Saint Mary of the Assumption
Rev. Fr. Craig R. Eilerman
Dear Parishioners,
A very blessed Pentecost! Today we celebrate the conclusion of the great fifty days of Easter, recalling the descent of the Holy Spirit on those first disciples. Pentecost is the fulfillment of Christ’s work of reconciliation and restoration. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we received at our Baptism and Confirmation we are incorporated into the very life of God, being restored to the dignity of his sons and daughters and given the commission to be God’s instruments of reconciliation in the world.
On a personal note, although not on the same date this year, the Solemnity of Pentecost marks the anniversary of the first Mass I celebrated as a priest. I remember being far more nervous at my first Mass than I was for my ordination the day before. Now I was the celebrant of the Mass and would need to remember the when and how of each step of the Liturgy. That it was also Pentecost Sunday, a major celebration of the church year only increased my anxiety. I find myself in much the same situation this year as we return to the public celebration of Mass.
There has been an avalanche of information passed on to me concerning the issues involved in gathering for Mass during this pandemic. Trying to maintain the dignity of the Mass, while also making the environment of our church as safe as possible, is and will continue to be challenging. I ask for your patience in this process, there certainly will be a learning curve for all of us.
The other challenge is that now there are two constituent groups in the parish, one that is able to attend Mass and the other, because of age or underlying health issues cannot. My heart goes out to those who cannot risk returning to Mass at this time. The knowledge that some are able to be at Mass while others cannot, only makes the separation even more acute. We will continue to live-stream the Mass as long as we are able, but it is expensive ($345 weekly) and with the downturn in our offertory, the parish’s budget will need to be scrutinized.
Despite these challenges, it is wonderful that we are again able to gather for public Mass. The risen Jesus greets his disciples with the words “Peace be with you” in today’s Gospel. This is the greeting that Christians have exchanged with one another for over two thousand years. Despite all that we have been through or will go through, we live in the sure knowledge that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ and so our hearts are and will continue to be at peace.
Let us continue to pray for each other.
Fr. Eilerman
Pastor