For over a year, Catholics have been "dispensed" from the "obligation" to attend Sunday Mass. The Eucharist is supposed to be super sacred, but if bishops can "dispense" with it anytine they want by publishing a Tweet, are they being serious?

And now that we can go to church again, do I really want to? Why should I?

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark - formerly of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis - has written a very good letter about these and other questions. He sees going to church as an opportunity, a moment of grace, a wonderful gift from God. He talks about how hard it was not to visit his mother during the pandemic, and how he wanted to cry when he could hug here again. The Eucharist is like that. How we missed it!

Who knows? Maybe absence really does make the heart grow fonder and many people will appreciate communion even more after having been denied for so long.

I learned a lot from this inspiring letter, available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Click on the button below to go to the website of the Archdiocese of Newark to download a free copy. Blessings on this Feast of Corpus Christi!

See you in church!
Friar Bob

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AT ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA
AS OF 29 MAY 2021 (WEEKEND OF TRINITY SUNDAY)
 
Following the recent decisions of the Indiana Bishops’ Conference and the new guidelines of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, we want to celebrate our progress, keep people safe from the lingering pandemic, and make our liturgies as inviting as possible to as many people as possible. We want to honor and respect both those faithful who long to return to a more “normal” form of liturgical celebration and those who are justifiably concerned about too much exposure to contagions too soon.
 
Our basic decision is, therefore, to create a hybrid model where there is a more restricted and a less restricted section within the main nave of the church. We ask that only people who already have been fully vaccinated should sit in the less restricted area, along with their children. Adults who have not yet been vaccinated should sit in the socially distanced area with masks.
 
These protocols will be used for about three weeks, although some things we will need to evaluate every week to see how it’s going. By about June 20 (Father’s Day) there will be a new set of protocols.

CHURCH BUILDING
 

• Pews, masks and seating: We seek to be accommodating to as many faithful as possible. The nave will be divided into two sections.
  • In the three seating sections on the west side of the nave (on the right as you enter the church) all pews are available for seating. In this area, masks are not required.
  • In the two sections on the east side of the nave (on the left as you enter the church), every other pew remains roped off. We ask that masks be worn in this area. We ask further that anyone who is not vaccinated please take a seat in this area.
  • This arrangement will be evaluated every week.
  • The choir area remains reserved only for musicians. The large plastic barrier will remain in place a few more weeks. (The smaller one can be removed.)
  • The extra chairs around the perimeter may be used, and the reconciliation room may be used as extra seating for one family. There is room for up to 40 people in the gathering area, if need be. Finally, the choir rehearsal room can be used as the last seating option.
  • Ministers in the sanctuary (celebrant, altar servers, lectors etc.) do not need to wear a mask. (Cf. below under “Mass”.)
• Capacity: By opening up pews in some areas but not in others, and factoring in the perimeter seating, our practical capacity would now be about 375.
• Holy Water:
  • There will be slightly chlorinated holy water in the two small stoups by the entrances. We will continue to wash the stoups and switch out the water twice a week all summer.
    

OTHER SACRAMENTS
 

• Until September, baptisms, weddings, First Communions, confirmations, and similar celebrations will largely be celebrated as separate liturgies and not during Sunday Mass. Exceptions can be made, especially for blessings for a wedding anniversary. With the return of the winter Mass schedule on September 11, 2021, we will also return to our practice of encouraging baptisms and other sacraments at the Sunday assembly.
• Baptism preparation for families returns in September – obligatory for baptism of the first child, optional after that.
• The quinceañera preparation class has returned. This will again be required for anyone who has not yet scheduled a quinceañera. For the four young women already scheduled, it will be optional.
• Marriage preparation continues as usual. Weddings can be celebrated with no particular restrictions.
• Confessions continue as normal. The normal placement of the chairs has been restored. Masks are optional – the priest will probably keep his mask on.
  
