God Will Not Abandon Us

Dear Parishioners,
 
We are in extraordinary times. My mother just moved to a nursing home, and the place is not accepting visitors. There is a national emergency. And of course, there is a run on toilet paper! I received the following prayer from the Knights of Columbus national office in my email. Let us remember to keep all in prayer as we get through an unprecedented time in our lives. Let us pray fervently that our faith be strengthened, our courage in the face of difficulty made stronger, and our support for one another be made more constant. God will not abandon us but is reason for hope! Let us turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God for consolation and help:
 

“O Mary, you always brighten our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the Cross, took part in Jesus' pain while remaining steadfast in faith. O loving Mother, you know what we need, and we are confident you will provide for us as at Cana in Galilee. Intercede for us with you Son Jesus, the Divine Physician, for those who have fallen ill, for those who are vulnerable, and for those who have died. Intercede also for those charged with protecting the health and safety of others and for those who are tending to the sick and seeking a cure. Help us, O Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who took upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows, so as to lead us, through the Cross, to the glory of the Resurrection. Amen
 
Under thy protection we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God. In our needs, despise not our petitions, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.”

Blessings in these troubled times, 
Deacon Steve

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Not As Man Sees Does God See

Dear Parishioners,
 
How strange it was to have Sunday with no Masses. However, we had a vigil Mass on Saturday evening attended by 101 parishioners. How much longer our churches will be closed for Mass is unknown. We can however, watch Mass on EWTN, YouTube, and archbalt.org. Furthermore, the week’s scripture readings are included (Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Eph 5:8-14 ; Jn 9:1-41) so that we can stay in touch with the Lord.
 
This week the readings are about seeing. In the first reading, Samuel is called by God to anoint a king from among Jesse’s 8 sons of lofty stature. The first seven are rejected because he doesn’t see in them what he wants in a king. “Not as man sees does God see.” Samuel finds the 8th son, David, is the one God wants. The gospel of the man born blind shows Jesus healing the man not only from physical blindness but also spiritual blindness. He alone comes to believe in Jesus and worships Him, whereas the Pharisees who can see remain blind to Jesus being the Messiah, the Son of Man.
 
May God help to enlighten us so as to grow in our faith.

Fr. Carl