(MASS)IVE JOY!

I STARTED OFF TODAY FEELING SO JOYFUL THAT I COULD BARELY CONTAIN MY TEARS. TODAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH ( AUSPICIOUS DAY THAT IT IS) I BRAVED GOING BACK TO MASS.

IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WATCH MASS ONLINE AND TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION VIRTUALLY/SPIRITUALLY. BUT I HAVE ALSO SHED MANY TEARS OF SADNESS WHEN OUR CHURCHES CLOSED AND WE COULDN’T COME TOGETHER AS A CHURCH FAMILY. I MISSED THE SACRAMENTS , THE COMMUNITY, AND THE MUSIC TOO!

MY FIRST FORAY BACK INTO THE VIRTUALLY EMPTY CHURCH WAS FOR A RECENT BAPTISM OF OUR NEW GODSON, NOAH. I THINK THERE WERE SEVEN OF US AND A ‘ZOOM’ GATHERING OF RELATIVES AND FRIENDS FROM OUT OF TOWN. GREAT THAT THEY COULD BE THERE THIS WAY.

TODAY , AFTER READING AN INCREDIBLE BOOK CALLED, ‘THE WARNING’, I FELT COMPELLED TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION . THE CHURCH SECRETARY SAID THAT OUR WONDERFUL PRIEST,FR. DEAN, WOULD BE AVAILABLE AFTER MORNING MASS SO THAT WAS IT. I DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE ON ATTENDING MASS AGAIN AND I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH HOW SAFE I FELT. ALL PROPER PROTOCOLS WERE IN PLACE FOR COVID PREVENTION AND THERE WERE JUST A HANDFUL OF US TOO.

AFTERWARDS I PARTICIPATED IN SOMETHING CALLED A ‘LIFE CONFESSION’ AND IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT AFTER MY CONFESSION I FELT ON FIRE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MY FAMILY, AND FRIENDS …LIKE YOU!

I FEEL BLESSED WITH MY FAITH AND IT HELPS ME GET THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES. LET GO AND LET GOD AS THEY SAY.

PEACE!