• First Friday Devotions and similar events continue as normal. The Eucharistic Adoration Through the Night will return in July.
• Sacrament of the Sick –
  • No group celebrations are planned at this time.
  • Individuals may arrange with any of the priests for an anointing in the church at any agreed upon time.
  • At this time, only Fr. Bob will be regularly visiting the sick in their homes or at the hospitals. Thank you for your understanding.
• Hospitals and Nursing Homes – There are now new groups of volunteers to visit the nursing homes monthly. These visits will take the place of the previous nursing home Masses.

Funerals – wakes and funerals may be celebrated without any particular restrictions. The parish hall is available for luncheons.


Friar Robert Showers OFM Conv.
May 27, 2021
 
 

The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven is also our feast – the feast of our own ascension. For by His ascension, Jesus Christ elevates our human nature and creates for us a bridge which puts eternal life within our reach.
 
Jesus Christ Himself is that bridge, a bridge uniting our mortal life on this earth with our eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
 
In the readings of today’s Mass, we hear the story of the ascension twice, once from the Acts of the Apostles, and then from the Gospel of Mark.
 
In the Book of Acts we read:
 
At the moment on the ascension, as Jesus was in the midst of teaching His disciples, he began to ascend, and the clouds of heaven hid him from sight. The Apostles stood dumbfounded, staring into heaven – one can almost imagine their jaws dropped open and the drool dripping down their cheeks.
 
In the midst of their dumbfoundedness, two men dress in white – two angels, two seraphim – stood before them and said:
 
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand and gape at the sky?”

As if to say:
 
“You heard Jesus! You have your mission. You have your instructions. You have much work to do now on earth. Stop staring at the sky and start to do good!”

Then in the Gospel of St. Mark we hear Jesus say:
 
“Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature!”
 
This is, explicitly, the mission of the Apostles: “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature!”
 
This is also, explicitly, our mission today: “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature!”
For this reason I say, today is our feast  it is the anniversary of our missioning.

St. Augustine of Hippo said it clearly as he preached about the ascension to the newly baptized. Forty days earlier, these people had received baptism during the Vigil of Easter Night, and now they were still trying to figure out what it means concretely to live as a Catholic in this world. And Bishop Augustine told them:
 
The Feast of the Ascension is also our feast because we ascend with Christ. Today we celebrate that Jesus ascended into heaven, and even now our hearts ascend with Him! We share in the mission of Christ on earth, and therefore we share in the glory of Christ in heaven.
 
St. Augustine went on to say:
 
Even if here and now, our earthly bodies do not share completely in the glory of the resurrection, yet our earthly bodies do share completely in the mission of Christ upon earth, and therefore we begin to live in the Kingdom of God even now! Because Jesus Christ is the Kingdom of God.
 
If we life in Christ, we are living in the Kingdom of God, because the Kingdom of God is Jesus Christ. We sometimes spend a lot of time trying to “define” the Kingdom of God, which is a shame, because the Kingdom of God is not a place or a thing or a condition or a program – it is a person: Jesus Christ.
 

Even the Apostles fell for this temptation. In the Acts of the Apostles, the very last thing the Apostles say to Jesus here on Earth was a silly question showing that they still did not understand:
 
Is it now that you will establish the kingship again in Israel?
 
Is it now that you will intervene with divine power in our trivial worldly politics and support our political party? Will you pull the nation of Israel out of the multi-national, multi-cultural Roman Empire and make it into a sovereign nation-state with a royal government and great wealth?
 
Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical “On the Mission of the Redeemer” (1990), takes up this question of the Apostles and puts it on us, because his encyclical was also about the mission of the Church in our day. The Pope wrote:
 
“Christ not only proclaimed the kingdom, but in him the kingdom itself became present and was fulfilled. This happened not only through his words and his deeds, but above all, the kingdom is made manifest in the very person of Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, who came 'to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many' (Mk 10:45)." The kingdom of God is not a concept, a doctrine, or a program subject, but it is before all else a person with the face and name of Jesus of Nazareth, the image of the invisible God.”
 
The Pope goes on to say that Catholics of every age fall prey to the same temptation as the Apostles. Perhaps because of our impatience with a Messiah we cannot see with earthly eyes and who seems to delay His coming in glory, we turn to other messiahs. We turn to some politician or to some Rockstar or to some celebrity. We seek the Kingdom of God in the world of art and entertainment, in politics and diplomacy, in science and academics, in business and wealth, even in clerical structures and church programs. But these are not the messiah! Only Jesus is!

