Adopting a New Mindset

Dear Friends:

As I write this, our staff is beginning to ready our parish for the re-starting of public Masses that can again be attended by people. As I have noted a number of times already, we will surely all have to adopt a new mindset - our world, our community, our Church, our parish - even our very selves have been forever changed by the pandemic and things will not be the same. As your pastor, with your assistance and cooperation, I will have to exercise adaptive leadership so that we can continue to fulfill our mission of making disciples for Christ in these coming days.

Given the "new normal" of face masks, social distancing, as well as greater awareness and exercise of hand-washing, sanitizing and disinfecting, as a Church we will have to adapt what we do in order to continue to advance our mission with hope.

Before moving forward, however, it's always important to look back and first measure how one has done. I hope that you have had the chance to participate in the parish survey - the results of which are printed in the June 7, 2020 bulletin. What follows below is a sampling of the 66 comments that were offered by some of our parishioners. We take them all seriously. We are grateful for the positive comments and assure those who offered constructive suggestions, that we will consider and study them.

Here are some of the comments offered:

• Thank you for your creative commitment.

• I didn't realize there were youth ministry zooms so more communication on that would have been helpful.

• Thank you for helping us stay connected to our faith during this time!

• Would like to the Church to be open for Mass.

• I especially love Kristen's music and Father Bob's family Masses. Thank you for helping my family and providing us with the gift of faith and connection to the community and the Church during this challenging time.

• Thanks for your great support.

• I've found the 9AM Mass wonderful (despite my having grown children!) - they've been so full of life and joy they've made my week - thinking about each homily and hearing "Sing Alleluia Sing" in my head has been such a help in these trying times.

• I'm grateful you continued the Loaves & Fishes ministry, but wish volunteers had been allowed to continue helping...

• I was blown away when I received a phone call from St Teresa's looking to see how my family was doing and if we needed any help. I was sincerely and deeply touched to tears, and it deepened my commitment to my faith. Thank you!

• The website isn't as intuitive as I thought it would be. A little challenging to update my weekly donation.

• When it was possible, having the Church open for prayers with mask and social distancing with a monitor - has been so important for my elder parents. Thx so much!

• I think the parish and staff have done an exceptional job during the pandemic keeping the community together.

• At the beginning, especially, when there was panic and I felt alone, I found the online Mass to be of great comfort ...especially when I knew there were a number of others watching at the same time. The personal calls you made (I received one from Angela) did NOT feel like it was something the caller had to do...it felt genuine and I felt that I DID have somewhere to call if I needed. Thank you to you all for being there.

• Enjoyed Angela's article so very much. Wanted her to know! Thanks!

• Missed being present IN Church...look forward to returning!

• I initiated online giving prior to the crisis and I'm glad I did. I appreciate the emails and ability to participate in a livestream Mass. Thank you!

• I think you all have done a fabulous job at this difficult time. My heartfelt thanks for your outstanding work.

• I am very disappointed with the change in the Mass schedule before the pandemic. I prefer the 5:30 in the main Church with music. I am still a parish member however I have been attending St Rose of Lima in Short Hills.

• Keep up the strong faith work during these challenging times. Thank you.

• Recommend Sunday Mass streaming be permanent so people can attend Mass when they are unable to leave their homes.

• I was extremely pleased with the way the parish had a plan in place and communicated that plan with us. Once Mass started up again, I feel confident and safe to go into the Church because of how serious you have reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic! Thank you!

• Can we learn how many parishioners died during shutdown period and have a special Mass for them and for those who are ill and have hardship as a result of this time.

• Let's reopen for Mass!

• You have been excellent!

• Fr Bob, you and your staff have been wonderful. Once we had someone shop for us. Thank you.

• Homilies are too long on Sun (too verbose - be short and to the point), and I'd rather the Gloria not be sung.

• We need socially distant baptism services for babies born right before and during this pandemic.

• I think the parish has been doing a great job.

• Great job under trying conditions! Thanks to Father Bob for his leadership and the staff dedication!

Next week we will outline the new guidelines for worship mandated by the Archdiocese. In addition to promoting the protection and safety of all, they will also allow us to identify the essentials so that together we can re-open and re-build our parish to practice our Catholic faith.

Blessings!

Fr Bob

In Facing Loneliness, The Church Answers

Recently I was reading an article entitled, "Immunity From Being Alone" published in The Economist.  It's fascinating in that it notes clearly that loneliness is bad for your health - even as bad as being obese or being a moderate smoker.  Apart from health care professionals, who would have thought such?

The article quotes the study of Dr Steven Cole, from the University of California, who writes that although loneliness starts with solitude, it can quickly take on a physiological life of its own.  He adds that enforced isolation, brought about by current circumstances, of those who are already living alone may create in people a state of chronic loneliness that is difficult to escape from when things start returning to normal.

As a pastor, these words frighten me!  They also outline some imminent pastoral work for us who belong to and lead Churches as we begin to reopen our buildings and re-start our ministries.  

Clearly there are no simple strategies, but perhaps as members of congregations we can devise a plan to first identify those who are most vulnerable to being and living alone.  From this list, we can work in teams to call, email, and perhaps, while observing safety precautions, even visit and bring necessary supplies. After these initial contacts, parish ministries can join in to help with developing long term and sustainable relationships so that no one is ever alone!

The article notes that random acts of kindness can prevent a downward spiral into loneliness.  As we begin to open our doors again, let's be mindful of those who do not return, perhaps because they cannot.  And rather than move on, let's work harder as parish communities of faith to leave no one behind, especially not our elderly and most vulnerable.

RSM

The Opportunity in Reopening

Dear Friends:

As we begin to re-open our churches, I am reminded by writers of different disciplines who note that the temporary closure should actually be seen as a wake-up call for our future.  Over these last weeks, I have had plenty of opportunity to discern that warning and think about what that actually means for us here at St Teresa.

I am reminded of the words from the PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD, GAUDIUM ET SPES, from DECEMBER 7, 1965, which says in its Preface:

"The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts ...  Theirs is a community ... United in Christ, they are led by the Holy Spirit in their journey to the Kingdom of their Father and they have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every [one]."

  The echo in our hearts in these days of lockdown has provided a prayerful space for us to wrestle with our own hopes, griefs, and anxieties, and those of others.  In short, with everything taken away or severely restricted, these weeks have foisted us to return to the heart of the Gospel - which challenges all the baptized to bring the Good News of Jesus to an anxious world. There is no doubt in my mind, though, that to be successful we will need a new plan, a different strategy, new eyes, and an openness to the renewal of the Spirit that is taking place right now, even despite our denial or resistance.  Some have called this a transition from maintenance to mission.

As I noted a few weeks ago, our staff and finance council have been thinking through these matters with the assistance of Lee Kricher's book, For A New Generation, A Practical Guide for Revitalizing Your Church.  Kricher uses these five themes for this analysis:

Over the next five weeks, I will share with you some of my own thoughts and ideas, and I invite you to do the same.  With the help of the parish planning committee and finance council, we will develop a strategy for us to not only open our doors, but more importantly open our hearts to the workings of the Holy Spirit here in our midst.

As we proceed, we may find comfort in the words of St Teresa of Avila, our patroness, who said: "God withholds Himself from no one who perseveres." Together, let's persevere to not only re-open, but rebuild our Church so that the news of salvation can be shared with everyone.

Blessings to you and your loved ones today and always!

Fr Bob