September 12, 2021

As our parish has more and more worshiping with us in person, we are in need of ushers. We want to take up the collection by passing the basket again, and need at least four ushers at each Mass, at each church. We have some ushers who are still worshiping in person, but could use more, especially at the 10:00 and 11:30 and 4:30 Saturday and Sunday at Saint Mary. If you can help us at either church, please contact Jay Mraz at 203-212-7967, or Deacon John at 203-878-3571, or email dcn.hoffman@aohct.org.

If you would like to join our choir, it is beginning again. Please consider sharing the gift of your voice with us. Rehearsals will begin on Thursday evening, September 16, at 7:00 PM at Saint Mary Church and every Thursday following. The choir will sing at 10:00 AM Mass at Saint Mary, hoping to begin in October, and at all special liturgical events during the year. Jean-Pierre Dumont, our music director and organist, looks forward to meeting you. If you love to sing, we need your voice. For additional information, contact Jean-Pierre at jdumont@pbpmilford.org, or at 203-606-1985.

August 29, 2021

As we all continue to navigate COVID 19, here are the plans for this coming school year in Religious Education:

Confirmation for those in grade 11 (juniors) will be held on November 3, 2021, at 7:00 PM at Saint Mary Church. This is a large class, so guests other than the sponsor will be limited. Those in this class will get further instructions directly.

Those preparing for First Reconciliation (grade 2) and First Communion (grade 3) will meet in small classes, in person, on either Monday or Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 PM. We will limit the classes in size for safety. Emails will go out to these classes for how to sign up. Classes will begin in October.

Those preparing for Confirmation, grade 10, will meet in person, once a month, beginning in October. Watch for a survey of preference for a day and time, but most likely it will be Sunday afternoon or evening.

Other classes will not be meeting at this time, this will be reevaluated during the Fall, and may be added in the Spring depending on circumstances.

While this is a significant change, we hope you can all be patient, as we have to be, until we can return to a more complete schedule of classes.

August 15, 2021

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.

The following is a reflection on this feast day according to Pope Benedict XVI, on the Feast Day in 2006.

“By contemplating Mary in heavenly glory, we understand that the earth is not the definitive homeland for us either, and that if we live with our gaze fixed on eternal goods we will one day share in this same glory and the earth will become more beautiful. Consequently, we must not lose our serenity and peace even amid the thousands of daily difficulties. The luminous sign of Our Lady taken up into Heaven shines out even more brightly when sad shadows of suffering and violence seem to loom on the horizon. We may be sure of it: from on high, Mary follows
our footsteps with gentle concern, dispels the gloom in moments of darkness and distress, reassures us with her motherly hand. Supported by awareness of this, let us continue confidently on our path of Christian commitment wherever Providence may lead us. Let us forge ahead in our lives under Mary's guidance.”

[General Audience, August 16, 2006].

August 8, 2021

Are you connected? Vacation is a time to re-connect to what matters, family, friends, oneself. But most of all, to God. When you see the smile of a grandchild, and you see clearly that familiar smile of their parent, you know that love is at work. When you marvel at the sunrise or sunset that you miss most days, you know that love is at work. When you feel like you are rested for the first time in a while, then you know that love is at work. Scripture tells us clearly that God is love.

Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, feeds us with His presence. We gather at His table to be fed, we gather at His table, and He is present. Let all those you encounter know you see Him in their smile, let all those you meet know you meet Him in their struggles. Carry the Lord Jesus with you from the table where you are fed and bring His presence to all you meet. Invite them by your attitude and actions to join at this table, and celebrate that He is with us, continues to be with us, and will always be with us.

May God’s blessings be with you and may the respite of summer be the reconnection you may need. God is there in the quiet, in the stillness, but especially with you in the mess of life.

August 1, 2021

Ten Commandments For Leaving Regrets In The Past

1. Pat yourself on the back for what you have done, not seeing only what you failed to do.

2. Let someone help you, even if they don’t do things the way you like.

3. Do something nice for someone just because it is the right thing to do. Do it anonymously if you can.

4. Before you answer when angry, allow yourself to think, “what is the loving response to this?”

5. Share more of what you have with those most in need.

6. Look for the very best in your children, especially when they are at their worst.

7. Look for the very best in your parents, especially when they are at their worst.

8. Decide what you need to leave in the past and never bring up to hurt someone again.

9. Allow someone to share their wealth, or their time, or their insight with you. Stop being the one who needs to have
   and know it all.

