Dear Parishioners,
The following are updates on this day before Thanksgiving, as we anticipate this holiday weekend and the first Sunday of Advent.
As to funeral arrangements for Fr. Perez, the family informed me of their plans earlier this afternoon. I want for you to understand that this is their decision, and that I respect and am honoring that decision. The family has asked for private burial with a public Requiem Mass at a later time. They feel the need to bury sooner rather than later, and I agree with that decision. Moreover, they just lost their beloved to a virus that is still infecting our parish. The Church universal developed the catafalque for just such occasions, i.e., so that the Requiem Mass could be held with the absolutions performed over the bier vicariously when it is not possible to have the body present. The family desires to wait for the Requiem Mass at a time when they will feel comfortable attending. And that will be at least a few weeks from now. I understand the need to mourn. So I ask you to visit the table outside of the church and to write a note to express your appreciation of this great priest who gave his livelihood as pastor of this parish - nearly a quarter of a century of service.
As you know, we will live-stream Mass on Thanksgiving morning at 9:00 a.m. There will be a brief Communion service following Mass. While the church will be closed for the Mass, we will open the doors afterwards and let people come in for Communion at the altar rail. People should not remain in the church for more than 10 minutes after receiving Communion. There will be no Confessions. Mass will be live-streamed again this Sunday at 10:00 a.m., and the church will be closed to the public. There will be no Communion after Mass. Plans are for a December 5 (Sunday) re-opening. There will only be the 7:30 and 10:00 Masses that morning.
CircuŠ¼stances make the Christmas Novena a bit difficult this year. So I am planning to offer an enrollment for the Christmas Masses instead. There will be a card for you to give to recipients of the enrollment. All of the monies from this enrollment will go to the church in this time of need.
I want to wish you and your family a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving and Advent. Although we have lost much, we have much for which we should be grateful!
In our Lord,
Fr. Starbuck
P.S. For updates from Angela Siffron please email her at: Churchlady@neptuneplumbing.com directly. I will send updates to her, which she will forward via the server list. In other words, do not contact me to be on this list. Please be sure to keep Angela updated on Covid cases in the parish.
Topic: Father Starbuck now head of chapel at OLHC in Garden Grove (Read 9794 times)