12/02/2020
My dear parishioners,
First, I want to wish all of you a very blessed Thanksgiving. I knew things were going to be different this year but the recent mandates from the governor’s office I think caught us all off guard a bit. It appears as though Christmas is going to be a bit different this year as well. As part of keeping you informed I am sending out the current guidelines I received from the Diocese this week. If you have further questions, please call or email me.
Growing up Thanksgiving was always about family. I remember early in the morning we would go get my lone grandma, my other grandparents died before I was born, and my mom and her mom would cook up a storm. The house smelt so wonderful because of the wonderful smells coming from the oven; a baked turkey, a fresh apple and pumpkin pie, homemade dinner rolls, sweat potatoes, yuck!, corn, cranberry sauce, one of only two times during the year we had it, the other being Christmas. Thanksgiving was special because of the time we spent together as family. Back then there seemed to so many less distractions than today. Our house was smaller so everyone was mostly together unless we kids were outside. We all ate in the same room! And we shared our stories and what was going on in our lives. On TV the programs were about Thanksgiving instead of Christmas as they are these days, and with so few to choose from, the programs we watched seemed to be geared toward the whole family so we could watch them together. And of course there was football as there is every year on Thanksgiving but less of it.
I have so many fond memories of Thanksgiving growing up. This year that is going to be different. For me, I will be much more thankful this year than ever before, especially after getting and surveying Covid-19. I know my sickness could have been so much worse. I got the best doctor’s care in the world, received so many prayers from all of you, my family checked on me every day and Paco was by my side through it all. He made sure I walked him twice a day. I know there will be families without a family member around the table this year because they died from the virus. Please remember those families in your prayers as you gather around your tables this year. And there will be other family members who are too sick to be around the table and others who are will be self-isolating. I think all of us will feel a loss of some type this year as we gather as family for Thanksgiving but let us remember to be very grateful for the many gifts and blessings we have received this past year from our God.
Let us take time to remember all those who are suffering in prayer this year, to thank God for our blessings, to make a phone call to a family member or a neighbor in need, surprise someone with a simple note, maybe even sending a picture of a special time we spent with them, donate to a food bank of some type.
When times are difficult, I find I am so much more grateful for the many gifts and blessings God has given me. This year, we have much to be grateful for, despite a raging pandemic. I think the pandemic has slowed our lives down a bit more than usual and so we in an odd way, has helped us appreciate our lives so much more than we ever have. I know have much to be grateful for; Paco, my health, my family, my faith and all of you. For sure I will be remembering you in my prayers as I sit down to eat my turkey this year, well actually, ham, because it is easier to cook and I really don’t know to cook one, my mom always did that and I kind of miss that about her!
God bless!
Fr. Joe
Gratitude: Celebrating the Good in Every Day
“When we choose to be positive, we become aware of the things in our lives that are good. That naturally leads us into opportunities to express gratitude for the things that we do have. Gratitude has been linked to improved psychological and physical health. It also works wonders for our relationships. “Gratitude is something that’s best expressed, not kept inside of our minds.”
Here are a few ideas he offered for practicing gratitude:
Keep a gratitude journal. Each day, jot down three or four things that you’re grateful for.
Send a thank-you note to someone who has made a difference in your life.
Say thank you to those individuals who are helping you throughout the day — grocery/convince store employees, plumbers, mechanics, mail carriers, deacons! etc.
Thanksgiving Meal Prayer
Loving God, We thank you for all you have given us, family and friends, elders and children, loved ones to share the good times and the hard times, and the freedom to make of our lives what we choose.
At this Thanksgiving meal, we thank you for the gift of life, we remember those who hunger and thirst, and we ask your continued blessings for all whose love we share.
UPDATED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR THE DIOCESE OF SIOUX CITY To go into effect immediately Liturgical • Mandate: While instrumental music may be utilized at Mass, the use of a cantor is prohibited (with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) so as to not encourage congregational singing. Congregational singing, in any capacity, is not allowed. Recorded music, by virtue of the liturgical law of the Church, is not allowed. • No other mandates are being issued in relation to the liturgical or sacramental life of parishes.