So back to St. Augustine –
 
St. Augustine went on to tell the newly baptized that Jesus, in His ascension, united us forever with our true destiny in the Kingdom of God, if we will but accept it. He is the bridge between our mortal life on earth and our immortal life in Heaven if we will but walk the bridge. We – as Christ’s Church – are the very Body of Christ on this earth. It begins with our baptism, is nurtured by the sacraments, and finds its fulfillment in union with Christ.
 
We have our mission!
We have our instructions!
We have much work to do on this earth!
We cannot spend time staring blankly into heaven – now we must begin to do good!
 
Amen.

 
 
I have been doing all things unholy.
If God can work through me, he can work through anyone!


St. Francis of Assisi

Today the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a new statement saying that , “Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”  (Emphasis added)

This leads, of course, to the question: When can we take our masks off at Mass?
 
Short answer: I don’t know. But not now.
 
As a parish community, we rely on the guidance of the diocese. The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in turn, relies heavily on the recommendations of the Working Group on Infectious Disease Protocols for Sacraments and Pastoral Care of the Thomistic Institute under the aegis of the Pontifical Faculty at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C.

Even as I write this, these good people are busy discussing the newest CDC guidelines. When they are done discussing it, our local bishop’s workgroup will meet and discuss things further as it affects us here in northeastern Indiana. This is a lot of talking, but it is important. Throughout the pandemic, our decisions have not been spontaneous, emotion driven or “from the gut”. They have been the result of careful, thoughtful consideration by a large group of people who know what they are doing. This system is slower than “shooting from the hip”, but it is a whole lot better.

  
Whatever decision our diocese makes next, it will be based on three principles already in use:
 
1. The Church decides
 
In a blog entry of May 4, 2020 (link), I quoted Archbishop Lori:
 
“I remind Catholics that it was the Catholic bishops who suspended public liturgies, not the civil gov-ernments. In many places, Masses were suspended before there were any stay at home orders from governors. It is the bishops who will decide when public Masses will begin again. The U.S. bishops make this statement not to show their power, but because they want to make clear that no earthly power is forcing us to suspend public events, rather Catholic morality compels us. … One of the over-riding responsibilities of government is to keep people safe. This is a health and public safety issue. And this is not only a concern that the government has, it’s also a concern of the church. The Church has to take steps to ensure that we are kept safe and healthy and those steps have to be rational. We do not feel as though we have been forced into doing anything by the government. We feel like we’re doing the right thing. … This means that it is possible that, even after some local governments lift the restrictions, the Roman Catholic Church might decide to wait a little longer.”
 
For example, in our diocese, Bishop Rhoades suspended public Masses as of March 18, 2020, but Gov. Holcomb’s stay at home order was not issued until March 23. The same delay will be experienced this time as we lift the restrictions.

2. We are a Church of faith and reason
 
To quote Archbishop Lori again, the guidelines and protocols of the Catholic Church have been “emin-ently reasonable”. The science news aggregator Real Clear Science went so far as to say that the Amer-ican Catholic Church’s “evidence based guidelines for celebrating Mass safely” have proven themselves to be effective, in that “no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been linked to church attendance” at any of the 17,000 Catholic parishes in the U.S. This, a number of scientists say, is because the Catholic Church in this country has consistently applied “the three W’s” – watch your distance, wear your mask, wash your hands.
 
Social distancing, masks, frequent washing – these measures are working, so we will be slow to aban-don them.

   
 
3. We do not want to discriminate between the vaccinated
and the unvaccinated
 
This principle is less clear. On the one hand, people who are fully vaccinated really are in very little danger of getting or giving Covid-19. Those parishioners who have made it a point to get the vaccine as soon as feasible have done a great act of charity to all of society, including to the Church. This is why the Catholic Church in general has been so eager to promote the vaccine.
 
