Light at the end of the tunnel

Does it feel like you’re coming out of the tomb of this pandemic? There is light at the end of the tunnel. Every day we get a little closer to emerging from social distancing and getting our lives back to some form of normal. Although we may never be back completely to the way we were. Hopefully, by the grace of God, good things will come from all of this.

The sacrament of reconciliation is available to you now, once again, in the parking lot at St. Camillus every Saturday from 11 am to noon. Another new initiative for Holy Spirit Parish, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament began in the lower level parking lot at the St. Joseph the Worker site on Cascade Street on Monday, April 27. Parishioners can adore our Lord from their cars on Sundays through Fridays from 8 am to 4 pm. Adoration will not take place on Saturdays due to the use of the St. Joseph site for the Food Pantry every Saturday. 

Our prayers and support go out to those who have suffered tremendously from these days of isolation and those who have succumbed to the illness known as coronavirus. Our prayers and love are with them all. As you know, every Thursday, we are celebrating a live streamed Mass for those who have passed in the previous week. The Mass is at 10 am on the Home page of our website, hsplc.org  and YouTube (Google YouTube Holy Spirit Parish). The Mass on Thursday, April 30, was celebrated for these parishioners and their families:   Stephen Fenner, Margie J. Stachowiak, Mary L. Storch, Cons tance O’Grady, Juliana Samsa, and J. Russell Noga.

The Pastoral Council and Finance Council met via media conferencing and are diligently working on plans for our financial stability and emerging from this situation in a safe manner. As you know, directives regarding the virus change daily. The government and the diocese are directing what we can do and how we can do it. There are weekly conference calls with the bishop and his staff. Updates are provided in the media, on our website and in our bulletins as decisions become available and directives are made.

One of the most immediate ways to keep abreast of all changes in our parish is to sign up for Flocknotes.

To sign up for Flocknotes:   Text HSP9 to 84576
       OR
       Go to  www.hsplc.org, click on Get Connected on the blue banner
             under the logo.
       Scroll to the bottom of the page to Signup To Receive Updates.
       Fill in the fo rm and click the Sign Me Up! Button
       OR 
        Email your name, cell phone number and email address to   
       mdenehy@hsplc.org.

Last weekend and this weekend would have been our First Holy Communion celebrations. To all of our children, their parents and families, we offer our prayers and support. We look forward to the day when we can celebrate this wondrous sacrament with all of you. The day will come! Let us be patient and persevering during these times. May our experience of this delay increase our desire and our appreciation for the wondrous gift that the Holy Eucharist tr uly is for all of us!

The same experience is occurring on the adult level for our 18 RCIA candidates and catechumens. Unfortunately, we were unable to receive them at the Easter Vigil, but we indeed look forward to their reception of the Easter sacraments some day soon!

God love you,