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June 10, 2021In the early days of the Church, when Christians were being persecuted for celebrating the Eucharist, they guarded the rites around Communion carefully. Only after someone had joined the Church, had committed their lives to Christ in baptism, could they even experience the Communion rite.
At some points in history, and even in some Catholic parishes today, people preparing to enter the Church were welcome to hear the readings and prayers, but were dismissed from the Mass when it came time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the beginning, it was about protecting, and later, it became about cherishing… holding that piece of the liturgy for the fully committed, because it contained the most special moments of the week. Still, the Church teaches that these moments are the source and summit of a Catholic’s week.
Of course, over the past year, this script has been switched to an extent, because at times the only way a person could access these moments, even if they were fully committed, was by watching them happen somewhere else, on a screen. But the specialness of the moments, the importance, those moments as source and summit- that has never changed.
The ultimate experience of Catholicism is the Mass, and the ultimate experience of the Mass is the sacrament of Eucharist. And now, with the Cardinal’s announcement, we are all obliged to set those moments apart in our lives by attending Mass, in person.
As a parish, our most fervent prayer is that all will come and receive Jesus with us, gathering around the table with us, joining voices in prayer. And so, as of the end of June, we won’t be recording weekly Sunday Masses and posting them online. But we will never stop making the Word of God and prayer available to everyone, in all possible ways. We have some exciting online plans for Sundays, designed specifically for those who can’t, or who aren’t ready to, join us in person.
Thank you for worshiping with us online this past year! We can’t wait to gather with you! Plan to join us as soon as you’re fully vaccinated, feeling healthy, and are able. If you can’t join us in person, stay tuned for what we still have to offer you.
Blessings,
-Margo
