March 31 update from Fr. Sean

Parish Update from Fr. Sean – March 31

Happy last day of March, everyone. When I look back at my calendar to the first day of the month I see where it was our Welcoming Sunday celebration. I met a number of new parishioners that day, and some “veterans,” too, and the Parish Hall was packed after the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses with kids running around and folks enjoying coffee and donuts. What a great day it was –  as every Sunday is.

Now, 31 days later, I miss seeing you every Sunday (boy, do I ever), but I know the spirit of  #weareCtR is alive in the community even as we keep our distance for the good of all. Be sure and build up the “domestic church” in your home through prayer and love. The body of Christ is one, though many, and the church is not just a building but is lived in the hearts of all the faithful, wherever we may be. Plus, just think how great those coffee and donuts are going to taste when we do come together again! Now, on to some news and notes:

• Please join me in wishing  Deacon Jack Alexander a happy retirement from CtR. Today is his final day as our Director of Adult Faith Formation, though he will still be with us as a deacon, of course. This is Deacon Jack’s second attempt at retirement. He tried it a few years ago, but quickly got bored and, when a need arose to fill the Adult Faith Formation position, he came back to us. But now his wife Kathy is retired from her job and he’s confident he’s going to get it right this time!

I am grateful for Deacon Jack’s service to our community. He’s filled a number of positions over the years, always responding with a quiet “yes” to whatever was asked of him.  A more dedicated, humble, and faithful servant of the Church you will never find. He’s done great work in expanding our opportunities for Adult Faith Formation over the years, as well as overseeing our Baptism ministry. He’s coordinated our Adult Confirmation team, helped out in RCIA a great deal, and been a pastoral presence to all in need. It will come as no surprise for you to learn that while his official duties are coming to an end, he’s offered to help out wherever is needed going forward. I suspect we’ll see just as much of him around here as ever. Thank you, Deacon Jack! God bless you in your retirement (and good luck at it this time)!

Camilla MacKenzie will take over Deacon Jack’s duties in a new position in July. You will recall she was with us for two years as one of our Echo apprentices while she was completing her Master’s at the University of Notre Dame. She’ll be supplementing some things that Deacon Jack has set forth for the time being while we’re in “distance mode,” and then get ramped up to join us full-time this summer.

• I’m convinced that  prayer is the secret to uniting our community in these anxious days. We are always a people of prayer even while we are apart, and so we’ve added a  new portal on our website where you may submit your prayer requests. It’s a very simple form to complete, and all prayer intentions will be shared with our priests, deacons, and lay staff. We promise to remember all of your requests daily, so please let us know  how we can pray for you. And please remember us in your prayers, too!

• We are also reaching out to a number of parishioners via the wonderful technology of phone calls. Do you remember what a voice call sounds like? I had nearly forgotten! So much of our world these days is wrapped up in texts, videos, chats, and emails, that there is something charming about simply hearing the voice of another, without the aid of a screen or emoji to go along with it.

The clergy and a few staff and key ministry leaders are taking time each day to reach out to parishioners, starting with some of our long-time members, as well as our elderly and those who may be homebound. It’s important to check in on family and friends in our lives, so please make a point to do that yourself to those in your life. And in a few days we’ll have a way for you to request a call from one of the priests or deacons, too. Stay tuned for that.
  
With the extension of the Harris County  “Stay Home, Work Safe” order, it seems we will continue this distancing through April. That, of course, will take us through Holy Week and Easter. It’s not ideal, but we all suspected this would be the case. And make no mistake; it is for the best, even though it hurts to not have public masses for Easter.  We need to offer up this sacrifice for the good of all so that we might find our way through the pandemic. If anything, it makes the sacrifice of the Lord on the cross for our salvation that much more palpable for us.

Rest assured we will continue to  live stream our services on Facebook and YouTube. I’m meeting tomorrow with our staff to discuss just how we can celebrate all the many liturgies of Holy Week and make them available to you for your prayer.  We’ll get it done and God will be praised, of this much I know! I’ll have more to share with you in the coming days.

St. Benjamin, Deacon and Martyr, whose feast day is today, pray for us!
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Peace, Fr. Sean