Month: October 2020

Musings of Fr. Bryan T. Reif

Happy All Saints Day, and Happy November!  It is hard for me to believe that we are already deep into the Fall now, and that Advent is just a few short weeks away.  It is also hard to believe that we have been open for public celebration of the Mass since May, and we are still operating under restrictions imposed on us by the State, the wearing of masks, social distancing, the use of hand sanitizer, and restricted capacity.  Since February, the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days has been dispensed.  The priests have heard that the feeling among the bishops currently is to continue the dispensation from the Obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days through the balance of 2020.  

Even though the Obligation to attend Mass has been dispensed, and no-one is required, at this time to attend, so many of our parishioners, so many of you have decided to attend Mass and receive the Sacraments, and have been faithfully coming to Mass every weekend.  I recognize that this is not being done out of a sense of obligation, but is being done out of a sense of love for the Lord Jesus, and out of a desire to grow in love of Him, and to grow in the Faith.  I thank you from my heart for this witness to the Faith and to the Lord that you are giving to me, and to one another.  I commend you, and I am proud of you for your love of Jesus Christ.  I am also very proud of you for taking the things that we are being asked to do to minimize the possibility of the spread of the virus seriously.  Thank you for wearing your masks, keeping socially distant, and refraining from physical contact with neighbors whom I am sure we wish very deeply we could shake hands with or give a hug.  What you are doing is exactly what a Christian community, a parish, is called to do, pray with one another, lift one another up to God, and stand in solidarity and support of one another, especially when things are tough going as they are now with the pandemic.  Thank you for that, and may the Lord’s blessing continue to come upon all of us in our two parishes.

Take Good Care,

Fr. Bryan T. Reif

Musings of Fr. Bryan T. Reif

Last week we all received the news that the President of the United States and several other members of his cabinet and advisors tested positive for COVID-19.  I must confess that I personally had become more lax with regard to the recommendations that have been given to us by the CDC and by State and local officials with respect to the wearing of masks and social distancing.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I was not the only one who had become complacent to a degree about the pandemic, after all we have been under this virus threat now since late February, and I am sure that most if not all of us are tired of social distancing and wearing masks.  The President’s diagnosis was a wake up call for me personally that we are not out of this yet.  In addition to this, I also recently became aware of a COVID case in the neighborhood where my parents live, in addition to the few members of the parish who have contracted the virus.  The threat continues to be all too real, and even though I, like many of you, am tired of the mask mandates and other restrictions, especially in church, we will continue to follow them in our pastoral region.  Our Archdiocese has decided to comply with and follow the Governor’s orders with respect to the pandemic, which means the wearing of masks in church by those attending, aa well as following social distancing.  I am aware that there are some who disagree with this, perhaps vehemently, yet this is a governmental mandate that the Catholic Church in Cincinnati has decided to comply with, and so I ask for your cooperation in this matter.  In the end, regardless of what we may believe or not believe about the masks and their effectiveness, it really is a small thing, a small sacrifice we are being asked to make to try and mitigate the spread, and to safeguard the lives of others.  I thank you for following the health/mask orders, even though none of us like it, and for taking up this small cross and following in the footsteps of the Lord.

Take Good Care,

Fr. Bryan T. Reif

Pastor

It has come to our attention that a Sylvia J. Smith has been advertising a Loveland Craft Show for October 24^th or 26^th as a fundraiser for St. Simon Parish.

This is not a legitimate event and is not affiliated with St. Simon Parish.

 If you have paid any fees to Sylvia J. Smith for a booth, we suggest you take action with your bank to get your funds back.