10. Allow for the possibility that someone knows you better than you know yourself.

July 25, 2021

Summer Stories

A man was walking along (perhaps staring at his cellphone) and fell into a hole. The hole was deep, and he was unable to climb out. He was trapped. He cried out for help. A wealthy man walked by, noticed him, stopped by the hole, and threw down some money. “Buy yourself a ladder”, he said. As this was of no help, the man continues to cry out for help. A local man, very active in his church, came by. He noticed the man in the hole, stopped and offered a prayer. But still the man was trapped in the hole. One of the man’s friends came by, saw his friend trapped in the hole, and immediately jumped in with him. “Now look at what you’ve done”, the trapped man said, “We are now both stuck in this hole.” His friend smiled and replied, “We will both be fine. I have been down this deep hole before, and I know the way out.”

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who chose to become human like us, knows the human condition, and how we often end up in a deep hole. He is the way out; relying on Jesus is the way for each one of us to find our way out. If you are struggling, or know someone who is, remind yourself or them that Jesus showed each of us the way......He is in fact the way, and the truth, and the life. Let Jesus, who knows us better than we know ourselves, be the one we follow, be the one we rely on, be the one we turn to in all things. May his healing presence be the source of what we need each day. God bless you all.

July 11, 2021

As we move into the heart of the summer season, a few items for reflection. As a sign that we are emerging from the COVID 19 pandemic, at least here in Connecticut, we are thankful for the presence of vaccines that have brought us here. We should all offer a prayer for those scientists who were inspired to develop these vaccines that allow us to return to a more normal existence. Just a reminder that those who are fully vaccinated need not wear a mask when worshiping with us in church.

August 13, 2021 is the concluding Mass of the Archdiocese of Hartford synod process. Each parish is sending 30 representatives to the Mass. A coach bus will leave here from Saint Mary parking lot at 4:00 PM that day and return around 10:00 PM. Please contact Deacon John (dcn.hoffman@aohct.org) if you would like to be included. If you cannot join us that day, please pray for the successful conclusion of the synod process. Final synod documents will be published subsequent to the final synod Mass.

We acknowledge the departure of Frank Zilinyi as the music director and organist at Saint Mary Church, a position he has held for 8 years. We are thankful for the gift of his remarkable talent playing the magnificent organ at Saint Mary Church. We wish him well in his future endeavors. If you would like to contact him, his email is fzilinyi@gmail.com.

May God bless you all, and send His peace to your hearts each day.

June 27, 2021

We have been noticing more and more parishioners being comfortable in returning to Mass on the weekends. Thanks to so many of you being vaccinated, and the virus subsiding, this good news should continue. As we return to a more normal look and feel for Mass, some needs will become apparent. Those who wish to serve our community as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion or lectors or ushers, please contact Deacon John and let him know. If you have previously served in any of these roles at Christ the Redeemer, we would be pleased to include you and have you continue your ministry. We will look to have ushers in place by September, so that the standard collection routine can be restored. There are several Masses where the need is great.

For now, all those who have been fully vaccinated are not required to wear masks in church, those not fully vaccinated are asked to wear masks at this time. We all look forward to the day when the pandemic is in the rearview mirror only, but for now we will slowly return the parish to a normal pattern of worship. We thank you all for your patience and prayers during this time and promise always to treat you with the care and concern all God’s children deserve. A parish financial report will come later in July, thank you for your continued generosity. God bless you all.

June 6, 2021

So now we are into June of 2021. This past year plus has been long and difficult and trying on all. We struggle to get back to what we might think is normal, but normal now seems to be having nagging fears and anxieties. Let me report some good news:

We are being blessed with the possibility of new parishioners from the former Christ the Redeemer Parish. We welcome all who wish to come and worship here at one of our two churches. We hope your personal heartache of having your parish close can find some healing in the community of Precious Blood Parish. If any of you wish to continue in ministries you were performing at Christ the Redeemer such as lector or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, contact Deacon John at dcn.hoffman@aohct.org, or call 2038783571, and ask for Deacon John.

