveness, that of the community of faith, and help to assist us in growing in virtue and our witness to Christ, especially his love and mercy. If you were not one of those who humbled yourself by receiving the Sacrement of Reconciliation during Advent to "prepare the way of the Lord" to come more deeply and strongly into your life, I pray you will not wait until the Lenten season to do so. I have temporarily moved the "Reconciliation Room" to the Library (which is next to our chapel) for safety and health reasons due to the coronavirus. I encourage you to come and experience the healing, comforting, peaceful touch of the Lord either at the normal times we offer the Sacrament as the front of the bulletin indicates. Doing so as we start a new calendar year, may inspire a more frequent reception of this Sacrament during the coming year, which hopefully will lead to more reasons to give thanks to God by the end of 2021. Drawing near to the Lord has many more rewards than we can ever imagine!
The topic of this column may seem to some to be out of place since we are soon to observe the Solemnity of the nativity of the Lord (December 25) which celebrates the birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord. I do wish all of you a Blessed Christmas Day and Christmas Season and hope that you join us at one of our Christmas Masses in person in the church or at our parking lot Mass or at the very least at the livestream Christmas Mass from here.
I feel compelled for a number of reasons to bring up today the practical issue (in our community for sure) of hospice care for ourselves or our loved ones. Making such a choice is often complex and in more than a few ases is a tough one to make. I have found out from personal experience that people are not always open to unsolicited input from me before or especially after a decision has been made to go into hospice care. Firstly, I want to apologize if my doing this has not been welcomed and has caused any negative feelings. I believe every parishioner wants to make an informed decision that is considerate of a number of factors including what the Church has to say about such end-of-life decisions. I will try to offer materials and possible workshop sessions with people representing "hospice care" opportunities and some of the Church's guidnace on such a delicate and often complex matter.
Obviously, it's the person himself or herself or the one designated by them who must make the final decision on what treatments to permit and what to withhold with the confidence and peace that the decision that is made is truly what's "Best" for the person. While going into "hospice care" is reversible if a person wants to receive treatment that does not meet the parameters of hospice care (which is to keep the person comfortable with the goal of quality of life not quantity), I want to be supportive of that and all decisions tha are made and will try to always ask if the person or persons want the guidance of the church on this important matter. If they don't, I still want to offer the best spiritual care that the Church gives me to offer to both the sick person and their family member or members. As people of faith and hope in what is to come after we take our last breath in this world, we are in the best position compared to a person who does not have either of these virtues to make decisions about life in this world, with trust that there is a wonderful life waiting for us with the Lord for all eternity!
I feel compelled for a number of reasons to bring up today the practical issue (in our community for sure) of hospice care for ourselves or our loved ones. Making such a choice is often complex and in more than a few ases is a tough one to make. I have found out from personal experience that people are not always open to unsolicited input from me before or especially after a decision has been made to go into hospice care. Firstly, I want to apologize if my doing this has not been welcomed and has caused any negative feelings. I believe every parishioner wants to make an informed decision that is considerate of a number of factors including what the Church has to say about such end-of-life decisions. I will try to offer materials and possible workshop sessions with people representing "hospice care" opportunities and some of the Church's guidnace on such a delicate and often complex matter.
Obviously, it's the person himself or herself or the one designated by them who must make the final decision on what treatments to permit and what to withhold with the confidence and peace that the decision that is made is truly what's "Best" for the person. While going into "hospice care" is reversible if a person wants to receive treatment that does not meet the parameters of hospice care (which is to keep the person comfortable with the goal of quality of life not quantity), I want to be supportive of that and all decisions tha are made and will try to always ask if the person or persons want the guidance of the church on this important matter. If they don't, I still want to offer the best spiritual care that the Church gives me to offer to both the sick person and their family member or members. As people of faith and hope in what is to come after we take our last breath in this world, we are in the best position compared to a person who does not have either of these virtues to make decisions about life in this world, with trust that there is a wonderful life waiting for us with the Lord for all eternity!
Given the many activities that Hot Springs Village normally offers through the POA, civic organizations and local churches especially at this time of the year, I'm sure we continue to be saddened by the fact that so many have been cancelled due to health concerns from the corona virus. I give thanks every day that we have been able to at least offer the celebration of the Eucharist both inside the church (now everyday during Advent) and outside in the parking lot (on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm). Please pray that the weather allows us to continue to offer our outdoor Mass in this wintertime.
While we too have had to cancel more than a few of our normal activities, one annual Mass, I believe needs to happen this year, especially because of the realities of the corona virus, that being our annual Parish Mass of Remembrance. This Mass, which will be on Wednesday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. will be offered for loved ones of our parishioners who have died this past year no matter where that loved one died. Not only, due to the virus, did we not offer a funeral Mass for at least one of our dear parishioners, Ed Cudworth (though Masses have been offered for him since he died in March), I'm sure more than a few of you had relatives die, and because of concerns with COVID-19 you were not able to attend the funeral of your loved one. This special Mass gives us the chance to come together and lift all these dearly departed to the Lord, and offer comfort and consolation to those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones.
If you did lose a loved one in 2020 and did not put their name in our remembrance book that was in the Narthex this weekend, call the office to submit their name or come early on Wednesday before the 11:00 a.m. Mass to put their name in the book yourself. This book will be brought up and placed in front of the Easter Candle for this special Mass. Of course while we grieve the loss of our loved ones, including people like Ed Cudworth and other brothers and sisters in the Lord from our parish, we ALWAYS celebrate our hope for undending life for them and for us one day with the Lord and all the saints in glory. This is one annual event that definitely needs to and will take place! Please join us!
While we too have had to cancel more than a few of our normal activities, one annual Mass, I believe needs to happen this year, especially because of the realities of the corona virus, that being our annual Parish Mass of Remembrance. This Mass, which will be on Wednesday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. will be offered for loved ones of our parishioners who have died this past year no matter where that loved one died. Not only, due to the virus, did we not offer a funeral Mass for at least one of our dear parishioners, Ed Cudworth (though Masses have been offered for him since he died in March), I'm sure more than a few of you had relatives die, and because of concerns with COVID-19 you were not able to attend the funeral of your loved one. This special Mass gives us the chance to come together and lift all these dearly departed to the Lord, and offer comfort and consolation to those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones.
If you did lose a loved one in 2020 and did not put their name in our remembrance book that was in the Narthex this weekend, call the office to submit their name or come early on Wednesday before the 11:00 a.m. Mass to put their name in the book yourself. This book will be brought up and placed in front of the Easter Candle for this special Mass. Of course while we grieve the loss of our loved ones, including people like Ed Cudworth and other brothers and sisters in the Lord from our parish, we ALWAYS celebrate our hope for undending life for them and for us one day with the Lord and all the saints in glory. This is one annual event that definitely needs to and will take place! Please join us!