On the other hand, many people have not yet gotten the vaccine through no fault of their own. It has only been a few weeks since the vaccine was made available to younger people, and many people really are quite busy. They’ll get the vaccine, they just haven’t managed it yet. A small percentage of people have legitimate medical reasons not to get the vaccine yet.
 
Yes, there are some people who are just stubborn, or are refusing the vaccine for worldly ideological reasons. Such a refusal is a conscious decision to refuse an act of virtue, which I have described else-where as almost a form of violence. (I will admit here that my statement follows the argument of the ethicist Peter Singer q.v.) Yet even these people are our sisters and brothers, part of the parish.
 
We will not, therefore, have something like a “Mass for the vaccinated” and a “Mass for the unvaccin-ated” with different rules for each Mass. We will follow the same protocols at all Masses and other liturgies. So the sooner everyone gets the shot, the sooner we can all ditch the masks!
 
Conclusion: hurry up and get vaccinated!
  
  

A SUMMARY OF COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AT ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA IN ANGOLA
Current as of May 1, 2021
 
Nota bene: These protocols for May and June 2021 were published on the assumption that our local area will remain the same or get slowly better in regard to Covid-19. Specifically, the presume that Steuben County will be at Covid-19 level Yellow or Orange. If there are sud­den changes one way or the other, our protocols will be reconsidered. Thank you for your understanding.
 

CHURCH BUILDING

• Capacity: The church may hold up to one third of its rated capacity, or 250 people. This includes the gathering area (20-25 people). Any overflow attendees are invited to go to the annex connector and/or the parish hall.
• Pews and seating: Every other pew is roped off. The choir area is reserved only for musicians. The extra chairs around the perimeter may be used, and the reconciliation room may be used as extra seating for one family.
• Masks: Masks must still be worn while in the church.
• Holy Water: There will be (slightly chlorinated) holy water in the two small stoups by the entrances.
  • There is a jug of chlorinated holy water in the work sacristy, as well as a supply of sanitizer wipes to clean the stoups with.
  • 5:00 Mass of Saturday – before Mass begins, the sacristan should empty the holy water stoups, clean them and refill them. – Revision: Laurie Beard said that she will clean the stoups and replace the water on Fridays as part of the regular cleaning of the church. The Saturday sacristan doesn’t need to.
  • 10:00 Mass – after the last Mass, the sacristan should once again empty the stoups, clean them and refill them.
  • We will not refill the large baptismal font at this time.

 
 
 MASS

• Altar: The altar returns to the pre-Covid setup. That is, there is one big corporal in the middle of the altar.
• Credence Table (Credence Wagon): For a weekend Mass, there is usually 3 empty ciboria, 1 chalice 1 large corporal, 1 purificator and 2 extra chalice palls on the cart.
• Ushers & Greeters: You will continue to keep an attendance count, to ensure that we stay within proper guidelines. Someone should also be available at the Welcome station.
• Altar Servers: There will be two altar servers – a cross bearer and an altar master. There is no book bearer at this time. The servers will wear masks. The servers will not hold the book for the priest. They will, however, assist with the lavabo.
• Music:
  • Normally, there will be keyboard accompaniment. We will minimize use of wind instruments, and then only with safeguards.
  • There is either a cantor or a small schola of up to 8 voices. Proper distancing is observed. The cantors and schola do not wear masks but do stay behind the transparent shields.
  • We are now using the hymnbooks (Today’s Missal Seasonal and Music issue).
  • The congregation is invited to sing both the hymns and the Mass parts. The people must keep their masks on.
• Lectors:
  • At least until Pentecost, we will use only one reader for each Mass.
  • That lector reads the First and Second Readings the intercessions, and 4 explanatory announcements. At most Masses, the singers will handle the responsorial psalm.
  • At Pentecost, we will re-evaluate.
• Offertory Procession: The bread, wine and water are on the offertory table. There should be at least three people in the procession, who should wear masks. The priests and altar servers will also wear masks when they receive the gifts.
• Our Father & Sign of Peace: Please refrain from shaking hands during the Sign of Peace or holding hands during the Our Father (families excepted).
• Collection: The ushers will not take up a collection and we will not pass a basket from hand to hand. Two large baskets are set up near the door and people are encouraged to put their gifts there.
• Communion:
  • The next few weeks, we will continue to have only three communion lines. On Pentecost Sunday, God willing, we will introduce a fourth line (i.e., two up the center aisle).
  • The ushers will continue to dismiss the people row by row, starting from the back.
  • It is important for the people to maintain the 6-foot distancing in the communion line.
  • We can offer communion only in the form of the host, and only in the hand.
• After Mass:
  • We no longer need to disinfect the pews between Masses.
  • We will continue to fumigate, however, every Monday through the end of June.
  • Please see note above about the holy water stoups.

