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 article by Friar Bob & Friar Ray

In bygone days, the parish bought a paperback missalette called Breaking Bread, which we used both as a hymn book and as a missal with the Scripture readings and prayers of the day. Since March of 2020, we have set those books aside because passing paper from person to person can easily spread viruses and other microorganisms.

 
Fr. Bob wants to urge all parishioners to invest in their own personal missal. Take your missal with you to Mass and take it home with you after. Read it. Use it. Make it part of your life. Reading the daily Mass readings is one of the best ways to deepen your spiritual life.
 
Now is a wonderful time to be alive! Some centuries ago, a missal weighed 40 lbs., it took more than a year to produce one copy, and the final product cost more than a house. Now missals are available in all sorts of formats and in all price ranges, including lots of good options for free. Here are some suggestions from Frs. Ray and Bob. This list is certainly not exhaustive – they list some of the easiest to find options. The friars divide the suggestions up into three categories

• Apps for tablets and smartphones
• Paperback popular missals
• Hardbound missals and Mass books

 

 
APPS TO USE AT MASS
 
You may notice that Fr. Ray uses an electronic tablet when he celebrates Mass, because of his bad eyesight. Fr. Ray recommends the app “iBreviary”. Four of the most popular Catholic Mass apps are:

• myParish/St. Anthony of Padua in Angola – this is our parish’s own app, and we have all the Mass texts on it! Our app is limited but easy to use. If you don’t have it in your phone, get it now! More about our parish app
• iBreviary – published by the Franciscans of the Holy Land, this app is aimed at priests and religious, so all the texts are here, including all the Catholic liturgical books. It takes some practice to use. More about iBreviary
  

• Laudate – a free app, quite popular. Lots of ads, though. It does not do well offline.
  
• Universalis – an expensive app, but all the texts are here, and many other resources. A desktop version is available. It does not do well offline. More about Universalis
  

 
All of these apps are available from Google Play, the App Store, or wherever you get your apps for tablet or smartphone. If you would like help with these or other apps, contact the parish staff at webmaster@stanthonyangola.com, and we’ll get one of our “Holy Tony Geeks” to help you!
  

 
MISSALS IN MAGAZINE FORM
 
Many people prefer having a booklet made of paper in their hand, so they can read the Biblical readings and follow the texts of the liturgy both before and during Mass. These are called “liturgical periodicals” and usually appear monthly. Here, in alphabetical order, are the three most popular one in the United States:

• Living Faith. Daily Catholic Devotions. – published four times a year by Bayard, the same publisher as the next magazine below. This little magazine (in stapled pamphlet format) concentrates on personal prayer more than public Mass. For each day, there is a meditation. The chapters and verses for the Mass readings are listed, but you must use your own Bible for the text. $15.00 per year. Also available in Spanish and in large print, and for the Amazon Kindle, the Nook and on the iBookstore. www.livingfaith.com
• Living with Christ. Your daily companion for praying and living the Eucharist. – published monthly by Bayard, a well-established Catholic publishing house. The paperback magazines are bound with glue. For each day, there is a brief morning and evening prayer, the Mass readings and a brief reflection. Each issue has the complete Order of the Mass. There is a special issue for Holy Week. $25.95 per year. www.livingwithchrist.us
• Magnificat – Has morning, evening and night prayer for each day, the Mass readings and prayers, a Gospel reflection by a recognized Catholic theologian, and a saint’s life. There is a monthly artwork with reflection, a hymn of the month and a Marian antiphon with a theological commentary, and various blessings, essays and prayers. This magazine seeks to be a complete spiritual companion but is perhaps a little harder to use than Living With Christ. $47.00 per year (which includes both the paper and the electronic edition). Also available in multiple languages, as a children’s version (Magnifikid), etc. www.us.magnificat.net

 

 
HARDBOUND MISSALS AND MASS BOOKS
 
Some people prefer the weight and feel of a real, old fashioned hardbound book instead of a magazine or an electronic device. In the 1880’s, the Benedictine monks introduced the “popular missal”, a book for lay people with all the readings, prayers and other texts of the Mass, in Latin and the vernacular, so everyone could better follow along. (See Fr. Bob’s blog on this, "Listen to the Music of the Angels"). You have to learn how to use an old fashioned book, of course, but it’s worth the effort! Here are a few readily available modern missals.
 
NOTA BENE: Be sure to buy an edition published 2010 or later, so you have the current translations of the prayers.
 

