Author: jppcadmin

Dear Parishioners of Saint Eugene Parish and Guests,

While it is true that Easter Sunday ended a little over 2 weeks ago, we are still in the ‘Easter Season’ and we will remain in the Easter Season until the evening of Pentecost Sunday, May 31.  And so it is still appropriate, despite the crisis we still face, to wish all of you a Holy Easter!  The ‘word of the day’ until May 31 should be ‘ALLELUIA’!  As we continue to work together to deal with, and eventually overcome, the challenges we all are facing, be they health, social or economic challenges, as people of faith we must never lose sight of the significance of Easter.  In our own sufferings let us remember that it was through the sufferings of Jesus Christ that any hope of eternal salvation became a reality.  All the more reason to make our ‘word of the day’ be ALLELUIA!

It is only the 3rd week of our Easter Season, but it is the 6th week of our coping with this COVID 19 Crisis.  Let us all keep in our prayers those who have suffered tragic consequences of this pandemic.  Whether you know it or not, in addition to the vast numbers of people throughout the world who have been made ill, and even died, because of this virus infection, some of our own parishioners, friends and neighbors are enduring various profound effects because of this crisis.  Some have had to ‘self-quarantine’ at home, others have been hospitalized, some have had to endure being cut-off from personal/hands on contact’ with loved ones in nursing facilities, and unfortunately some have had to deal with the death of a loved one.  Please keep all in your prayers!

Let us not forget the many of our family members, neighbors, friends, and even total strangers who have sacrificed their own safety and have shown such courage during these difficult times.  Those in the medical professions, public safety, community services, essential businesses, and transportation services.  We owe them so much gratitude!  Keep in mind (and prayers) our teachers who have shown such wonderful resourcefulness in adapting to a totally new approach to teaching our students.  The efforts and cooperation of families to adjust to these new demands, their willingness to become more involved in providing for the education of their children, has been truly amazing! Our students deserve recognition as well for their willingness to adapt to this totally new way of life.  Also, for all of us who have been willing to sacrifice during these difficult times: to respect the calls to ‘stay home’, to practice ‘social distancing’, use of face masks when venturing outside and  accept the need to limit gatherings – Thank You!  Your efforts and cooperation give meaning to the statement – together we will overcome this!

Some have asked, and may more probably want to ask, some variation of this question – why did God do this to us?  Well, part of the answer is this: God didn’t do this!  Never forget that Jesus Christ never promised any of us ‘an easy life’!  (I’ve found it interesting that when you consider all the saints of the Church, ‘patron saints’ for just about every aspect of human life, nowhere will you find the Patron Saint of the Easy Life!).  A simplified reason for the difficulties and challenges of life is this: Original Sin!  (Yes, it did happen and yes it does affect all of us; but more on that later … what a homily that’ll be!).  But out of the love God has for all of us, God did provide us with the ways and means of dealing with the inevitable challenges and difficulties of everyday life.  Among these we have each other, we have prayer, the graces of the Sacraments, and we have the gifts of wisdom and common sense.  We need to use them!

Someday, this too will pass!  Perhaps we’ve come to take for granted so many things in life, even life itself!  Someday, hopefully someday soon, we will again have the opportunities to celebrate the wonderful things in everyday life.  We will again be able to gather together to celebrate Mass, to receive the Eucharist, to offer thanksgiving to the God who makes all of this possible, even life itself!  And for this we should all proclaim: ALLELUIA!!

May God continue to bless all of you!  I will continue to pray for you, please continue to pray for me!!

Fr. McDermott

Good Afternoon!

I’d like to provide you with this update and clarification on the Archdiocesan decision regarding Palm Sunday. In an effort to cooperate with state and local policies on limiting gatherings of people, ‘stay home orders’ and enforcing ‘social distancing’, the Archbishop has directed that the churches remain closed and all public Masses remain cancelled until further notice. This policy applies to this coming Sunday, Palm Sunday.

Also, the Archbishop has directed that palm NOT be distributed this Sunday. Pastors are to bless the palm in private, the palm is to be stored (preferably under refrigeration) until a later date when it will be made available to the parishioners.

I’d like to emphasize that these steps are being taken to protect the health and welfare of all of us. I agree with the Archbishop that all of us, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, must cooperate and work together in our efforts to overcome this health crisis.

There have been NO limits placed on prayers! Please continue to pray at home; pray for our church, our nation and our community! If we all work together, we will get through this. I join you in eagerly awaiting the day when once again we can gather in our parish church, pray together and share in the Eucharist (and even receive our palm!).

Fr. McDermott

Hello!

I want to thank all of you for your prayerful support, understanding and cooperation during these very difficult times!  My experiences (and I hope you have had yours) only serve to prove what I’ve come to believe: difficult and challenging times have the ability to bring out the best in all of us!

Please know that I am aware of the struggles many of you are facing.  The loss (or threat of loss) of employment and income, the profound changes in your daily routines, the need to procure child care, the anxiety many are experiencing and perhaps the unfortunate reality of finding out that a family member or friend has, or may have, contracted this virus.  You have been in my prayers and I ask for your prayers as well.

I am also profoundly aware of the effects and frustrations you feel due to the dramatic changes in Mass and devotion schedules here at St. Eugene.  It has become an extremely difficult challenge for me to balance your legitimate desires for access to your church and the Sacraments with the policies developed by the Archbishop, state and local officials regarding the response to the Covid-19 virus.  As difficult as many of these policies are, please keep in mind that they have been enacted to help insure our health and safety as well as the health and safety of all of our parishioners and community members.  I hope you can appreciate, as I do, the importance of limiting the number of people gathering for any purpose as well as the need for ‘social distancing’.  It would be a great tragedy if someone contracted the virus while attending a gathering in our church.  On a personal level, I’d have an extremely difficult time forgiving myself for having allowed such a gathering regardless of the purpose.  Guidelines provided by the Archdiocese have, in many instances, been contradictory and confusing.  Please understand that my decisions have been made with the utmost concern for your safety and health.

The recently issued directive from Archbishop Perez that prohibits ‘public’ celebration of Palm Sunday, the Holy Week and Easter Tridium Services (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) and Easter Sunday are nothing short of a tragedy for all of us.   Guidelines regarding the blessing of Palm and the Masses/Services related to the other aspects of the Easter Time are being worked out.  I will try to keep you informed of these developments.  A good source of information is the Archdiocesan website: www.archphila.org.  The ‘live-streaming’ of the Sunday Masses with Archbishop Perez is beautiful and very professionally done.  I apologize for the short notice, but this evening (Friday, 3/27/20) beginning at 6:00pm you have the opportunity to view Pope Francis offering a special ‘Urbi et Orbi Blessing’ as well as granting a Plenary Indulgence to all who view/participate.  To be streamed live on the Vatican News Service website: www.vaticannews.va

In the meantime, regarding Mass participation and opportunities for devotional activities, I strongly suggest that you investigate the many opportunities available ‘on-line’ for such activities.  It can be a profoundly spiritual experience to pray at home; alone or with family members.  Praying at home is something that many of us have not done in a long time; why not give it a try?!    We will get through all of this!  We have our faith, God is with us, and God hears our prayers!  Please ‘keep safe’ and keep praying for each other!  May God bless us all!

Fr. McDermott