Last Tuesday we celebrated the funeral Mass for Kevin Austin, and I expressed the support of our prayers and faith to the family members as I always do, especially to Kevin’s sisters Vivienne & Eileen and to his twin brother Keith. Kevin was a quiet man who enjoyed time fishing especially with his dad and brother. As the Word of God assures us, the just are in the hands of God and they are in peace. We pray for Kevin and for all those hit by the sadness of a deceased loved one in this new year.
The total of our at Mass Christmas collection last month was $24,309.00 compared to $20,709.00 a year ago (more donations come through the mail). Our total Sunday collection for 2021 was $408,206 compared to $388,410 in 2020, an increase of about $20,000. This is incredible, given that we had the fewest people in attendance for Christmas Mass in the 35 years I’ve been celebrating Christmas Masses, due of course to the pandemic. Your generosity continues to inspire me and to make me ever more grateful for your support of our parish. Thank you for the sacrifices you make, especially in light of the Coronavirus. I pray only that the Berigan’s and I and all of our parish staff will serve you to the best of our abilities.
The priests of the Diocese received an update from Bishop Malesic as we face the Omicron variant of COVID. This is causing the Diocese to review and adjust some of the diocesan events planned for the coming months. My cousin, Fr. Dan Schlegel, has been working overtime trying to coordinate coverage for the number of priests who have come down with the new strain and so are unable to celebrate weekend Masses. The Bishop is asking us once again to encourage you to wear a mask when in church and to be vaccinated if you are medically able to do so for the common good.
Again, we are asked to inform you that “those who are ill, have significant health risk factors or care for someone who is immune-compromised or ill, as well as those who have significant fear or anxiety about contracting the coronavirus in a large group of persons are not obliged to attend Mass.”
This email from the Bishop also included a briefing on the surge in COVID cases in Northeast Ohio from Paul M. Shaniuk, MD, FACP, President of the Archbishop Sheen Catholic Medical Associate Guild of Northeast Ohio. He notes what you probably already know, but summarizes it this way: “Northeast Ohio is currently experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 in the entire country. This is due mostly to the Omicron variant, which is likely to hit hard and fast. Health care workers are also getting sick in high numbers. Even if their illnesses are mild, they are unable to work while sick with COVID-19 to avoid the risk of spreading the virus to their vulnerable patients. Prior to this surge, there had already been a growing shortage in health care workers as approximately 20% have left the field since 2020 for a variety of reasons, of which burnout and moral injury are high and vaccine mandates make only a very small percentage. The health care workers who are still providing front line care are exhausted and demoralized.” This document encourages us to pray publicly at Masses for an end to the Pandemic but also for patients suffering from the virus, those who have lost loved ones, and for the exhausted healthcare workers who care for them. I believe we can all acknowledge the need to pray. So let us do that, individually and communally, as we ask God to give us the strength we need to struggle through this pandemic and to help each other according to God’s will.