A Message from our Pastor
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are in uncharted waters and, while here, let us recall the words of Jesus as he walked on the turbulent waters of the Sea of Galilee: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mt 14:27). In the uncharted waters of the Coronavirus outbreak, my prayer is that each of us will hear those words of Jesus and take heart, take consolation, and find peace. Let us pray for one another…and also, let’s be practical in how we live our faith in difficult times.
The Diocese of Orange has sent out a rather complete “Response to the Coronavirus” which can be found in totality on our parish website (
www.st-timsrc.org
) Let me highlight a few points:
- We will continue with our daily and weekend Mass schedule. We will also continue with our hours for Confession.
- Any person who, out of legitimate concern for their health and/or the health of others and wishes to avoid crowded areas, is dispensed from attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. This means, you don’t have to come to Mass if you have legitimate concerns as stated above. If you are ill, you should not come to Mass in the first place.
- If you choose not to come to Mass, I suggest that you spend time in prayer; you may read the Scriptures for the day, offer petitions for the good of others, and end with praying the Our Father. The Bible readings for Sunday Mass can be found at www.usccb.org.
- Pastors have the authority to cancel or not cancel parish-related events. Please see the listing below of our parish response to this point.
- As regards “non-essential” parish events, we are to refer to Governor Newsom’s statement dated March 11, 2020.
- Father Joseph and I are available for sick calls, bringing Holy Communion to the homebound, and for individual appointments for prayer and personal support. Please call us if you’d like. 949 249 4091
I ask that all of us look out for our neighbors, especially the elderly and those who live alone. If there is a single parent family in your neighborhood, perhaps you could ask if there is any way you might help him/her. Our food pantry will no doubt be impacted; thank you for considering bringing non-perishable food for the pantry to be distributed to those in need.
Yes, this is a time for “social-distancing” to control the grow of the Coronavirus; it is also a time to be prayerfully and practically close to others as we walk through this time together.
With my prayers for you and your family, and invoking the intercession of St. Timothy and Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Guadalupe, I am
Your brother in Christ,
Msgr. John Urell
