I wonder how you are dealing with the extraordinary situation we find ourselves in. I wonder about you senior parishioners (I know – I’m in your number!); I wonder especially about those of you who live alone and have no family nearby. My call team and I have been able to connect with many of you by phone, but in other cases it’s been frustrating to find that the phone number on file is no longer good (do drop us a note if you’ve gotten a new home or cell phone number in the last few years!) And so I do wonder about you and I pray that you are doing okay, staying safe, getting what you need.
I wonder about all working from home. For some households it probably works pretty well; for others, especially those with children, it may be more challenging. Kids out of boredom climbing the walls and acting out as kids do can hardly make for a productive work environment! Even so, we all know that the time spent together as a family is a blessing that you’ll remember with gratitude.
I wonder about you whose work is essential and who still head off to work each day. Some are nurses, doctors, medical techs or hospital support staff; some are in law enforcement (like my nephew) or are first responders of one sort or another. Some are checkers at the Giant or Safeway, or you staff the neighborhood CVS, or drive a metro bus – and I know that doesn’t begin to exhaust the possibilities. Many of you put yourselves in harm’s way each day and I want to acknowledge the selflessness and the heroism that requires. Each day at Mass I pray for you in a special way, asking God to keep you healthy and safe and to give you the physical and emotional strength to deal with the situations in which you find yourselves.
I wonder – and I worry – about all of you who have been laid off or furloughed. I can only begin to imagine how scary this is. And to those who own small businesses – or big businesses – I wonder how you are dealing with this awful moment. Many have had no choice but to lay off employees, some who may be like family. It must be heart wrenching.
I wonder, too, how those who have lost loved ones are handling the loss. Death is always exceedingly painful, but if you have not been able to be with a dying loved one or have been unable to receive the grace-filled consolation of the Church by celebrating a funeral, the pain must be unbearable. My heart goes out to you.
And then I wonder about all the young adults working with Fr. John or me to prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage. I know how hard it has been to accept rescheduling your weddings to 2021. And I really miss being with you for your marriage prep sessions. I have tried to keep timeslots down the road for you – I prefer in-person sessions rather than Zoom! I can’t wait to see you.
And I can’t help but wonder about all of you who are preparing for the baptism of your child or celebrating your child’s First Holy Communion or Confirmation. And of course, I think of those of you who were hoping to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil! God bless you. You are continuing to grow in your relationship with Jesus and with others in your group of Elect and Candidates. This much I can tell you: when we do get to celebrate these great moments, it will be a very happy day!
