Musings of Fr. Bryan T. Reif
This past week, the staff met together and we discussed possible ways that we can increase the opportunity for prayer, even in the midst of the pandemic. For the foreseeable future, I suspect that we are going to be hampered in our efforts to have in-person meetings and programs by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but the point I made to the staff at the staff meeting was that we need to continue to strive to fulfill our mission, which is the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebration of the Sacraments, and Divine Worship. To that end, I have made a couple of decisions that will go into effect on August 31st with regard to the church buildings, namely, that when the office is open at either parish, the church building will be unlocked and open for private prayer. At St. Al’s this is Monday through Thursday, and at St. Simon this is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The office typically opens between 8:30 and 9 AM and closes at 3 PM. The office is closed at St, Simon on Wednesdays, and closed at St. Al’s on Fridays, so the church will not be open in those parishes on those days respectively. Having the church unlocked and open will afford the Christian Faithful of this region the opportunity to make a visit to the church for private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, where Our Blessed Lord awaits us. The second decision is to expose the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance on the Altar at St. Al’s every Thursday morning from the close of Mass until 10 AM at the conclusion of the Rosary. We have Rosary at 9:30 AM every Thursday at St. Al’s. I invite you to come before Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration and to offer prayers, especially for priests, and for our parishes at this time. I believe we are entering some very challenging times, and that more prayer is needed and necessary, not less, and I hope that these decisions will help facilitate more time in prayer before the Eucharistic Presence and Eucharistic Heart of Our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. We are also thinking and discussing other opportunities for prayer as well, but for now, we will start with these.
Take Good Care,
Fr. Bryan T. Reif