May 29 update from Fr. Sean

Parish Update – Friday, May 29

We made it, friends – or just about at least. This Sunday we celebrate the  Solemnity of Pentecost, the final day of the 50 days of Easter. Alleluia! Alleluia!

On Pentecost we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus and what has come to be known as the “birthday of the Church.” Gathered together in Jerusalem the followers of Jesus, who were of every race and tongue, soon discovered themselves to be “filled with the Holy Spirit.” It was a microcosm of what the Church would become: faithful believers in the saving work of Jesus Christ who are empowered by the Spirit to go and spread the Good News.  That work continues today. We, too, come from different backgrounds and ways of life but yet we are united by the Spirit of God to build up the Body of Christ in all we say and do.

This year, Pentecost takes on an added joyful note for us at CtR as it is the  40th anniversary of the founding of our parish, so … happy birthday to us! (I was surprised to learn that June 1, 1980 is the birthday of CNN as well.) We are blessed that our founding pastor, Father George Sheltz – now  Bishop George Sheltz, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston – will be with us this Sunday to celebrate the 9 a.m. Mass for our community once again.

We, of course, had big plans to mark this special day, but those have been tempered in light of the ongoing social distancing measures we have in place due to the coronavirus. That’s OK! We are still planning to mark the occasion, and we’ll have other ways to highlight the anniversary throughout the year.  Why limit it to one day? For now, let us give thanks to God for his many blessings throughout these past 40 years. May the same Holy Spirit that came upon the first disciples long ago still enflame our hearts so that we might continue to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 40 more years – and for years to come after that as well!

Now, on to a few updates:

• As mentioned, Bishop Sheltz will be our celebrant on Pentecost Sunday at 9 a.m. We invite you to join us either in person or via our  livestream on Facebook or YouTube. A worship aid to follow along with the liturgy at  www.ctrcc.com/live-stream.

I suspect this might be the first Mass where we will need to utilize the overflow capability of the Parish Hall if we get more than 300 people in attendance. We’ve been prepared for it each week, but so far have not had need of it, but there’s a chance we’ll have more people want to attend on our anniversary weekend than we can safely hold at this time. Rest assured the livestream will be shown in the Parish Hall and we’ll bring communion to anyone who may be there.

Remember our  modified weekend public Mass schedule for now is Saturday at 5 p.m., and Sunday at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. We ask that the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass be reserved for those aged 60 and older, please. (Though if your work schedule precludes you from coming on Sunday, you are welcome to attend.) Follow the ushers’ direction and keep social distance in the pews, and we do ask that everyone wear a mask, please, for the safety of all.

I ask as well that you remember CtR in your charity by making your weekly collection tithe either  online via Faith Direct or PayPal, or by mailing in or dropping off your offertory envelope. Your support is greatly appreciated in these unprecedented times. May God bless you in your generosity.

Additionally, I ask for you to pray for our 19 "Elect" who will be brought into the Church this Saturday night through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, in a special Mass (not open to the public) reserved just for them and their families. These Catechumens were scheduled to be received into the Church back on the Easter Vigil, 50 days ago.  Thanks be to God we can bring them in now at the Pentecost Vigil! They've waited patiently, and I appreciate their perseverance. Welcome to God's Holy Church, my brothers and sisters!

• One of the hallmarks of CtR over the years has been our service to others, and I’d like to see that highlighted on our 40th anniversary weekend. I ask that if you are planning to come to Mass at any time this weekend – or even if you will be watching at home and want to participate later – that you  please bring a donation for the Cypress Assistance Ministry Food Pantry. We’ll have collection bins in the narthex as you enter. CAM began as a ministry of CtR long ago and it seems appropriate that as we celebrate our anniversary, we remember in a special way those in our community who are in need of a bit of help at this time. The needs of the food pantry are what you might expect: jelly, dry beans, canned fruit, toilet paper, bleach, etc. For an extended list of needed items see this  link.

• Throughout this week on our parish Facebook page we’ve been posting pictures and memories from across our 40 years. (I especially like seeing those “wagon wheel” light fixtures in pictures from the old church! Fortunately we retired those when we remodeled the chapel following the construction of the new church in 2008.) We’d love to see your pictures and read your memories of how CtR has been ­– and still is – part of the life of your family. Comment on any of our posts, or post them to your own wall and tag us at  #CtR40 or  #weareCtR.

• I have a meeting next week of the Presbyteral Council, an advisory board to  Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. I’m hopeful at that time we’ll get further information on the next phase on  how and when the churches will expand on their reopening plans. While we are able to do much now in a modified way, I know many of you are anxious for us to continue to expand upon our public ministries on campus. We share that desire and look forward to doing so as long as we can do it safely and in compliance with state and local guidelines, as well as the directives of Cardinal DiNardo, who has final authority over the operation of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. I’ll report back to you what I learn.  For now remember our parish office is open during the week to serve you. In addition, confessions are heard every Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the chapel, and anytime by appointment by emailing  [email protected], and the chapel is open daily for private prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The obligation to attend Mass is still dispensed so no one should feel they “have” to come, and remember, our 9 a.m. Mass will continue to be livestreamed during the week and on Sundays.

• Lastly, I understand the traditional gift on the occasion of a 40th anniversary is the ruby. Perhaps you will want to break out all your finest ruby gems and don them this weekend to celebrate with us. (LOL!) If not, it would seem the color red is associated with rubies, and that’s the perfect color to wear for Pentecost to represent the tongues of fire. Let us pray:  Come Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth!

Christ, the Redeemer, our guide for the past 40 years, pray for us!

Peace, Fr. Sean