 
 
 OTHER SACRAMENTS

• At least until September, we will continue to celebrate baptisms, weddings, First Communions, confirmations, quinceañeras and similar celebrations as separate liturgies and not during Sunday Mass.
• Baptism preparation for families is suspended until September.
• Marriage preparation continues since the couples should be able to meet safely.
• At weddings, the bridal couple do not wear masks during the ceremony, nor does the priest. All other attendees are asked to keep their masks on.
• Confessions – continue as normal. The chairs have been moved 10 feet apart.
• First Friday Devotions and similar events – continue as normal, with the usual safety precautions.
• Sacrament of the Sick –
  • No group celebrations are planned at this time.
  • Individuals may arrange with any of the priests for an anointing in the church at any agreed upon time.
  • At this time, only Fr. Bob will be visiting the sick in their homes. Thank you for your understanding.
• Hospitals and Nursing Homes – we will respect any restrictions these places establish. We are organizing a new group to visit the nursing homes.
• Funerals – wakes and funerals may be celebrated using the standard safety protocols for Masses. The parish hall is available for luncheons – see below.

 
 
 MEETING GUIDELINES

• WE SEEK TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND CHARITABLE AT THE SAME TIME. Meetings in the name of the parish should take place in parish facilities. The parish cannot take responsibility for any meetings in anyone's private home.
• SMALL GROUPS –We have set up one classroom for up to 10 people, a double classroom for up to 20, plus we have St. Francis Hall. For larger groups, we will decide on a case by case basis. Remember, all meetings should be scheduled through the office director Patti Webster, patti@stanthonyangola.com, 260-665-2259.
• PROPER PHYSICAL DISTANCING is required. Arrange tables and chairs so that we can be at least 6 ft. apart.
• MASKS are required upon entering and leaving the building and during all breaks. Masks are required during the meeting itself IF anyone present is unvaccinated. (Exceptions: for the main speaker/teacher if he/she is at least 12 feet away from anyone.) If EVERYONE present has been vaccinated, we may remove our masks during the meeting itself.
• LUNCHEONS AND OTHER FUNCTIONS IN THE PARISH HALL (ST. FRANCIS HALL):
  • Current parish hall capacity: 75
  • The hall is now available for funeral luncheons, baptisms, weddings, receptions and other church related events. Contact the parish office for details.
  • Food may be served. All food handlers must wear masks and gloves, and exercise common sense caution.
  • Tables should be set up with physical distancing in mind.
  • Masks must be worn in the food line. Masks need not be worn while eating. See also above under “MASKS”.
  • If food or drinks are served, please disinfect the tables when you are done. Thank you.
• CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS. Please wash and disinfect tables, chairs, door knobs, handles and switches both before and after your meeting. Thank you!
• USE COMMON SENSE - STAY HOME IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL. If you have any symptoms of any contagious disease (cough, fever, shortness of breath) be kind to the others and stay safely at home. 
  

 
 
As a parish community, we want to keep our doors open as much as possible while still pro­­tecting the health of our community. We want our small faith enrichment groups, coun­cils and other activities to continue when and where possible, while at the same time not making anybody sick. Our policies will, therefore, always represent a compromise, an at­tempt at balance. Thank you for your cooperation.
 
