It is Not the Building; it’s the People
There is a great deal of excitement and anxiety as people plan to return to our Church over the next week and next weekend. It is essential to prepare ourselves spiritually to return, in addition to making the decision about whether we are physically and medically ready to return.
Before I speak about spiritual readiness, I would be remiss not to talk for a moment about physical preparation. We love you and look forward with great anticipation to your return. But please evaluate thoroughly whether you should return at this point. Many in the medical profession say we are moving too quickly. Ask yourself about your vulnerability and the vulnerability of those you love and those you care for. Consider also the others who will be at Church. Is there any possibility that your presence will be a threat to them? If you have any doubt, please stay home and worship with us from there. We will spiritually gather you from the corners of the parish, and the borders of the country, into our hearts, and bring you into the Church. We are one community of faith, even when we are separated.
It is also essential to prepare ourselves spiritually to return to our Church for the celebration of the Eucharist. The last time the community celebrated mass together in the Church was the morning mass on March 19th. I have had the opportunity to spend some time in the Church since then, and it doesn’t feel the same. In fact, last Monday morning, before we started opening the Church for private prayer, I lit the incense burner, filled it with incense, and walked around the Church.
I wanted to make it to smell like Church. There is an emptiness in the building that I don’t remember ever feeling before. I think it is the residual energy of the community gathered that echoes in the empty spaces when we are gathered daily. That echo has faded over these weeks, but we will bring it with us when we return.
When you come to Church you will also see pews taped off, people wearing masks and sanitizing their hands frequently. You will find the Chapel doors locked; the chapel is closed; you may not even sit in it during mass. We will be using only the front entrance. The Holy Water font remains empty. We are required to sanitize the Church between masses, the doors will be locked until 30 minutes before mass. Please remember to social distance as you wait for the doors to be opened.
After reading all of that, I am sure there is a sadness in you as there is in me. But it is important to know what you will find when you enter the Church. We always say, “It is Not the Building; it is the People.” That is never truer than it is now. As the restrictions are raised, the Church will echo again with the love and presence of the community. We have faced adversity before, we face it now, and we will inevitably face it in the future. We embrace this challenge, and we go forward hand in hand with God and heart to heart with each other.
Please never doubt that we love you and we miss you. When you are ready to return, we are excited to welcome you home to your Church of the Sacred Heart. May God bless you and all those you love.
In God’s Unending Love,
Gwen
