Last week in my homily I had the unhappy, but very necessary, task of addressing some of the difficulties that are beginning to arise in our parish as a result of the safety protocols/restrictions in place. I want to put some of these thoughts into writing for the sake of those who were not able to hear me articulate them in person. Additionally, I invite you to read carefully the enclosed letter from Bishop Deeley that is addressed to all parishioners throughout the Diocese.
 
It has been almost three months since we re-opened our churches for public worship, and while it has been      wonderful to come to the altar of God once again, it is rather obvious that things are not as they once were and probably won’t be for quite some time. Having to register for Mass, wearing masks, limiting the number of people in church, the  inability to assemble or commune socially, having pews sectioned off, these and other things have disrupted our traditions and  experience of church and have left many feeling angry, frustrated, and bitter. In recent weeks, however, things have escalated as these feelings have begun to manifest themselves not only in thought, but in word and deed. Sometimes this is done charitably and kindly, but other times it is done uncharitably and harmfully. I have been on the receiving end of some of this, of course, but I’m not concerned about that – I’m concerned because I am seeing parishioners turn against each other. Disagreements about the severity of the  coronavirus and the observance of safety protocols are dividing us, and we’re beginning to presume ill-will of each other and taking it into our own hands to correct what we see and don’t like. Is this natural? Absolutely; it was bound to happen, I suppose. But it’s not supernatural, and that’s the world that we as Christians are called to be in. As we fight a physical enemy that we cannot see – the  coronavirus – we cannot lose sight of the fact that we must also fight a spiritual enemy that we cannot see – the Devil and his legions – who are at work seeking to tear us apart and to drive us away from the Lord. We must all band together, get on the same page, and fight these two enemies together.
 
It is my responsibility as your pastor to set the course that we take as a parish. Now I don’t do this unilaterally, but under the authority of our Bishop and certainly with consultation among our parish leadership. What has become clear to me after much consultation is that we all have to agree, no matter how we feel about the politics at play in the world or whatever else, that in our sacred spaces we will all be united in practice. We have become a little lax in observing the safety protocols, and so I am calling all of us to get on board and to observe them fully, not just for the physical health and well-being of others, but for the spiritually well-being of all. We have to be  united or the spirit of division will triumph. So that being said, as your pastor, I am asking you to trust my judgment and to abide by the following protocols. They are a bit stricter than when we first began, and I know that this will cause pain for some, but it is the only way to alleviate the fear that many have and to ensure that the house of God is safe for all, body and soul.
 
Masks. Starting immediately, all people who come through our doors will be expected to wear a mask. The sole exception is for  children under the age of 2. I know that there are people who have underlying medical conditions that would prevent them from  wearing a mask, but for the time being I am asking them to please stay home for their own welfare and the welfare of others. If you are bothered by wearing a mask, or think that it is a violation of your rights, I understand that; but as your pastor, I am asking you to be sacrificial. If you can’t wear a mask out of genuine concern for health and safety, then wear it out of charity and humility. For those who cannot come and feel rejected or abandoned, please reach out to me. I will do everything and anything I can to accommodate your spiritual needs at this time.
 
Social-Distancing. While our diligent mask-wearers are to be commended, some have forgotten that masks alone are not sufficient to stop the spread of infectious diseases: keeping social distance is key. Please be very sure, while you are at Mass and on church property, to remain 6 feet away from all people who are not part of your household. Be particularly mindful of this by not sitting in the pews that have been taped and following the floor markers while coming forward for Holy Communion. And please fight the urge to become  casual about this in the parking lot – there are many people who are quite afraid right now and we owe it to them (and ourselves too!) to practice this important safety measure.
 
Holy Communion. Bishop Deeley has made it quite clear that all people should be receiving Holy Communion in the hand at this time. He has judged this to be the safest manner of receiving, and I will not contradict him on this. However, by Canon Law, I do not have the authority to refuse Holy Communion to someone who wishes to receive on the tongue. I am asking everyone to consider very seriously the direction of our Bishop on this and then to act according to their conscience, but I assure you there will be no battle in the    Communion line. In the case that someone will not receive Holy Communion in the hand, I am asking that they wait until everyone else has received to come forward, that way there will be no danger – real or perceived – to others at Mass. I will purify and sanitize my hands immediately afterwards. I ask that everyone respect that this protocol touches too close to the sacred for anyone to make an issue out of it. If you find yourself angry that someone has chosen to still receive on the tongue, then please offer it to God and know that, on my end, we have made it as safe as possible.
 
These are the three basic issues, my friends; the ones I hear the most about and the ones that I witness being the biggest problems. These are the things that we are trying to do to keep us physically safe, and yet they are precisely the ones the enemy is using to make us spiritually unsafe. As your pastor, I am asking for your full compliance, so that together we may ward off the enemy that seeks to destroy not only our bodies, but our souls. I love this parish dearly; I love each of you and want you to be happy, healthy, and holy. I will help you in every way that I can to attain these, but I need your trust and cooperation. Together – and only together – will we get through this. God bless you and know of my prayers.
 
Pax,

   Fr. Kyle