Saint Mary of the Assumption
Rev. Fr. Craig R. Eilerman
Dear parishioners,
Christ is risen, truly He is risen, Alleluia.
This will be a very different Easter for all of us. For the first time in my life, I will not be gathering with my family on Easter Sunday. I know this is true for most of you as well. This is just one more disappointment among many that we have experienced since the outbreak of Covid-19. Along with disappointment, at times I have felt sadness, anxiousness, and fear. I would imagine many of you have had these same feelings, as they are a natural response to the situation we find ourselves in. It’s healthy to recognize these feelings, not doing so could lead to depression. In admitting that these are difficult times, we then turn to our faith.
Recalling the story from the Gospel according to Luke (24:13-35), two disciples are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus that first Easter Sunday. They are feeling the same emotions we are experiencing now, disappointment, sadness, anxiety, and fear. The risen Christ is walking with them, but they do not recognize him. It is only when their journey is over, when reaching their destination and Christ breaks bread with them in the celebration of the Eucharist, that their eyes are open, and they recognize him.
We long for this pandemic journey to be over, for life to return to normal. We long to gather again to celebrate the Eucharist, to recognize the risen Christ in our presence and to receive Him Sacramentally. In this time of longing, do not forget that Christ is walking with us, he has not abandoned us. May our hearts burn with His presence, as did the hearts of those two disciples on their journey to Emmaus.
Mindful of those in our parish who are homebound or are of vulnerable health and should not be outside their homes during this time, we are offering a new parish initiative to serve their needs. If you, or someone you know in our parish, could use some help with a run to the grocery for an order pick-up, or grocery shopping, or picking up medicine at a pharmacy, please call our parish homebound care coordinator: Casandra Uhl at 1.517.980.4361. Casandra will get some initial information from you and connect one of our volunteers with you to take care of running your errand. If you are interested in potentially volunteering, please contact Brian McCauley at bmccauley@stmarylancaster.org.
My apologies to those who stopped by the rectory this week to pick up Holy Water, only to find there was none. Our Holy Water dispenser sprung a leak. The rectory porch is now the holiest porch in Lancaster. To correct the issue and to celebrate the new life Christ gives us in baptism, bottles of Holy Water will be available starting at 12:00 Noon on Easter Sunday and through Easter week on the front porch of the rectory. Please remember social distancing. No more than one person on the porch at a time.
My sincere gratitude to all who are able and continue to send in your weekly offertory, you are enabling us to continue to function as a parish in this difficult time. A reminder our Easter Sunday Mass will be live-streamed from St. Mary at www.stmarylancaster.org at 10 am as well as being carried on Spectrum Cable Channel CLN 1021. Daily Mass will be live-streamed from St. Mary every day at 10 am until this health crisis is over.
Let us continue to pray for one another.
May the peace of the risen Christ be with you.
Fr. Craig Eilerman
Pastor