Midweek Update from Fr. Dave

Greetings Holy Trinity family!

Geepers, this will be a memorable — or non-memorable — Spring Break for many. Sorry. I hear of so many plans being put on hold or cancelled.


Just got an update on our parish seminarians.  Justin will be coming home from Rome this week and most likely Mt. Angel is emptying out as well so James too will be off-Hill. Please be praying for them as decisions are made for online learning, and summer placements. I have petitioned the Archbishop that both of them are just ordained immediately! I continue to believe they will be a big blessing wherever they serve. Dustin Busse, our summer seminarian from last year, is already home from Rome due to the unexpected death of his dad earlier this month. Please remember him in your prayers as well.


In case you have not heard the latest news, in light of the CV stuff and all the uncertainties, I have asked (and it has been approved) to stay on at Holy Trinity for another year. I just cannot “abandon ship” at a time like this, and want to pastor this community through the rest of this event and then into the rebuilding that will be necessary. When I got the ball rolling on asking for the reassignment we had no indication that our world would be turned upside down. I apologize for the drama I have added to an already difficult time. We will get through this together!


We have had wonderful response to our recorded Masses and will continue to have weekend Mass posted later afternoon on Saturdays. I have added to our list of suggestions on ways to keep online Mass a sacred time. Take a look:

• Set a time for your family to watch the Mass — much as you decide which weekend Mass you would normally choose to go to.

• Determine a place to watch it; perhaps light a candle.

• Turn off phones and try to eliminate distractions as much as possible.

• Do NOT fast-forward through our homilies or sleep through it!  Haha.

• Try to have the same reverence for a sacred time as you would if you were in church.

• Make the responses out loud. When appropriate kneel or stand. And join with us in the text for Spiritual Communion.

• At end of Mass give each other a blessing!

• Have a treat afterwards and a brief conversation about what you just experienced.
   

We also had amazing response to our Facebook livestream on Sunday morning! Fr. Hans and I will continue to do this on Sundays at 10:15am and welcome your questions/comments/ideas. We are leveraging technology in whatever ways will best help us stay connected.

Fr. Hans and I and the staff are available to assist in any way helpful. We are doing most appointments by phone for obvious reasons but welcome your emails as well. And, for all of us, please be pondering daily who you can reach out to with a friendly phone, text, or email visit.

Love, Fr. Dave