My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Greetings from my very quiet rectory! I want to offer you some encouragement in these uncertain times, and some updates on where we are, few though those updates may be. I want to let you know that I miss each one of you dearly, and I long for the day when we can celebrate the Sacraments together once again. There is no reason to come out of this experience with a weaker faith or a weaker sense of community than we had before this all began. Christ is truly risen, and because he is truly risen he is always, ALWAYS, present to us, and his grace is always available to draw us closer to him and to each other.
Many people have reached out and asked how I’m doing, and I’m so humbled at your thoughtfulness. So, here are some things I’ll share about my journey through this. I have found this experience naturally drawing me to pray more, and by praying more I have found myself feeling quite strongly that the Body of Christ is real and that I am a part of it. I feel connected to each and every one of you in my prayer. With most normal demands on my time removed, I’ve found that I have to be really disciplined or the whole day can slip away. Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar. And I found that Sunday required extra prayer for me, because on Sunday I missed you all in an incredible way. Overall, I’m taking this as the oddest personal retreat ever, so I’m doing pretty well, but I miss you all terribly.
Bishop Biegler wrote a small Q&A to address some of the questions he’s been asked, such as why we can’t have individual communions or why we can’t have confessions. If you visit the diocese’s
COVID-19 resource page, it’s the link entitled “Theological Reasons for Actions in the Diocese of Cheyenne.” Bishop Biegler will also post a video of his Sunday Mass there each week.
I’ve been using this crisis as an opportunity to utilize more digital communication for our parish as well. On Corpus Christi’s website, I’m posting a daily reflection on the readings from Mass, and hopefully we will begin broadcasting a Sunday Mass as well. Watch the website for information on that. Flocknote has been an invaluable resource to be able to reach you and respond to you, and we’ll continue to use that even after this crisis ends. I’ll have some more information and ideas soon, concerning Triduum liturgies and faith formation opportunities. I do want all of us to look for the opportunities in this, instead of just waiting for it to be over. God’s grace is too powerful to be put on hold.
During this time, I want to let you know that our parishes continue to be solvent, and we’d like to continue to be so. If you are able to continue your normal parish contributions, I would be incredibly grateful. Each parish requires something a little different for a regular offering at this time:
· For Corpus Christi, please mail your offering to the church at 19 W. Winthrop St.
· For St. Anthony’s please mail your offering to PO Box 177.
· For St. Paul’s, please mail checks to PO Box 28, or take cash to Sundance State Bank and have the tellers put it into the regular checking account or building fund checking account. Ask the teller to put your name on the receipt so that we can record it on the donation sheet.
If you are unable to donate at this time, please know of my prayers for you, and if you need financial help, please call me. Our office is more or less closed to visitors right now, but Kay or I are almost always around, so please call if you need anything at all.
During this time, you are not alone. We are always united as the Body of Christ. Place your trust in Jesus, and be His light in our world right now.