May the Lord bless us and keep us safe.
Fr. Robert G. Showers OFM Conv.
1 May 2021

March 19, 2021
A Letter from Fr. Bob



Dear liturgical parishioners,

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (our diocese) recently pubished revised directives for celebrating liturgy during the pandemic. Some restrictions can soon be lifted, partly or completely. Here are the highlights:


WHAT HAS CHANGED

• ALTAR SERVERS - Altar servers may now enter the sanctuary. We will, therefore, bring back the altar servers very soon, hopefully by April 25 (the 4th Sunday of Easter).
  
• OFFERTORY - members of the congregation may once again bring the gifts of bread and wine forward. We will start this at the Easter Vigil (April 3).
  
• HYMNALS - the hymnals may return to the pews! We will reinstate the hymnals at the Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday.
  
• The small holy water stoups (the little fonts by the entrances) and covered holy water tanks (like at St. Paul's Chapel) may be filled again when the parish feels ready. The stoups must be cleaned regularly. Large holy water fonts (like the one at St. Anthony's) can also be filled if and when the parish is ready. This will require more discussion before we take this step.
  
• Priests over the age of 60 may now visit the sick IF THE PRIESTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED. They may also visit people in the hospitals and nursing homes again, if those institutions allow it, and according to those institutions' own safety protocols. Once again, this will take some discussion. The Franciscan Friars will not yet return to the First Friday Communion Calls, but we hope to do so soon.
  

WHAT HAS STAYED THE SAME

• CAPACITY - the diocese did not relax the rules for physical distancing (6 feet apart) and for total capacity (one third capacity). We will continue to keep every other pew blocked off and continue to observe the capacity rules.
  
• SINGING - Congregational singing was returned a few months ago. The people may continue to sing with masks on. The bishop has now clarified what he meant by "boisterous singing": it is, he says, the kind of "high quality, all-out, well-trained, vigorous and forceful singing that choirs do". Since our choir sings with well-trained boisterousness, the current safety protocols remain in effect.
  
• LECTORS - the bishop recommends that the lector continue to read explanations about safety procedures as we go along.
  
• COLLECTION - although the offertory procession can be restored, the ushers may still not take up the collection except under strict conditions.
  
• COMMUNION - the rules for distribution of communion remain unchanged.
  
• CLEANING - the diocese recommends that we continue to clean door knobs often. We may also continue fumigating weekly. We do not need to clean the pews all the time.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US

The diocesan committee emphasizes that each parish must interpret and implement these directives according to their circumstances. Much will depend on the architecture of the individual church. The bishop adds, "parishes should not implement these changes until they are equipped to do so." We must avoid chaos and confusion, which means people must be given advance notice of the changes.

This means that the staff and the priests need to think these guidelines through. We must consult with the many volunteers involved. Then we need to announce the changes in the bulletin.

The bishop recommends that we celebrate Holy Week according to the older guidelines from February. This makes sense - all the plans have been made and distributed.

Nevertheless - with luck and the blessing of God - shortly after Easter we can start announcing some of these improvements. Thank you all both for your prayers and for your concrete actions to mitigate the disease throughout the past year. The good actions of many good souls are leading to a good result.


Blessings on this Friday in Lent,
Fr. Bob

Four days of Christmas? Not twelve?

Four days celebrating the Mass of Christmas Day!

A brief survey suggests that many people hope to come to Mass at St. Anthony's and at St. Paul's Chapel this Christmas. How wonderful! Happy news!

Practical problem: we still have limited seating capacity. Therefore:

We will continue to celebrate Christmas Mass during the weekend after Christmas, to give people more options and, hopefully, to spread things out a little. Here is the complete schedule:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

• 5:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Eve - St. Anthony's
• 8:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Night - St. Paul's Chapel
• 10:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Night - St. Anthony's

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020

• 9:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Morning - St. Paul's Chapel
• 10:00 aA.M. - Mass of Christmas Morning - St. Anthony's

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020

• 5:00 P.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020

• 7:30 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's
• 9:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Paul's Chapel
• 10:00 A.M. - Mass of Christmas Day - St. Anthony's

As you can see, that gives you nine Masses to choose from!

