Life Teen has a beautiful article about racial division and connecting it to being a pro life matter (which it is infinitely), challenging us to look at each person as if we are looking at Jesus, calling us to higher standards, and calling us to authentic Love. See link below
https://lifeteen.com/blog/getting-honest-uncomfortable-race-discrimination/
https://lifeteen.com/blog/getting-honest-uncomfortable-race-discrimination/
The next live stream will begin at
8:30am CDT
Friday, June 5th
Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
|
|
THE LINKS ABOVE ARE ONLY FOR LIVE MASS STREAMS
Click here for previous masses and other Covid-19 resources
http://usccb.org/news/2020/20-83.cfm
Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen in Wake of Death of George Floyd and National Protests May 29, 2020
WASHINGTON – Seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued a statement in the wake of the death of Mr. George Floyd and the protests which have broken out in Minneapolis and in other cities in the United States.
Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism; Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church; Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, chairman of the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; Bishop David G. O’Connell, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development; and Bishop Joseph N. Perry, auxiliary bishop of Chicago, chairman of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs have issued the following statement:
We are broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to watch another video of an African American man being killed before our very eyes. What’s more astounding is that this is happening within mere weeks of several other such occurrences. This is the latest wake-up call that needs to be answered by each of us in a spirit of determined conversion.
Racism is not a thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue to be bandied about when convenient. It is a real and present danger that must be met head on. As members of the Church, we must stand for the more difficult right and just actions instead of the easy wrongs of indifference. We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.
While it is expected that we will plead for peaceful non-violent protests, and we certainly do, we also stand in passionate support of communities that are understandably outraged. Too many communities around this country feel their voices are not being heard, their complaints about racist treatment are unheeded, and we are not doing enough to point out that this deadly treatment is antithetical to the Gospel of Life.
As we said eighteen months ago in our most recent pastoral letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts, for people of color some interactions with police can be fraught with fear and even danger. People of good conscience must never turn a blind eye when citizens are being deprived of their human dignity and even their lives. Indifference is not an option. “As bishops, we unequivocally state that racism is a life issue.”
We join Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis in praying for the repose of the soul of Mr. George Floyd and all others who have lost their lives in a similar manner. We plead for an end to the violence in the wake of this tragedy and for the victims of the rioting. We pray for comfort for grieving families and friends. We pray for peace across the United States, particularly in Minnesota, while the legal process moves forward. We also anticipate a full investigation that results in rightful accountability and actual justice.
We join our brother bishops to challenge everyone to come together, particularly with those who are from different cultural backgrounds. In this encounter, let us all seek greater understanding amongst God’s people. So many people who historically have been disenfranchised continue to experience sadness and pain, yet they endeavor to persevere and remain people of great faith. We encourage our pastors to encounter and more authentically accompany them, listen to their stories, and learn from them, finding substantive ways to enact systemic change. Such encounters will start to bring about the needed transformation of our understanding of true life, charity, and justice in the United States. Hopefully, then there will be many voices speaking out and seeking healing against the evil of racism in our land.
As we anticipate the Solemnity of Pentecost this weekend, we call upon all Catholics to pray and work toward a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for a supernatural desire to rid ourselves of the harm that bias and prejudice cause. We call upon Catholics to pray to the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of Truth to touch the hearts of all in the United States and to come down upon our criminal justice and law enforcement systems. Finally, let each and every Catholic, regardless of their ethnicity, beg God to heal our deeply broken view of each other, as well as our deeply broken society.
Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen in Wake of Death of George Floyd and National Protests May 29, 2020
WASHINGTON – Seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued a statement in the wake of the death of Mr. George Floyd and the protests which have broken out in Minneapolis and in other cities in the United States.
Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism; Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church; Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, chairman of the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; Bishop David G. O’Connell, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development; and Bishop Joseph N. Perry, auxiliary bishop of Chicago, chairman of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs have issued the following statement:
We are broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to watch another video of an African American man being killed before our very eyes. What’s more astounding is that this is happening within mere weeks of several other such occurrences. This is the latest wake-up call that needs to be answered by each of us in a spirit of determined conversion.
Racism is not a thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue to be bandied about when convenient. It is a real and present danger that must be met head on. As members of the Church, we must stand for the more difficult right and just actions instead of the easy wrongs of indifference. We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.
While it is expected that we will plead for peaceful non-violent protests, and we certainly do, we also stand in passionate support of communities that are understandably outraged. Too many communities around this country feel their voices are not being heard, their complaints about racist treatment are unheeded, and we are not doing enough to point out that this deadly treatment is antithetical to the Gospel of Life.