Parish Life • Mandate: All Religious Education programs will cease meeting in person with faith formation continuing at home between parent and child, or on a virtual platform, or a combination of the two. Based on this, each parish religious education program will determine their own course of action according to the resources available to the parish.
• Mandate: All in-person parish group meetings or events, regardless of size, must be suspended or go to virtual platforms. This includes, but is not limited to: Adult Education, RCIA, Parish Board and Leadership Meetings, General Meetings, Marriage Preparation, Baptismal Preparation, Youth Groups, Knights of Columbus Meetings, Guild Meetings, Bible Studies, etc. The parish facilities are also closed to outside groups.
• Mandate: Parish facilities are closed for use. No funeral dinners, no receptions or parties, and no facility rentals.
• Mandate: While in the office, hall, or other buildings, all parish staff are required to wear a mask when they leave their personal work area and are to constantly wear a mask when working in a common workspace with other co-workers.
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS 2020
We should give ourselves permission to recognize and mourn that things will be different this Advent and Christmas. Everyone, priest and parishioner alike, should be given permission to let things be different this year out of necessity. A large part of this means not putting pressure on ourselves or others to take unnecessary risks for the sake of creating a feeling of “normalcy.” This year has unfortunately been defined by COVID-19 and we await with hope the coming of Christ and the end of this health crisis.
Praying for an End to the Pandemic-It is important, insofar as possible, to continue praying for an end to the pandemic in our public worship and recognizing the importance of the spiritual component in the midst of this health crisis. This includes (when appropriate) praying the Mass During the Time of Pandemic, including this petition in the Prayers of the Faithful, and even encouraging the faithful to take up various forms of prayer and fasting (proper to each person or parish) for the sake of bringing an end to this pandemic. LITURGICAL PROTOCOL REMINDERS- Masks are not optional; they are required to be worn by the congregation aged 2 years and older during Mass for the duration of the entire liturgy. The length of Mass should be as close to 30 minutes as possible. Do not unduly lengthen the time the congregation spends together in one space with lengthy homiliesL. Dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is still in effect.
ADVENT- Blessing the Advent Wreath Parishes may still want to include the blessing of the Advent Wreath on the first Sunday of Advent. This occurs only on the First Sunday, and there is no ritual involved in processing with Advent candles and lighting the wreath on the other Sundays. This simple rite should not unduly prolong the liturgy and can easily be done by the priest himself.
Advent Confessions- I will be hearing confessions a half hour before Mass starting next weekend. When you come into the reconciliation room, I ask that you please stand and don’t touch anything so we don’t have to sanitize it before the next person comes in. At St. Mary’s I will be hearing confessions in the parish hall. As always please social distance.
CHRISTMAS-Schedule of Masses given all the unknowns, how to schedule Masses on Christmas Eve and Day – and throughout Christmastime – will be a challenge for our parishes. Here are the Mass times for our cluster: Christmas Eve; 4:00PM, St. Martin’s, 4:00PM & 6:00PM, St. Joseph’s, 6:00PM, St. Mary’s; Christmas Day, 8:30AM, St. Joseph’s. We hope to live stream as many of these Masses as possible. The time limit for being in the building remains at 30 minutes, so please do not plan on having “preludes” or a “concert” before Mass. The Vigil Mass cannot begin before 4 pm. Recorded music, by virtue of liturgical law, is not allowed. If you are not feeling well or are in a high risk category, we ask that you stay home out of an abundance of caution. Please be mindful there will be limited seating and once the church is full, we will not be able to accept anyone else. Also keep in mind the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect.
Christmas “Pageants”- Space and distance limitations this year would lead us to not permitting Christmas pageants indoors and in-person
Holy Days of Obligation-Because the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass remains in effect (most likely until a vaccine is widely available), Immaculate Conception on December 8 and Mary, Mother of God on January 1 are not considered obligatory this year. Nevertheless, for the spiritual nourishment and devotion of the faithful, it is encouraged to offer a sufficient number of Masses on these days.
