March 16 update from Fr. Sean

March 16, 2020

Parish Update – Monday, March 16 from Fr. Sean

As the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic further plays out locally, nationally, and internationally, here’s the latest information about what is happening – and not happening – at Christ the Redeemer. One caveat: This is subject to change, and likely will, but this is where we are as of 4 p.m. today.

We have shifted to what you might call “hurricane mode” for most all parish activities. (We’re well-schooled in doing that.) That means that there will be no ministry or group meetings on campus at least through the remainder of the week. For the most part, we will be operating on a reduced schedule. Many employees are working from home, while a few others will be here on a staggered basis as needed. We will answer all emails and voicemails promptly. Our front desk will be staffed from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily to answer questions.

The chapel (i.e., the old church) will be open for private prayer and devotion from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. Eucharistic Adoration will be in the chapel at this time so that you might pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. We will close and repose the Blessed Sacrament at 6 p.m. each day. Our perpetual adoration hours overnight are suspended until further notice.

In anxious times like this, it is good to come to the Lord in prayer. This move to the chapel will allow us to accommodate more people for private prayer while also giving us enough room to practice social distancing from one another. All who come to the chapel will be asked to maintain a distance of six feet from one another. No one is required to come to adoration and those who are in the high-risk categories are asked to please stay home. The directive from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) should be followed. We encourage everyone to practice social isolation to the extent that it is possible. We don’t anticipate more than 10 people at any one time, but should more be present, we’d ask you to wait in the courtyard and rotate in when someone leaves.

I’ll offer daily Mass tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17 (Happy St. Patrick’s Day, btw) as scheduled, but I ask you not to come. I know it’s a strange request from a priest, and it breaks my heart to do so, but it’s for the good of all. We will never stop offering Mass for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, but it is best that it be done privately at this time. I expect further clarification on this by tomorrow from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Remember, Cardinal DiNardo has dispensed the obligation for Sunday Mass as of last Friday. I’ll have more information on our schedule of Masses for the rest of the week and next Sunday (including how you information on live streaming of the liturgy) by tomorrow afternoon. Pastoral ministry will always continue and our priests, deacons, and lay ministers are here to serve your spiritual needs. Please pray for us as we pray for you.

The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry scheduled for this coming Friday has been canceled. The Knights are disappointed as they truly love serving you, but even doing it as “to-go only” as we did last Friday still means that they have to congregate to cook and serve it, and we just can’t have them together like that. We served 902 dinner to-go last week, and I’m sorry we can’t offer it again. There will be no public Stations of the Cross on Friday evening either, though you are welcome to pray them privately during the day.

The St. Joseph Altar and Luncheon that was scheduled for this coming Sunday has been canceled. Like the Knights, the ladies (and men) who put it on are disappointed. It’s a great tradition of our parish and I look forward to it returning next year. We will try to find a way to disperse the many Italian cookies they have made in advance of it.

The Confirmation retreat that was planned for next weekend has been canceled. Youth Ministry is in touch with students and parents about current plans for the rest of the school year. Likewise, Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation will be in touch with parents to make arrangements for home-based options to prepare for First Communion later in May.

Please continue to pray for our RCIA elect and candidates for full communion. They’ve had their formation for entrance into the Church derailed a bit, but we’ll be working with them to keep them on the path to being welcomed into the faith.

CtR School and our Genesis Early Childhood Program will continue to update their students and families throughout the week on new developments and distance learning initiatives.

I’ll be back tomorrow with more information. I ask for your patience as we make these adjustments to our routine. It’s a sacrifice, yes, but that’s what Lent is about. None of us chose this penance this year, but it is nonetheless an opportunity to open ourselves up to God’s grace and be united in prayer – albeit at a distance – with one another, especially the sick and those who are suffering greatly at this time. We will let you know of other modifications to our parish schedule as soon as we can.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.