I’d like to offer you another weekly update on what’s going on. Our bishop has been meeting via Zoom with the clergy and parish staffs from around the diocese every week, so I’d like to share with you what I know. As we all know, the number of infections in the country and the state continues to grow, and so that’s reflected in our operations here in the Diocese of Cheyenne as well.
1. Most importantly, our bishop has extended the suspension of Masses and Sacraments until April 17th, but he acknowledged that he expects that extension to last even longer. He’s really trying to take this one step at a time. That means our Confirmation Mass is postponed, but we haven't established a new date for that yet. No word yet on First Communions. Please continue to pray for our bishop, that the Holy Spirit may guide all of his decisions during these difficult times. 2. I hope you found our Facebook livestream of Sunday Mass last weekend. One thing I forgot to mention is that you don't need a Facebook account to watch it, you can just go to the page and watch the livestream at 7 am or the video afterwards. Our Sunday Masses will continue to be broadcast live at 7 am until this is all over. 3. We will also broadcast the Triduum services on Facebook as well. They will be: Holy Thursday: 5:30 pm Good Friday: 3:00 pm Easter Vigil: 8:30 pm Easter Sunday: 7:00 am 4.Hopefully you saw my email earlier this week about virtual Bible studies. Join the Bible Study Group on Flocknote for more information about that. 5. I will bless Palms at Mass on Palm Sunday. Those will be available in Corpus Christi after Mass if you'd like to stop off and pick one up. Please take one, or several, but DO NOT shuffle through them to find your favorite one. They will also be available in the church for several days afterwards. 6. Make sure all your fellow parishioners are signed up for Flocknote. Rather than asking them outright, you can say, "Aren't you tired of Father's incessant emails?" And if they say, "What emails?", then you can help them sign up. And finally my friends, a personal note and some encouragement to you. I want to let you know how much I miss each and every one of you. Celebrating Sunday Mass with you is the highlight of my week. Humorously I've thought, "Is this what normal people do on a Sunday: go to Mass once and then relax," but I quickly realize that I don't like it! I prefer my miles of driving on a Sunday in order to offer our Lord's Body and Blood with and for you, and I can't wait to do it again. While we are separated though, do not put your spiritual life on hold. Our God is far too powerful to be held up by even the suspension of the Sacraments, so let his power help you to grow even now. We all have our opinions about the decisions our ecclesial and civil leaders are making, but quite frankly, our world could do with a little less opinion sharing and a little more charity. Be that presence of peace and charity in the world. In Christ's Peace, Fr. Brian