Dear St. Raphael community,
I have an important announcement about some changes for Masses this weekend. I’ve said many times that as a parish our vision and mission remain the same, but we need to be creative in seeking innovative methods to accomplish them in the midst of crisis and uncertainty - and trust that God will show us the way!
We have another opportunity to be creative this weekend. Fr. Vinny, who has with great dedication anointed two COVID patients in the hospital recently, has not been feeling well and went right away to get a COVD test. While the hospital gave him all the appropriate personal protective equipment to wear, we know there is always some risk of infection from the virus. Fr. Vinny is doing the loving thing to protect others and is quarantining at home until his test results come in. While he’s awaiting those results (please pray they are negative!) all of us that live with him in the Jesuit community have been advised by medical professionals both from our Jesuit province and from our medical experts on the St. Raphael reopen team, to consider ourselves as potentially living with a COVID positive person and to protect others from possible contagion by also staying at home as much as possible.
For that reason none of our Jesuit priests will be going to campus for Masses this weekend. However, here’s the way we’re going to innovate to still help connect us to God and each other:
The outdoor Masses will become Communion services led by the deacons, at the same times as usual (Saturday 6:30 pm in Spanish, Sunday 8:00 am in English). There will be a liturgy of the Word service, and there will be distribution of Communion.
The livestream Masses will happen at the same time and with the same links as usual (Sunday 10:30 am in English and 12:30 pm in Spanish). We will livestream Masses not from the church building, but from the Jesuit community. So, the Jesuits invite you (virtually!) to our house this Sunday for Mass!
Thank you once again for your understanding and flexibility as we adapt as needed in these times to live our our same vision of helping people encounter Jesus, be formed as his disciples, and live his mission by their lives.
St. Raphael the Healer...pray for us!