Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time June 28, 2020 Dear Friends in Christ: I am pleased to announce that mass will be celebrated in each of our churches the weekend of July 4/5. Our recorded mass will continue to be broadcast for those who are not able to gather in the church and will continue to be made available by 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. Mass times will be as follows: Saturday 4:00 pm - Holy Cross Sunday 9:00 am - St. Bernard 11:00 am - St. Rose of Lima This is an exciting time for us to be able to gather in person for the Eucharist again. We want to be welcoming to all, while respecting the public health guidelines, and therefore we are going to request that at the churches in Enfield and Fall River people register to indicate their wish to attend mass in person. If you wish to attend mass at St. Rose please contact Linda at 902-860-0475 or strose@eastlink.ca If you wish to attend mass at St. Bernard please contact Claire at 902-883-2660 or stbernardsenfield@gmail.com. Numbers at Holy Cross are limited to 24 and are sufficient for that church. Once you register you will be notified of when you are scheduled. Please arrive 20 minutes before mass to give adequate time for everyone to be seated. I ask you to wear a face mask if you are able. BYOMP: Bring your own mask please! There are a few things you should know before coming to mass. When you arrive you will be greeted, your name checked off on the list (or recorded at Holy Cross) and asked to use hand sanitizer. Then you will shown by an usher to a seat for mass. During mass you are invited to participate in all the responses. You are invited to respond verbally when the parts are spoken and to listen prayerfully when music is included in the liturgy. Of great interest to you is the procedure for the distribution of communion. Social distancing will be observed and you are asked to keep that distance from the person in front of you. Floor markings will guide you. If you are wearing a mask, you should lower it when the person in front of you is receiving communion. You approach the communion minister, place your hands one on top of the other in front of you and the host will be placed in your hand without touching you. You then place the host in your own mouth. Communion on the tongue is not permitted. Communion will not be offered from the chalice. After receiving you then return to your seat by a designated route. When you leave at the end of mass you are invited to place your offering in the basket by the door marked for receiving it. Please observe all the provincial health guidelines regarding personal distancing after mass. We are grateful we have reached the point during the pandemic where we can gather in person for the Eucharist. Whether physically present at mass or praying at home let us continue to pray for one another, find ways to care for one another, and do the best we can during the COVID19 pandemic. Yours in Christ, Fr. Michael J. P. Walsh, Pastor Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 28, 2020 “Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses Donald Trump for President”. I remember heading this news headline during the 2016 US election campaign. My first reaction was: “What, that cannot be right?” But I wonder how many believed it was true. Almost a million people read it on Facebook. Was it true? Here is what the Pope actually said October 3 during US election campaign: “I never say a word about electoral campaigns,” the pope responded when asked how Catholics should vote. “The people are sovereign. I will only say: Study the proposals well, pray, and choose in conscience.” “Jesus Shocks World: Teaches Do Not Love Your Parents.” This headline was from a Jewish news outlet after a reporter attended the synagogue and heard Jesus speak. Is this true? Of course not. We do need to be careful in the way we hear the Scriptures. “Do not love your parents more than me is not a teaching against the commandment to “Honour your parents.” It is rather a teaching about how we are called to place God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, first in our lives. Want to make your life better? It may seem like you can do so by simply getting more of what you want – such as an exciting job, a loving spouse and children, strong health, or the money to buy a bigger home or newer car. Enjoying the best life possible isn’t about what you can get, however; it’s about what directs your life. That’s because whatever force has first place in your life will drive your decisions and shape your future. If you decide to make your relationship with God first in your life, everything else will naturally fall into place in the right order, creating the fulfilling life you hope to enjoy. Here are a few thoughts about how to do this: Take an honest look at your current priorities. The COVID 19 pandemic has given us time to reflect on our lives. Where are you investing most of your time, money, and energy? Which relationships and activities do you devote ourselves to every day? Where do you currently place God on your list of priorities? If your relationship with God isn’t your top priority right now, what specific changes do you need to make in your lives to devote yourself to God first? Make a commitment to placing God first in your life. Choose to make your relationship with God your highest priority, over everyone and everything else in your life. That is the call of today’s gospel. No matter what happens from this point on, I will choose to experience the fullness of God’s blessings for me. Grow to become more like Jesus through community. As you connect with other believers in your church community, God will teach you how to love in deeper ways, which will transform you into a holier person with a character that keeps growing more like that modelled by Jesus. Invest in your relationships with others in your church beyond just the weekend masses. Listen to each other’s stories, encourage each other to grow spiritually, pray for each other, hold each other accountable, and give each other practical support when needed. These are the things our parish needs to do going forward. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to live God’s way. Make a daily practice of asking the Holy Spirit to guide you, so you will value what God values and want what God wants for you. Invite the Spirit to renew your mind and give you fresh doses of the faith and power you need to live a holy life. Every time you face a significant decision, ask the Spirit to help you see it from God’s perspective, and then decide according to how God leads you. Build your relationship with God. Cultivate your relationship with God through personal devotions. Every day, schedule some time to focus on reading and meditating on the Scriptures, especially the readings for mass. Consider praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the rosary or other devotional prayers. Even a few minutes can make a difference. Then listen for the Spirit’s responses in your mind, and pray about anything else you would like, too. We should bring the messiness of our outlives to the one who loves us beyond our imagining. Consider keeping a journal in which you can record the insights God gives you, as well as how he answers your prayers. Serve and give as God leads you. Use your time, talents, and treasure to the fullest to join God’s redemptive work in the world, maximizing your impact in God’s kingdom. Be prepared to say “yes” to God whenever he calls you into action. Don’t withhold your time, energy, money, skills, or any other resource that God asks you to give in specific ways – be generous, as God is generous with you. Enjoy the freedom that comes from trusting God. As the Holy Spirit progressively transforms you, you will experience deeper layers of freedom from sinful attitudes and behaviours that had previously controlled you. Keep choosing to trust God and surrender your fears to Him – the more you do, the more you’ll notice God’s work in your life, which will strengthen your faith and inspire you to keep making your relationship with God first in your life. So today’s headline should be: Jesus Shocks World: Trust in Me. This is not fake news. This is the way to the fullness of life. Amen. -- Rev. Michael J. P. Walsh