Pastor's Notes - 04/05/2020

Today is Palm Sunday!  We will have the blessing of the palms and make them available for you today during our drive-thru confessions.   We will also place some in church for those who do visit church.  I will keep others for a later time when more people will be back to get some for their homes.

We have the Gospel of St. Matthew for the Passion of the Lord for Palm Sunday.  When I look at Matthew, Psalm 22 is most prevalent: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

It is interesting that the first twenty-two verses of the Psalm follow this same theme of crying out until verse twenty-three, when it all changes: “Then I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the assembly I will praise you.”  It becomes very positive and very faith filled.  It reminds us that during this time of crisis that we are in, we need to be positive and faith-filled.   The Lord calls and invites us to be witnesses, just as the Apostles were, to the Resurrection of the Lord and the hope that Jesus Christ brings to this world.  Let us pray for each other during this time.  Let us also walk and talk with those who are struggling.

Pending continuing updates and guidance from local and state government and health officials, the Archdiocese of St. Louis has preliminary plans to allow teachers to return on Thursday, April 23, and students to return on Monday, April 27. Please extend your distance-learning plans for continuation through Friday, April 24.  This directive, of course, would also be for the celebration of public Masses through April 26.

The Deacon Diaper Drive continues.  You may drop them off in one of the two trash type containers under the priests’ carport on Second St. and one by the east door of the church.
 
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!