Message from Archbishop Nelson J. Perez

On Tuesday, 17 March, all parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received the following two announcements:

ARCHBISHOP NELSON J. PÉREZ ANNOUNCES THE SUSPENSION OF ALL PUBLIC MASSES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA EFFECTIVE AT NOON MARCH 18

UPDATED DIRECTIVES IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS OFFICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP

Message from Monsignor Brouwers

In response to these new directives and guidelines, allow me to offer some suggestions:

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHILE I CAN’T GO TO MASS?
While you are unable to participate in the Eucharistic celebration in person, I encourage you to join us online; we will be live streaming our 9:30am Sunday Masses until further notice.  We are a strong faith community and our Lord calls us together to worship God.  We cannot, at this time, come together in person but, thanks to modern technology, we can come together virtually.  Our parish has a dedicated YouTube link – click here to view.  If you haven’t yet signed up for Flocknote, I strongly encourage you to do so by clicking here
In the case when we are unable to attend Mass, we are encouraged to make a ‘spiritual communion’. St. John Paul II writes:

“It is good to cultivate in our hearts a constant desire for the sacrament of the Eucharist. This was the origin of the practice of “spiritual communion”, which has happily been established in the Church for centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life. Saint Teresa of Jesus wrote: “When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you.”  (Ecclesia Eucharistia, no. 34) 

HOW DO I MAKE A SPIRITUAL COMMUNION?

You can gather together as a family – after all, the family is the “domestic Church”.  Join the rest of your parish community by live streaming the 9:30am Sunday Mass.  If you are unable to join in our live streamed Mass, you can make a “spiritual communion” yourselves in the following way:

• Gather with others in your household and begin a time of prayer with the sign of the cross.
• Take time to read and reflect upon the readings from Sunday Mass. 

• Share prayer intentions quietly or aloud.
• Pray the Lord’s Prayer.
• Pray the following prayer of spiritual communion (composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori):

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you since you are already there and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.

• Close with the sign of the cross.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR PARISH

While COVID-19 requires social distancing, our parish and school continue to bring us together – in new ways – for worship and learning and community building.  With COVID-19, we are challenged to put our trust in God and reach out to those in need.  So, we need our financial base to remain strong.  While you are unable to attend Mass, I strongly encourage you to sign up for electronic giving through Parish Giving, if you have not yet done so.  Over 175 parishioners have already done this and we receive a reliable source of revenue from them; I’m very grateful for that.  With Parish Giving, you can easily arrange to have your contribution withdrawn from your bank checking or savings account or from your credit card.  Simply click the link below; it’s very easy to sign up.  We continue to rely on you to keep our parish alive and well.  Thank you for your continued support.

As Abp. Pérez indicated in his remarks, we are not shutting down; we’re just adjusting how we live and act as a parish. Our church will be open from 6:00am until 4:30pm every day and I encourage you to spend some time before our Lord who is really present in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in our tabernacle.   Following the advice of the Office for Divine Worship, we will also hold our regular Monday Adoration from 8:30am until 4:30pm.  I rely on your common sense to stay home if you’re in a high risk group or not feeling well.
To make sure our parish activities continue as best as they can under these circumstances, I’m continuing to meet virtually through Google Meet; I’ve already met with both the Parish Pastoral Council and our RCIA group, and the four evangelization groups are also meeting in this way.  I encourage other parish organizations to find ways to stay connected electronically, as well.  It is important that we continue to keep our relationship to God and to each other strong during this time of national and, indeed, worldwide crisis.  God remains close to us; let us stay close to him.