• New St. Joseph Sunday Missal. Catholic Book Publishing Company, app. 1600 pages. $20 - $40, depending on the binding. The complete 3-year Sunday cycle in one volume. Many of the prayers are repeated to minimize page turning. The sewn cloth edition includes beautiful full color illustrations. A large print version is available. A two-volume weekday edition is also available.
  
• St. Paul Sunday Missal. Daughters of St. Paul. About 2700 pages. $25 to $50, depending on the binding. Like the missal above, it has all the readings, prayers and responses for every Sunday and Holy Day of the three-year cycle, but this edition also has a meditation/commentary for each Sunday and a “treasury of prayers”, so that it is also a personal prayer book for everyday use.
  
• Daily Roman Missal. Our Sunday Visitor. About 2500 pages. $45 to $90, depending on the binding. This missal has both the three-year Sunday cycle and the two-year weekday cycle in one volume, plus many Masses for special occasions, including all the saints’ feasts, funerals, weddings, etc. Includes English and Latin side by side. 200 pages of devotions and prayers. A big, heavy book that can be used every day of the year for a lifetime.

For the Feast of Christ's Ascension, our parish - together with the entire diocese - will resume public Masses. There will be restrictions. I will update this blog post regularly as things change and develop.

NEW MASS SCHEDULE:

Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Sunday at 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
Weekday Masses resume on Monday, June 1, in the main church.
Spanish Mass resumes on Sunday, June 21.
Mass at Manapogo Campground still to be determined.

The new Sunday schedule allows proper time for cleaning and disinfecting between Masses. The schedule will be reevaluted after August 16.

Here is a short summary of the mandatory safety measures.

• There will be a maximum of 200 people per Mass.
• EVERYONE must wear a mask.
• Every other pew will be blocked off.
• In the pews that are open, maintain 6 feet between families.
• Handshaking and hand holding are suspended.
• Communion will be the host only, and only in the hand.
• There will be no choir.
• There will be no offertory.
• The collection will be taken up by different means.
• The church will be disinfected after every Mass, and fumigated weekly.

That sounds like a lot! This will definitely be a different experience of Mass. Who knows? Maybe we will learn something and grow from this!

Those who are particularly vulnerable - the elderly, those with underlying conditions, infants and small children - should consider not attending Sunday Mass just yet. Remember - the bishop continues to dispense you from any obligation to attend Mass. You might even consider attending a weekday Mass as your weekly Mass.

May the Lord continue to guide us.
friar Bob, pastor

Each year at Advent, the church offers us the opportunity to listen to the prophets of the Old Testament whose promise of a Messiah filled the people with hope at times of hopelessness. The Old Testament promise was fulfilled at the first coming of Christ into our world whose birth we are preparing to celebrate at Christmas.
 
Advent also invites us to make ready for His second coming, and to make room in our hearts for His arrival here and now--the Third Coming of Christ. It is with deep trust in God’s unconditional love for us that we acknowledge our failings in the presence of each other and seek his forgiveness.
 
John the Baptist is the great prophet of the New Testament who calls us to ready our hearts. John is the Prophet of Joy and the Forerunner of the Messiah.
 
God of mercy and compassion, as we come together to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, may the truth of His word bring love and hope to the darkness in our lives. Help us to bring down the hills and fill up the valleys, to straighten the crooked and to smooth out the rough until a highway runs right to our hearts, where Christ will make His home, for He lives and reigns, forever and ever. Amen.
 

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter three, verses one and following.
 
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
 
 The Word of God comes to us in the concrete realities of life — even as we go about our daily work, as we raise our families and build our societies, and sometimes when we find ourselves in the wilderness. Hearing the Word of God requires that we listen. So I ask myself:

• Do I pray every day?
•  Do I go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation?
•  Are there things in my life that get in the way of God’s word for me?

 
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
 
God has given us the holy sacraments as vehicles of His grace — we hear the Word of God in the celebration of the sacraments.

• How long has it been since my last confession?
• Do I prepare myself to receive communion?
• Do I ever think about or let myself be inspired by the promises of my baptism and confirmation?
• Do I keep the vows of my marriage or ordination?
• Do I visit the sick?

 
John said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”

• God has given me the gift of faith. Do I take it for granted?
• Do I look down on people of other religions, or on those who have no religion?
• Do I think I’m better than anyone else?

 
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
 
Sometimes I need God’s guidance. Do I ask for it? Do I listen?

John said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”
 

• Do I have a tendency to hoard and possess what is not necessary and still yearn to have more?
• What brings me contentment and security?
• Am I generous with my money and contribute whenever I can to charities which help to alleviate poverty?
• Do I make time in my schedule for other people?
• Do I reach out to the lonely?

 
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah.