IN ADDITION -

On Sunday, December 27, Friar Bob will remain in the nave of St. Anthony's from Noon until 6:00 p.m. to distribute communion quietly. If you still should not attend Mass with crowds but desire communion, you may receive privately in this way. No reservations or anything, just come - although I do ask you to respect other people's privacy and to avoid creating a crowd. I believe that this is a more appropriate alternative than a drive-by communion service.

Is all this allowed? Yes. Actually, we have done this every year. In past years, we celebrated Christmas Masses at Northern Lakes and Lakeland (now Aperion) nursing homes and at Cameron Woods Senior Living Community some time between December 20 and December 29, as those home's schedule allowed. This year, sadly, the parish will not be able to celebrate Christmas Masses outside our actual church buildings - but we still have latitude to offer more Masses.

The survey suggests that the three Masses of Decemberr 24 will be the most crowded. If you are worried about crowds, please consider coming to one of the other six Christmas Masses. Thank you and God bless you. May the Lord of Life keep us all safe!

Fr. Bob


NOTES:

• Our posted capacities in keeping with covid-19 safety protocols are 215 people at St. Anthony's and 100 at St. Paul's.
• Bishop Kevin Rhoades has extended the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass for an indefinite time ("until further notice"). Christmas is truly a holy day, a holiday, a happy day - but is not a day of obligation this year.
• You are, of course, free to come to as many of these Masses as you choose! If you come to a mass on December 24/25, you are very welcome at any Mass on December 26/27. We are hoping that attendance will spread itself out naturally so we never have to turn anybody away. Hopefully.
• This decision entails that we will not celebrate the Mass of the Holy Family this year.

An essay by Friar Bob Showers OFM Conv.


All over the world, people are looking forward to the new vaccines against covid-19. Seven different international groups are working on the vaccines. Some Catholics have raised questions about the morality of these vaccines because the companies involved are known to use fetal tissue from aborted fetuses in their research and development.
 
A group of bishops has recently issued a statement. It is a long, technical and complex statement (about a complex subject), but to cut to the chase: when the vaccines are released, it will be morally acceptable for Catholics to receive them.
 
Furthermore, the Catholic Health Association (CHA), in collaboration with bioethicists from many countries, looked at the Pontifical Academy of Life’s 2017 guidelines on vaccine development. They analyzed the seven companies involved in “Project Warp Speed” in light of the Vatican guidelines. They concluded that “there is nothing morally prohibitive” about the new covid-19 vaccines.

More details: The U.S. Bishops’ Conference (USCCB) asked two committees to investigate: the Committee on Doctrine (chaired by our own Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend) and the Committee on Pro-Life Activities (chaired by Archbp. Joseph Naumann of Kansas City). They recently sent a long memo to the other bishops. The memo was released to the Catholic News Agency but not is yet published.
 
Both Pfizer and Moderna use fetal tissue from aborted babies in the course of their drug business. As such, these companies are not free of corporate sin. The same is true of three other drug companies working on a vaccine, including AstraZeneca. These corporations make profits from the use of this tissue, which indirectly pays for the infrastructure supporting their vaccine research. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that some fetal tissue was involved in the development of generic materials that later found their way into the vaccine research. Finally, these companies make and sell abortion drugs, which is quite profitable.
 
This is a problem with all vaccines. The fetal tissue in question was used to develop the measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, polio and other common vaccines years ago. The drug companies in question built their fortune on these drugs. The CHA points out that these vaccines did not have to be developed using aborted fetuses, but it saved time and money and maximized profits.

  
The Vatican, the USCCB and the CHA all agree: the use of fetal tissue and the profit from abortion drugs is so remote to the current research that it is acceptable to use the new vaccines. Catholics must, however, continue to encourage the drug companies to stop using fetal tissue in any form.
 
Two companies involved in Operation Warp Speed have already done do. The French based company Sanofi Pasteur, whose motto is “empowering life”, has adapted the Pontifical Academy of Life’s guidelines and is no longer involved in abortion in any manner. The American company Inovio Pharmaceuticals also foregoes the use of stem cells and other cell lines taken from fetuses.
 