As we said eighteen months ago in our most recent pastoral letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts, for people of color some interactions with police can be fraught with fear and even danger. People of good conscience must never turn a blind eye when citizens are being deprived of their human dignity and even their lives. Indifference is not an option. “As bishops, we unequivocally state that racism is a life issue.”
We join Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis in praying for the repose of the soul of Mr. George Floyd and all others who have lost their lives in a similar manner. We plead for an end to the violence in the wake of this tragedy and for the victims of the rioting. We pray for comfort for grieving families and friends. We pray for peace across the United States, particularly in Minnesota, while the legal process moves forward. We also anticipate a full investigation that results in rightful accountability and actual justice.
We join our brother bishops to challenge everyone to come together, particularly with those who are from different cultural backgrounds. In this encounter, let us all seek greater understanding amongst God’s people. So many people who historically have been disenfranchised continue to experience sadness and pain, yet they endeavor to persevere and remain people of great faith. We encourage our pastors to encounter and more authentically accompany them, listen to their stories, and learn from them, finding substantive ways to enact systemic change. Such encounters will start to bring about the needed transformation of our understanding of true life, charity, and justice in the United States. Hopefully, then there will be many voices speaking out and seeking healing against the evil of racism in our land.
As we anticipate the Solemnity of Pentecost this weekend, we call upon all Catholics to pray and work toward a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for a supernatural desire to rid ourselves of the harm that bias and prejudice cause. We call upon Catholics to pray to the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of Truth to touch the hearts of all in the United States and to come down upon our criminal justice and law enforcement systems. Finally, let each and every Catholic, regardless of their ethnicity, beg God to heal our deeply broken view of each other, as well as our deeply broken society.
FURTHERING THE MISSION UPDATE
May 21, 2020 Dear Friends, Last weekend’s re-opening experience for most all the priests and parishes of the diocese were surprising and gratifying. Many priests were thinking that there would be hordes of people coming back at the same time, so lots of preparation work was done in anticipation of that surge. That large number did not happen, and it was gratifying to see that the church community at large is taking the virus threat to health seriously; and yet, for those who did come to Mass in the building, the joy of being present in person in a reverent and safe environment was tangible. I was very heartened by the weekend, and the feedback I received was affirmative. A special thank you to the ones who helped us clean and sanitize the Church after each Mass. Really well done. So, weekend #2 is ahead and we will continue to use the same process as last weekend. Color-coded tickets for each mass will be available at the ticket kiosk located under the covered drive thru next to the Church beginning today [Thursday], Friday and Saturday 9:00am -4:00pm. Sunday morning tickets will be available 6:30am – 6:30pm. Get a ticket for each individual wanting to attend the particular mass desired and bring it to the ticket –table at the front entrance of Church. Our seating capacity is 250 persons. Proceed to an available pew or chair in church and use the color -6ft “slider” for seating social distancing. Instructions for Communion will be given during Mass. Please bring and wear your own mask for Mass. The 9:30am Mass will be livestreamed. In the event we reach our seating capacity at any mass, a person can sit outside the building and listen to the Mass audio, and communion will be brought outside. I will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Church on Saturday from 2:45- 3:30pm or by appointment. Again, please bring and wear your mask. All of this is very different than what you or I may be used to. If you want to try coming back to Mass in the building more slowly, you can try daily Mass Monday – Friday 8:30am. No ticket required. Please do wear your own mask. With the cooperation of many, the celebration of First Communion will be on Sunday, May 31, 2:00pm. Confirmation will be on Wednesday, June 3rd [with Bishop Duca]. The closing exercise for our Elementary School 8th graders will be on Tuesday, June 9th. We will follow the same procedures as for the daily and weekend masses. For these events, the persons allowed to attend will be fewer than usual to maintain our capacity of 250. I am also meeting with the Catechumenate Coordinators for Adults and Children to determine possible dates for initiation in the future, as well as how during this particular time we can offer the process of formation in ways other than at a gathering on campus. I want to tip my hat to the new ministry that arose during this pandemic: Good Streams: Live at SJV. These are men and women who are working providing all the live stream masses and other events on our website. Great work all. During these difficult times please know that you are prayed for each day. As I said in my homily this past weekend, we can do this. And, we are. Love, Fr. Tom 
Deacon Dan's Reflection
|
GOING TO CONFESSION : WHAT TO DO DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES
|
