My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and I unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
O Mary,
you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
October 23, 2020
Dear Parishioner,
The five Catholic bishops of Indiana, including Bishop Timothy Doherty of the Diocese of Lafayette, have extended until further notice the dispensation from the obligation to attend Lord's Day and Holy Day Masses
The bishops recognize the special measures being taken in parishes to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. However, as the number of cases continues to increase in Indiana, they have determined that an extension of the dispensation is a prudent decision.
Bishop Doherty reminds us all that the obligation to keep Sunday holy is still (and always is) in force, even if that does not include Sunday Mass participation. He writes: "I continue to invite each of you to prayerfully consider attending Mass to fully experience the gift that Jesus gives us in the Eucharist..."
We are invited to consider these criteria when prayerfully making this decision:
1. If you cannot attend Mass through no fault of your own, no dispensation is needed.
(e.g., no Mass is offered, you are infirmed, or, while wanting to go, you are prevented for some reason you cannot control {e.g., your ride did not show up, the church was at capacity})
2. If you are seriously ill, or if not seriously ill, your health condition will be compromised if you were to contract a communicable illness then use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
(i.e., you have underlying conditions or are in a high risk category)
3. If you have good reason to think you might be asymptomatic of a contagious illness then use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
(e.g., you were in recent contact with one who contracted a contagion).
4. If you exhibit flu-like symptoms then use the dispensation and do not attend Mass.
5. If you are overcome by anxiety and fear of becoming ill by being at Mass, then you should speak with your pastor about this anxiety.
(such that you will not be able to participate in the Mass in a full and active manner;)
6. If you care for the sick, homebound, or infirmed, then you should consider their health as well as your own.