Holy Spirit Parish

Dear Parishioners:  

It is an extraordinary time in which we are.  I for one never thought I would see something like this: Public Masses have been canceled in the Cleveland Diocese, the dioceses of Ohio, and throughout the nation.  For us, this includes the celebration of Holy Week, The Easter Triduum, and Easter Sunday.  I am still trying to wrap my brain about all of this.  The cancellation of Public Masses is not being done with the intention of depriving people of the Mass, the Eucharist, or of Prayer.  We are in an extraordinary time of health crisis.   The intention is to bring about social distancing (surely, the “word of the year” for 2020) to mitigate the effects of the Corona Virus on the population, especially the most susceptible.  The actions that the Diocese instructs and that I and the parish staff are taking are intended to foster social distancing.

Again a reminder that, though public Masses are canceled, Sunday remains a day of rest and prayer.

Sunday Mass: We will be making the Sunday Mass at Holy Spirit available via YouTube. You may watch it when you want. The links may be found through the parish website, www.hspal.org.

The Eucharist:   For those who are not receiving the Eucharist at a time they feel they need it the most, I share with you one of the basic principles of sacramental theology:  God is not limited by our Sacraments.  If you are truly wanting and needing the graces of the sacraments and are properly disposed for their reception, but are hindered from receiving them through no fault of your own, God will not deny you those graces. In these days, those longing for the graces of the Eucharist can make a Spiritual Communion, we ask in prayer that Jesus be with us.  An example of this prayer:

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. (St. Alphonsus Maria de' Ligouri).

Confessions: At the instruction of the Diocese, there will be no regularly scheduled times to hear confessions.  If it is a matter of the danger of death or a serious sin that heavily burdens you, you may call me at the rectory to make arrangements for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Again following  the principle that “God is not limited by our Sacraments”,  know that for sin, even mortal sin, if one is unable to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation—as the case is now—one may, with the true intention to turn from sin, express true sorrow for those sins. The person is free from penalty for the sins; however, these sins are to be brought to the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the next opportunity.

The church and prayer: The church will be open at these times: Sunday, 10am-1pm; Monday, Noon-3pm; Tuesday, Noon-3pm; Wednesday 10am-1pm; Thursday, Noon-3pm; Friday 10am-1pm for private, silent prayer.  Please respect the principle of social distancing.  Family groups may join together, but others should keep 6 feet from each other.  The size and layout of our church provides for this.  The church will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each session of prayer. The hours were chosen as to allow our maintenance staff the time needed for cleaning. 

Mass Intentions:  I will be celebrating each Sunday Mass for the intention of the People of Holy Spirit.  For the weekday Masses, we are trying to reach those who requested the intentions.  I can use the intention at my daily private Mass, or it can be rescheduled once we are permitted public Masses.

Parish office: The Parish office will be open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9am to 3pm.

Parish groups and meetings:  All meetings and groups on parish property are canceled until further notice.  Please note that in the spirit of social distancing, it is counter-productive for parish groups to meet off parish property.  As pastor, I highly discourage this.

Bulletins:  We will continue to publish bulletins, but in reduced numbers. Bulletins can be found at  https://www.holyspiritavonlake.org/publications.  If you would like a print version, please call the parish or email your request to [email protected].

Confirmation and First Communion:  These celebrations are on hold pending further instructions from the Diocese concerning the resumption of public Masses.   More information will be forthcoming as the situation unfolds and clarifies.

sALt:  Insight Nights will continue via technology.

Please see the website, www.hspal.org, for the latest updates and watch your email for further information.

These are difficult measures, but these are difficult times. I thank you for your understanding.

As Holy Spirit Parish, as parts of the Body of Christ, and as members of humanity we are all in this together.  Let us work and pray in such a way that this scourge on our world may soon be eliminated.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the parish, 440-933-3777, or via email, [email protected].

Come Holy Spirit!

In Christ,

Rev. Charles F. Strebler,
Pastor