A Memo from Fr. Kwame - Update #4
MEMO-4 3/30/2020
TO: All Parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo
FROM: Fr. Kwame Assenyoh, Parochial Administrator
SUBJECT: COVID-19 UPDATE FOR EASTER CELEBRATIONS AND PROGRAMS
Dear St. Charles Borromeo family,
The Lenten season is coming to a close and our Easter celebrations are quickly approaching. Unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 has intensified and is crippling every aspect of our lives. The order to “shelter in place” and maintain a minimum physical distance of six feet with a maximum of 10 people is still in force more than ever. Globally, nationally and locally, the death toll is rising along with the number of new cases.
This pandemic is severely impacting our social and economic lives as well. So many have lost their jobs or had their working hours reduced. Our children and youth are out of school and their boredom increases as time goes on. Relationships between spouses and within families are becoming unusually challenging.
This is not to say that people are helplessly enduring these socio-economic effects of the Coronavirus. Many individuals and families are “pushing back” by developing creative social skills and utilizing media to their advantage.
Yet, it is frightening when we observe that our social defenses can only withstand this assault for so long. If we shelter in place beyond this summer or calendar year, we fear that our social and economic lives will crumble irreparably.
All of these experiences threaten our Catholic Christian faith and practices. Catholicism essentially thrives on the sacramental principle: Created material and physical things mediate God’s grace. However, now that we've lost the ability to physically gather to celebrate the sacraments, it feels like we are losing our Catholic faith. Yet, must we really lose our faith? Is there a way for us to continue existing as the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic community, outside of gathering physically?
Throughout the past week, we've focused on the inspiration of God’s word and our need to be more creative in order to deepen our spiritual and faith lives. The gospel of the Fourth Sunday of Lent helped us understand that we can still experience God without our physical associations because God is spirit.
Even though this pandemic is a tragic and unfortunate event, we can strive to find new ways to experience God outside of the physical and material associations with which we are familiar. Let us heed Jesus’ call, in yesterday's gospel, for Lazarus to “come out” from the tomb, as a call for us to explore those new creative and spiritual ways of practicing our faith and relationship with God.
As Easter approaches, our bishop Michael C. Barber has issued new directives regarding celebrations in the near future. Here are the changes we've made to our Easter services, from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, and to other programs:
LITURGY: WORSHIP
Watch Our Celebrations Online:
www.stcharleslivermore.org/watch
PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 5 (9:30 AM)
Prior to Palm Sunday, we encourage you to acquire palm branches for yourself and your family. During the live Mass video on Sunday, Fr. Kwame will invite you to raise your palm branches for a blessing.
Beginning at Noon on Palm Sunday, palm branches (which will have been blessed onsite) will be available in the Church for pick up by individuals and families until Wednesday of Holy Week.
HOLY THURSDAY, APRIL 9 (7:00 PM)
On this day we observe what we call the “Mandatum” (or the mandate), which is the most significant theme that Jesus came to teach: “love one another as I have loved you.” We don’t end this particular celebration but depart in silence while reflecting upon Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and his arrest and detention in the house of the high priest Caiaphas.
GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 10 (3:00 PM)
On this day the cross and Jesus’ suffering and death will be our focus. The official service of the Church is the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, and it’s a continuation of the Triduum. This service will be live-streamed and we invite you to participate in the service online at 3:00 pm.
Earlier in the afternoon, for your devotional and meditation practices, we will present reflections on the “Way of the cross” and the “Seven last words of Jesus”, which will be live-streamed at 1:00 pm. Again, the community departs in silence without ending the celebration.
HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 11 (8:00 PM)
Our focus today moves from the burial of Jesus in the tomb to his resurrection, in order to complete the saving work of God for humankind. We regather to participate in the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, which will be live-streamed at 8:00 pm in the evening. The Easter Candle symbolizes Christ as the light of life for the world. This service concludes our Easter Triduum which begins on Thursday and continues through Friday to this night.