We long for the salvation of God. We long to understand the meaning of our existence, to see an end to our problems, to receive God’s help in our suffering. We long to know that we are loved.
 

• Do I dare to hope in God?
  
• Do I trust God in my weakness? And come to God in my strength?
• Do I show love?
  

John answered them all, saying: “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.”
 
Sometimes we have other gods besides the one true God. Sometimes we take it into our heads that salvation comes from our own will power and discipline, from some political party or program or some political messiah, from some philosophy or from wealth, comfort, food or entertainment.

• Who or what is my god?
• Am I humble before the Lord?
• Do I long to receive the baptism of God’s fire?

 
Exhorting them in many other ways, John preached good news to the people.

• What is my attitude towards the most vulnerable in the community?
• How compassionate am I towards those who have personal struggles?
• As an employer, do I treat my employees with respect and equality? As a parent? As a teacher? As a person of influence?
• As an employee, am I trustworthy and honest? As a son or daugher? As a student? As a citizen?
• In my relationships, am I self-centred?
• Am I more concerned with satisfying my personal needs than putting the needs of others first?

 
Now Herod the tetrarch, who had been censured by John because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds Herod had committed, added still another crime to his list by putting John in prison.

John the Baptist was a messenger of God, a prophet preparing the way for the coming of the Saviour by encouraging the people to repent. Prophets are often ridiculed, persecuted or simply ignored. As we strive to witness to the values of the Gospel in today’s society, we too, are likely to meet ridicule and ignorance.
 
We will be challenged by the prophets of our times, and tempted, in our turn, to ignore them, ridicule them or cheer their persecution.

• How do I react to such experiences?
• Do I easily ‘give in’ and compromise my values by finding ways to avoid the challenges?
• Do I resent it when some members of the Church call upon me to change my attitudes or preconceptions?
• Who and what helps me during the difficult moments of my life?

 

John the Baptist was the herald of the Messiah and made him known when at last he came. In his love Christ has filled us with joy as we prepare to celebrate his birth, so that when he comes he may find us watching in prayer, our hearts filled with wonder and praise.
 
Amen.

Come to me, you with broken, mended hearts
who know the pain and joy and confusion of love and life.

Come with your wounds and scars and failures
for from these shall flow patience, courage and strength.

Come with your experiences no less than your education
for wisdom springs more from how you live than from who you are or what you know.

Come with the rock-hard stubborness of Peter
and the missionary zeal of Paul.

Come with the loyal love of Mary Magdalene
and the undying friendship of Lazarus.

Come with the natural poetry of Francis
and the visionary leadership of Joan.

Come with the childlike simplicity of Bernadette
and the doubt-plagued faith of Mother Teresa.

Come. And go.

Go out to the farthest corners of the world.
Go to the least, the lowest, and the loneliest.
Go reveal the riches hidden among the poor.
Go give health to the sick, and comfort to those who mourn.

Go with the fire of the Magnificat burning within your heart
and the Body of Christ alive within the soul's tabernacle.

Go break down the barriers dividing my people.
Go tear down the walls of ignorance and fear.
Go lift up the fallen and raise up the weak.
Go with the Spirit to sustain you.

Come and go! I am with you always!
The reign of God is at hand!
See! I give you  my word.

Joseph R. Veneroso, M.M.

Fr. Joe Veneroso is a member of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, commonly called the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers. Fr. Joe is a retired editor and publisher of Maryknoll Magazine. He is the author of several books of poetry and of spirituality.

On the 5th Sunday of Lent - March 18, 2018 - the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua held a "Whole Parish / Whole Family Workshop & Retreat Day in Preparation for Easter". The inspiration was taken from the challenge given by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the parishes to celebrate multi-generational catechism days "that make Easter and Christmas come alive".

Professor Kate Mahon from the University of Notre Dame's Liturgical Theology Department came and helped us along the way. Prof. Mahon provided theological guidance as well as holding a talk for the whole parish and workshops for small groups.

The theme of the day was the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. The different groups of liturgical ministers - from extraordinary communion ministers to ushers and greeters - held different workshops to prepare themselves to help at the many liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. Other workshops dealt with different aspects of Catholic life in the contemporary world.

A special part of the day was the children's program, organized by Cathy Bryan and our catechists. There were also workshops in Spanish, and different workshops for youth and young adults.

After the workshops, we watched the animated movie "Prince of Egypt." The day ended with a celebration of the Solemn Vespers of the Fifth Sunday of Advent.

Fr. Bob and the parish staff thank everyone who made the day a wonderful experience, "making Easter come alive for the whole family".