March 26, 2020
Dear Parishioners of Holy Name of Jesus,
I hope this note finds you and your family healthy and doing well in the midst of these uncertain times during the COVID-19 outbreak. On behalf of our priests, deacons and our entire staff, we miss you greatly and look forward to the day when we can go back to our regularly scheduled activities. Until then, please be safe and prudent, embracing the directives of the CDC to lessen the spread of the coronavirus.
With all parish activity being suspended, our Reconciliation Service will not take place on Tuesday, March 31st. As your pastor, I wanted to offer some guidance regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Bishop Noonan has highlighted an important aspect of Church teaching:
“In case of physical or moral impossibility in which a person cannot personally go to confession to a priest, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law, a person is to make an Act of Contrition with a sincere desire to go to confession as soon as it is possible” (CCC 1484; CIC 960).
In conjunction, the Office of the Holy See (the Vatican) has also offered a special Plenary Indulgence to the faithful during this time of pandemic:
“The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful suffering from Coronavirus, who are subject to quarantine by order of the health authority in hospitals or in their own homes if, with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to the celebration of Holy Mass, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, or if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible.”
With this guidance of Divine Mercy from the Universal Church, rest assured of God’s love and forgiveness for you and yours who come before the Lord with a humble and contrite heart. Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Community looks forward to rescheduling opportunities for the celebration of Reconciliation and the other Sacraments as soon as we are able. Until then, rest assured of our prayerful support and of God’s Divine Mercy.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Scott M. Circe, Pastor