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 12 (9:30 AM)
The celebration of our Lord’s resurrection from death continues from the Easter Vigil through Easter Sunday. However, the event of Easter – the resurrection to a new life – is celebrated every Sunday for 50 days, ending on Pentecost Sunday, May 30th. Even after Pentecost, it is this resurrection of the Lord that we celebrate in Eucharist every Sunday to highlight the point that we are always “Easter People” – a people who are alive, and not dead!
OTHER SACRAMENTS
Initiations
Due to the “shelter in place” order, we have postponed all of the initiation sacraments until the time when the order is revoked. We will celebrate the Easter services without baptism and reception into full communion and confirmation. Our first Eucharist celebrations will be postponed until a later date.
Anointing of the Sick
Fr. Kwame will be available for the anointing of the sick and the last rites for ONLY those who are seriously ill and/or are dying. Also, Fr. Kwame is available to anoint anyone who unfortunately contracts COVID-19, but only upon the patient’s own request.
Reconciliation
Due to its confidential nature, confessions via telephone and through social media are NOT recommended. Remember: God forgives you when you sincerely are contrite: Examine your conscience, ask for forgiveness, pray the Act of Contrition along with Psalm 51 and other prayers, make a personal and practical effort to change some of the things you confess. Call for an appointment ONLY if there is a danger of death.
Weddings
We strongly recommend that couples call to reschedule or postpone all planned marriages in our Church during this time of the pandemic.
Funerals
If there is a full-body to be buried, please call Fr. Kwame or Brian O’Reilly (925) 858-5288 to arrange for possible private or family rituals at the gravesite or Funeral Home. If there are cremains involved, we strongly recommend postponing the funeral service.
Chapel/Church Open for Prayer
For personal or small family prayer or reflection, our chapel continues to be open 24 hours per day. Our church building is also open for the same purpose from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Be sure not to congregate in these locations at any time.
LEARNING: FAITH FORMATION
We are beginning to increase our utilization of Zoom to help in our continuing faith formation programs, such as Adult Bible Study, Small Faith Sharing Groups, Men of Faith, WINGS, Young Adults Ministry, Children's Ministry, and Youth Ministry. In regards to these programs, the leaders and coordinators will contact you in the near future. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, consider setting up your free Zoom account now.
LIVING: IN-REACH AND OUTREACH SERVICE
Social Concerns Ministry
In the wake of the COVID-19 situation, our local social charitable work is temporarily on hold since most of our ministers are over 65. However, see the article below my message, as you can still donate to carry on this work in other ways.
Life Transition for Aging Adults (LTAA)
This group is amazingly keeping seniors connected - through phone calls, e-mails, and other social media - by sharing humor and pertinent information. For more information or to join, contact Molly Fisher at fisher.molly@comcast.net
Elderly Assistance
The Knights of Columbus have volunteered to assist our elderly or physically challenged individuals by running errands and taking care other of needs during the shelter in place order. To request assistance, simply complete the brief form in the lower portion of this page.
International Justice
Work on our Suba Orphanage is progressing. We will provide you with a detailed report within a few days.
PASTORAL ADMINISTRATION
To ensure the continual operation of our Church, our pastoral and administrative staff continue to meet, but now by utilizing Zoom. The pastoral council and finance council and their sub-committees will also be set up to use Zoom after this week.
GIVING
Again, thank you so much for continuing to support our Church by sending in your offerings. If you are sending them via U.S. Mail, remember that giving online is now easier than ever - simply go to www.stcharleslivermore.org/give. There, you can manage your own personal plan for giving - how much and when. It’s very simple to join in this work of God!
May God continue to be with us. And may we all know that the God who created us is still in control and that we learn to recognize and relate with our Creator God from our hearts and through all the media available to us. Amen.
---Fr. Kwame
A PRAYER OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
(Pray at communion time when you watch our live-streamed Masses)
Dear Jesus,
I (we) believe that you suffered and died,
and rose from death to save us.
I (we) believe that you are fully present
in the bread that is blessed and broken,
and the wine that is blessed and poured out
in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Renew in me (us) your sacrificial presence,
and let me (us) be united with you at this moment,
So that, in all my (our) thoughts, words, and actions,
I (we) may represent you, and love others as you love me.
Amen.
For more information please contact our office manager Mary Hengl at (925) 922-6131 or email her at mary@stcharlesborromeo.org