As we face the changing landscape of the Covid pandemic, I want to address some concerns and misinformation about hygiene at St. Mary’s. I appreciate many people are anxious in this time about Covid and the Omicron outbreak for various reasons.
This last weekend I implemented a new hygiene protocol in which we priests would sanitize between each communicant. I explained this at Sunday Masses, but I hear some people misunderstood. We placed two bowls on small tables in the sanctuary so that we priests can purify our hands first with water then with the hand sanitizer between each communicant. This hand sanitizer is the same one we have in the spray bottles near all the doors. My experience is that we touch a large majority of communicants hands when they receive communion in their hands. Some even grab the host from us.
I continue to minister to as many others as I can, who are dying from cancer, heart conditions, pneumonia, and various other illness. As I see some souls who suffer, it is a sign of hope for me to witness their reliance on their Faith, which gives them meaning through suffering. I encourage everyone to Trust in the Lord Jesus whatever suffering, anxieties, difficulties, and diseases you face. The Lord Jesus and the prayers of Mother Mary will give you peace in sufferings as you take your cross with them.