12/4/2022

Bishop Johnston has given us permission to distribute communion under both species. Ironically, he gave the permission just before there were spikes in COVID and the flu, which seems to be fairly virulent this year. Nevertheless, I had our Extraordinary Ministers polled about whether they would be willing to distribute the cup, which may include having to drink the remaining Precious Blood. There was division over this matter. As a result, I am postponing the distribution of communion under both species (bread and wine) until after the flu/cold/COVID season passes. Even before COVID-19 was an issue, we used to suspend distribution of the cup during flu season until the spring, so this would be normal procedure. I know it has been a while, since we experienced communion under both species, but we will get there, I hope. It would seem that a couple of years of masking has left us vulnerable to the viruses and so we have some “catching” up to do. We not only need willing Extraordinary Ministers, but also we need to teach those who have never received from the cup how to do it. So we need to plan ahead a bit. So stay tuned, and if you have any ideas, please feel free to let us know. We are not able to offer the consecrated wine in little cups, but try to drink from the same cup as a sign of unity. Those of you who grew up when I did or before remember we NEVER used to receive from the cup in what is now called the Extraordinary Rite (in Latin) – it was bread only. The cup came after Vatican II reforms in the Liturgy which went into effect when I was a teenager.
This Thursday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th. At the evening (5:30 PM) Mass we will have the 2nd graders who will receive their First Communion in the spring put their names in a book as a sign of their longing to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. This book will be placed in the atrium downstairs (the old youth room) where the children doing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will pray for those whose names are in the book. It is a very “Advent-ish” thing to do, expressing our longing to be closer to God, to receive his Body and Blood, to come into fuller communion with the Church through the Eucharist. It heightens the expectation of the children as they prepare for this important moment.
We will also have a special Mass in Spanish celebrated by Fr. Chuck Tobin on Monday, December 12th, for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We are seeing more Hispanics in town and want to see if there is interest in coming to Mass here, and this feast is something that means a lot to most Spanish speaking people in the Americas. If you know of someone who might want to celebrate this feast in Spanish, please tell them to come at 8 AM on Monday, Dec. 12th. I will celebrate our normal noon Mass in English on the same day for our “regulars” who are used to that schedule.
During Advent, let us set aside some time to ponder what it has meant to us that Christ came in history, what it means that Christ is present in mystery (sacraments, signs), and what it will mean to us when he comes in majesty at the end of time. It is a time to dream, to hope, to get in touch with our deepest longings which God has placed in our hearts.
It is a joy to await Christ’s coming with you.

Father Albert, O.S.B.