I am grateful to report that I have not had any symptoms since last weekend. Though I tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10th, I have not had a fever and have been feeling very well for the past week. For the first few days I did experience exhaustion and slept quite a bit during the day as well as throughout the night. My appetite was reduced for a few days but has returned to normal. Following the CDC guidelines, I can end home isolation after at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and there is no fever so that is why I made the decision to celebrate Mass this weekend (even though I will not be distributing Holy Communion). As always, I am deeply grateful for your prayers. My thoughts and prayers continue to remain with those who have not been as fortunate as I to have gotten through this pandemic.
It saddened me greatly to hear of the death of two parishioners whose funerals I was not able to celebrate due to my own illness at the time. In fact, the last day I celebrated morning Mass, I informed the people of the impending death of David Venditti, who had been suffering from COVID-19 for several weeks & who was being taken off of the ventilator. I had made arrangements the night before to have David anointed and receive the last rites by one of the priests of the Diocese who generously volunteered to administer the sacraments to those suffering from the virus, so I asked for the prayers of those present at Mass that morning, knowing that David would be receiving the last rites that same morning. I asked Fr. Dan Schlegel to celebrate his funeral Mass as he has known the family since his time here. David was an usher who would always be seen serving his ministry in a suit and tie. He brought his father Armand here for Mass when Armand was up to it (Armand and his daughter also battled COVID-19 but both were able to recover from it). David was always a very kind and gentle man who served quietly and faithfully. I extend our sympathies to his father Armand and his sister Pat and to all the members of Venditti family who are mourning David’s passing at this time.
The second parishioner who passed while I was ill was Jeffrey Schigel who died suddenly and unexpectedly. Jeff was married to Janet for 39 years and together they had 3 children and a grandchild. Jeff also had two sisters and a deceased brother. He enjoyed coaching his daughters for many years and was active with our CYO here at St. Leo’s. Jeff was not someone whom I knew well but who was always very kind and supportive of me and I will miss seeing him. Jeff’s funeral Mass was celebrated last Saturday & I ask you to remember him and his wife and children in your prayers. It is hard enough for me to celebrate the funerals of parishioners, but even harder when I cannot do so due to illness.
As I look ahead on my calendar, I am in disbelief that Holy Week begins next weekend with the celebration of Palm Sunday. Though the pandemic will find us celebrating Holy Week a bit differently this year, I am grateful that we can still celebrate these important rites after a year when they were all suspended. I’ll include more information in next week’s bulletin but can assure you that palms will be distributed and our Catholic rites celebrated in the days to come.