As we determine how we'll come home, may we see mass as a privilege to be shared, not an entitlement or obligation.
Coming Home with Care for All
April 24, 2020
If I remember correctly, it was on March 11th that we first heard from the Archdiocese of Denver, that all non-essential meetings were to be canceled. After this, within 72 hours, the in-person attendance of school and of mass was also canceled. So although our “stay at home” stipulations came a bit later, as a parish community we have been physically distanced from one another for six weeks. It has already been longer than we probably anticipated at first.
I have been using the phrase “physically” and not “socially” because many of us have made the choice not to equate these two ideas. We have found new ways to reach out and have made ourselves comfortable with technologies that, although no substitute for in person camaraderie, will serve us for the rest of our lives.
MPB reaching out to seniors and families in need with cards made by FAITH and meals donated by Restaurant Olivia.
Long before the current pandemic, we often picked up a phone to talk to someone. Now we may be more comfortable “screen timing” with them through various methods.
I have come to realize that getting five or six people together for a discussion or quick coffee is easier to schedule when we can do it without scheduling the travel and gather time. Those are great when there’s time, but we no longer will have an “all or nothing” approach. If there’s limited time, we can still see each other and check in for a few moments in between the longer, more relaxed, visits. (Some of us will have to buy “formal pajamas” for those unexpected calls, but other than that… pretty nice!)
MPB First Communion and Confirmation
In the next few weeks and months we will begin the process of coming back to church physically, and that is going to be so much more difficult to navigate than the original cancelations. Don’t get me wrong, the Archdiocese found the decision to close painful… but very straightforward. What we will have to struggle with going forward is the limited return to our worship space. We have often sung and prayed the lyric: “where there’s room for all.” We will have to challenge some parts of that belief. There is room in our hearts for all. There is room at the table of God for all. There is room in our prayers for all.
But our worship space will need to be utilized in a physically safe way.
Anyone who has been to 4pm Christmas Eve Mass has already had their “room for all” belief sorely tested. However the path forward will have to look very different. It will involve attending less often and keeping in mind that no one should plan on attending every week. Others’ chance to attend will become part of our own attendance model. We will continue to utilize an online mass (probably something we will do some form of permanently, for those who cannot get to mass for various reasons).
We should look forward to coming back, but also keep the sense of social responsibility foremost in our mind. God calls us to worship, but God never calls us to do so in a way that puts another person in danger. The ability to slowly come back will still be accompanied by the Archdiocese’s reminder that the obligation to attend weekly is not presently in place. We will have to learn to gather less frequently than we might like and in smaller groups than we are used to. But we will gather. A few at a time, online, in prayer and eventually, with the grace of God, back together to experience again the amazing beauty of this people together, filling our worship space with prayers of praise and hopeful hearts.
God Bless,
Fr. Pat
P.S. Be sure to sign up HERE if you would like to be a part of the virtual assembly during our livestream Mass tomorrow, Saturday at 4:30pm.
Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
"Calling My Children Home"
The MPB Music Ministry live in concert performing The King's Singers arrangement. Soloists are Chelsea Perri, pictured here with her family, and Brian Burke.
MPB Livestream Mass
- On Saturdays at 4:30pm we will livestream and record a virtual Mass using Zoom video conferencing. More info and a song book will be available by Saturday and the Mass will stream here: https://mpbdenver.org/our-parish/virtual-worship/.
- You may choose to be a part of the "stay-at-home" Virtual Assembly that will be streamed live along with Fr. Pat and the liturgical ministers, who will also be at home. The assembly will be muted, but we will see one another participating with our responses, gestures and singing. While it isn't just like being at MPB, it is the closest we have for now, and it can be a powerful experience. "Seats" are limited so sign up HERE and you'll be sent a Zoom link and more instructions by Saturday morning.
- We will record the livestream and it will be posted by Sunday mornings on our website HERE for anyone to watch on demand for the remainder of the week.
Please send any questions to tstone@mpbdenver.org.
Please share with friends and family.
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