COVID-19 (Coronavirus) March 17, 2020 Update
MARCH 17, 2020 LETTER
Bishop Siegel announced today that “In light of new information and recommendations from health officials concerning the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgency to stem the spread of the virus, the five Catholic bishops of Indiana have suspended – effective March 18 and until further notice – all Sunday and Weekday Public Masses throughout the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend, and Lafayette.” (from Diocesan Office of Communications) You may very well have already heard the above news from local media outlets, family members or friends, but I wanted to get this information to you as your pastor as well as share some of the other details on how we plan to proceed as this Holy Redeemer Parish Family.
We are temporarily suspending the public celebration of daily and weekend Masses here at Holy Redeemer, but are looking to livestream privately-celebrated daily and weekend Masses through the internet for those who have access. St. Benedict Parish will be doing the same & there is the possibility of having the weekend Masses from the Cathedral broadcast on local television. We will update you as these details become available.
We will continue the Sacrament of Reconciliation, adding more times so that there isn’t the need for a larger crowd at any single opportunity. This being said, the two cluster Reconciliation services scheduled at Holy Redeemer this Sunday, March 22 at 1 pm and St. John, Daylight Sunday, March 29 at 1 pm have been canceled.
We will continue frequent communication with everyone during this time to get the best information out to you. To assist us to do this, we need the most current contact information for you. Please click here to fill out a form with this information. You can also call the parish office to let us know.
Most importantly through all of this is that the church will continue to be open for prayer. In fact, we will move the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance from the St. John Vianney Eucharistic Adoration Chapel to the church tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18. This will provide more space for people to come for prayer in the exposed presence of our Lord while being conscious of the social distancing required at this time. The church will be open from 7 am to 7 pm daily for Eucharistic adoration during the week and weekend.
This news can be unsettling as we haven’t seen anything like this before. We are certainly in unprecedented times, but please do know that there is the precedent that God is with us through everything. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, before Jesus Ascension, he commissions His Apostles to go and make disciples of all people. That wasn’t the last word though as he then told them “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:20) He promised to be with them through everything. That promise didn’t end with them. He has been with his people down through the milenia. Just as he was with Patrick when he was stolen from his family and forced into slavery in Ireland, just as he was with him when he returned to the land of chaos as a Bishop, God is with us too. In the midst of uncertain times that are changing daily, this is one thing that I know for certain...GOD IS WITH US. He desires that we have faith in Him and in one another. St. Patrick pray for us.
The precautions that are being urged are to help limit the spread of COVID-19. As much as you might imagine them to protect yourself, it is really more about protecting those who are more susceptible among us. It is an act of charity to follow these precautions to help others not have contact with the virus. This act of charity isn’t enough though. These times call us to expand our charity beyond simple precautions. Now is the time to check in on your elderly family members, your neighbors or even the person who sits next to you at Mass. Call them to see how they are doing and how you can help them. Now is the time to pray for others, not only yourself and your own needs. Now is the time to be Christ to others. We do this though being smart and within reason, following the precautions that are given us as we reach out to our brothers and sisters around us.
At this time of social distancing and precautions, let us unite ever closer in spiritual nearness praying for one another. God calls us to be this Holy Redeemer Parish Family even when we cannot gather as this family usually does. In the days and weeks to come, we will continue to share ways that God invites us closer to one another in actions of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
God Bless,
Fr. Jason Gries
Pastor
Bishop Siegel announced today that “In light of new information and recommendations from health officials concerning the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgency to stem the spread of the virus, the five Catholic bishops of Indiana have suspended – effective March 18 and until further notice – all Sunday and Weekday Public Masses throughout the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend, and Lafayette.” (from Diocesan Office of Communications) You may very well have already heard the above news from local media outlets, family members or friends, but I wanted to get this information to you as your pastor as well as share some of the other details on how we plan to proceed as this Holy Redeemer Parish Family.
We are temporarily suspending the public celebration of daily and weekend Masses here at Holy Redeemer, but are looking to livestream privately-celebrated daily and weekend Masses through the internet for those who have access. St. Benedict Parish will be doing the same & there is the possibility of having the weekend Masses from the Cathedral broadcast on local television. We will update you as these details become available.
We will continue the Sacrament of Reconciliation, adding more times so that there isn’t the need for a larger crowd at any single opportunity. This being said, the two cluster Reconciliation services scheduled at Holy Redeemer this Sunday, March 22 at 1 pm and St. John, Daylight Sunday, March 29 at 1 pm have been canceled.
We will continue frequent communication with everyone during this time to get the best information out to you. To assist us to do this, we need the most current contact information for you. Please click here to fill out a form with this information. You can also call the parish office to let us know.
Most importantly through all of this is that the church will continue to be open for prayer. In fact, we will move the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance from the St. John Vianney Eucharistic Adoration Chapel to the church tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18. This will provide more space for people to come for prayer in the exposed presence of our Lord while being conscious of the social distancing required at this time. The church will be open from 7 am to 7 pm daily for Eucharistic adoration during the week and weekend.
This news can be unsettling as we haven’t seen anything like this before. We are certainly in unprecedented times, but please do know that there is the precedent that God is with us through everything. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, before Jesus Ascension, he commissions His Apostles to go and make disciples of all people. That wasn’t the last word though as he then told them “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:20) He promised to be with them through everything. That promise didn’t end with them. He has been with his people down through the milenia. Just as he was with Patrick when he was stolen from his family and forced into slavery in Ireland, just as he was with him when he returned to the land of chaos as a Bishop, God is with us too. In the midst of uncertain times that are changing daily, this is one thing that I know for certain...GOD IS WITH US. He desires that we have faith in Him and in one another. St. Patrick pray for us.
The precautions that are being urged are to help limit the spread of COVID-19. As much as you might imagine them to protect yourself, it is really more about protecting those who are more susceptible among us. It is an act of charity to follow these precautions to help others not have contact with the virus. This act of charity isn’t enough though. These times call us to expand our charity beyond simple precautions. Now is the time to check in on your elderly family members, your neighbors or even the person who sits next to you at Mass. Call them to see how they are doing and how you can help them. Now is the time to pray for others, not only yourself and your own needs. Now is the time to be Christ to others. We do this though being smart and within reason, following the precautions that are given us as we reach out to our brothers and sisters around us.
At this time of social distancing and precautions, let us unite ever closer in spiritual nearness praying for one another. God calls us to be this Holy Redeemer Parish Family even when we cannot gather as this family usually does. In the days and weeks to come, we will continue to share ways that God invites us closer to one another in actions of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
God Bless,
Fr. Jason Gries
Pastor
Diocesan Actions (more detailed information)
March 17, 2020 Update