Here are some resources for further reading:

Catholic News Service: summary of the Rhoades-Naumann memo
CHA statement about COVID-19 vaccines
CHA Letter to the FDA about ethical vaccine research
Pontifical Academy for Life: Note on Italian Vaccines
Pontifical Academy for Life: The Human Community in a time of pandemic
 

COVID-19: OUR CONTINUED RESPONSE

In the readings for the Feast of Christ the King, the Lord God says:

I myself will tend my sheep.
On the day of dark clouds they got scared and ran.
I will rescue them from every place where they are hiding.
The lost I will seek out,
the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal.
(Ezekiel 34:12,16)

Right now it feels like we are still in the middle of "the day of dark clouds". The big, bad wolf of a coronavirus is attacking our county, our region with a ferocity not yet seen. So many of our parishioners have been quarantined, or are sick with covid, or love someone who is. We know the sun is out there, but the clouds are dark and threatening right now.

I cannot emphasize enough the power of prayer in times of trouble. St. Bonaventure (+1274) said, "When your heart is panting for peace, you must find a balance between intense prayer and caring for other people. ... There is no other way to find God but by opening your eyes in prayer." (Soul's Journey into God)


MASS CONTINUES -
NON-LITURGICAL ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED

On Wednesday, November 18, 2020 the Indiana State Department of Health officially placed Steuben County on condition red for covid-19 cases (link). 0.7% of the county's population is now infected, with hospitalizations and deaths mounting.


The pastoral councils, the finance councils and the staff of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Angola and St. Paul's Chapel at Clear Lake conferred by email and came to the following conclusions:

• Mass will continue as before, keeping the present safety protocol.
• We will continue distributing communion as we have been.
• The daily rosaries will continue, in English at 7:30 a.m., in Spanish at 6:00 p.m.
• All other in person activities will be suspended for two weeks, from Monday 23 November through Sunday 6 December.
• Exceptions include:
  • Confessions on Saturdays
  • Necessary meetings of the St. Paul's Mens Group to carry out the Thanksgiving Solidarity Drive
  • The collection counters - although this will be limited to staff members only (Finance Council members, stay home and stay safe!)
  • The AA group on Saturdays - they will make their own decision to suspend in person meetings or not
  • First Friday devotions on December 4, although confessions that evening might be cancelled
• At the latest on Friday 4 December, Fr. Bob and the staff will decide whether to continue that suspension of extracurricular activites for another two weeks, that is for the period 7-20 December.
• Groups are encouraged to hold virtual meetings. Fr. Bob and the rest of the staff, as well as the Holy Tony Geek Squad, will be available to help groups use the Holy Tony Virtual Meeting Room (v.gd/HolyTonyRoom)
  

  

At his weekly press conference of November 11, 2020, Gov. Holcomb declared that Indiana is no longer in Stage 5 of "Back On Track Indiana". Covid-19 cases have risen alarmingly all over Indiana for the last seven weeks. The governor has issued a decision limiting indoor gathering to 25 people in counties coded red, and 50 in counties coded orange. As of Nov. 11, Steuben Co. was coded orange.

The new policy explicitly exempts churches (and other categories of buildings that are built to handle larger groups). In keeping with the guidelines of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Indiana, our restrictions remain, therefore, unchanged. Here is a summary of our current protocols:

• Limit of 215 for Mass at St. Anthony's
• Limit of 100 for Mass at St. Paul's Chapel
  
• Masks must be worn
  
• Public books (hymnals, missalettes) have been removed
  
• The holy water containers and baptismal font are dry
  
• There is no congregational singing
  
• The congregation does not bring up the gifts at the offertory
  
• The ushers are not taking up the collection
  
• We will not shake hands or hug during the sign of peace
  
• We will not hold hands during the Our Father
  
• Communion is offered only in the form of the host, and only in the hand
  
• We clean the church after each liturgy, and once a week a professional company fumigates
  
• The bishops have extended the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass indefinitely
  

Thank you for your continued cooperation! Together, we can come through this time of trial to a time of rejoicing. Blessings!


Peace and all good,
friar Bob Showers OFM Conv.