June finds us hosting four celebrations of First Communion, with around 100 children participating. This is a sign of life. Our Saint Mary School has graduated 28 students from eighth grade on June 4, in the context of their graduation Mass. This is a sign of life. Many are joining us in worship. This is a sign of life.

We slowly add things back into our weekend Masses. With this in mind, we are looking for those who may want to serve as cantors at our weekend liturgies. Cantors will be singing at the 4:30 PM Saturday vigil, and the 10:00 and 11:30 AM Sunday Masses at Saint Mary, and the 5:00 PM vigil and the 10:30 AM Mass at Saint Agnes. The hope is to attract a group of cantors that can operate on a rotating schedule. These would be paid ministry positions. Cantors are anticipated to begin in early July 2021. For information about becoming a cantor, please contact Deacon John (dcn.hoffman@aohct.org).

May the sunshine of longer days serve to warm your home and heart. May the God of all bring peace to your home and heart. On this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, may we all turn to the Risen Lord, in the living presence of His Body and Blood, to give us the strength that we need, the peace that we seek, and the hope we desire. God bless you all.

May 23, 2021

Pentecost is looked to as the “Birthday of the Church”. Certainly, a new beginning for us this year. More people are marking this Pentecost as their new beginning, and their return to worshipping together. Many of us are vaccinated, and some are not, certainly none of our children. To help assure peace of mind for all, especially those with young children, we will continue to wear masks in church for now, so that all can be confident that church is a safe place for them to gather. We all need to do our part in encouraging those we know to come and worship in person. Remember, Christ promises He is present when two or more are gathered in His name.

Please continue to pray for an end to this pandemic, as we do each day. Please continue to support your parish, as many of you have and are doing. Our promise as the priests and deacons of Precious Blood Parish is to continue to pray for each of you and be as available as we can to minster to your needs, and the needs of your family. God bless you all.

April 18, 2021

In the gospel from John for this third Sunday of Easter, the disciples were startled and terrified at seeing Jesus, risen from the dead. They thought they were seeing a ghost. Jesus asks them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” The disciples were incredulous with joy for having seen Him.

Now that so many are vaccinated and returning to worship together, be sure you are looking for Him when you are together, and when you encounter Him in those in need. We yearn for His presence because He brings the life we seek, He offers the life we need. We receive the Eucharist because He feeds us, we worship together because He is present when we do. If your life feels like you are missing something, perhaps it is the living presence of the risen savior found in the bread transformed, in the community gathered.

Know that we worship as safely as we can. Every other pew is still blocked off. All wear masks to protect themselves and others. Hand sanitizer is at the doors. Cleaning is done after every service. I spoke with several parishioners this past weekend who had not been to church in a year. They expressed they were glad to be back, and they felt safe doing so. The best comment for me was this: “I did not know how much I missed being here until I returned, and felt what I had been missing.” My invitation is this, when you are ready, maybe when fully vaccinated, and you are comfortable, come and join us. When we worship together, we all experience what you have been missing.

Jesus promised, “I come to bring you life in abundance.” The life you long for, the peace you desire, the food you need to sustain your life is here when we worship together. We long for your presence to join us again. May the joy of this Easter season be yours as we celebrate that He is truly risen. Love is stronger than death, come and celebrate how much you are loved.

April 4, 2021

On this Easter, we wish you all the peace and joy that the Risen Lord Jesus brings to each of us. The empty tomb signals to us all that love is stronger than death, and that new life triumphs over the darkness. This past year we all have confronted the evil of the world, we all have struggled with the fear and loneliness and hardship of our lack of contact. But the surest message this Easter is that He is Risen! Life triumphs over death, love triumphs over despair, and our Lord and Savior leads us to the peace we seek.

May this Easter find us ready to reach out again. We reach out to those in need, which you can support at next week’s drivethrough Food Pantry collection. Saturday, April 10, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon, we will collect nonperishable food (and monetary donations) in the Saint Mary Church parking lot. We have been meeting the needs of so many of our neighbors this past year through your generosity, and we want to continue helping so many. Watch the parish social media to see what to donate. Join with us to show that He is Risen, and that love overcomes all we fear.

So many have found this year to be a struggle, but so many have found this year to be a return to simpler, family centered activities. We hope in 2021, so many of you, gifted with vaccination, enlivened with the new life of springtime, encouraged by the good news around us can find a way to return to the community worship of the Lord and Savior who brings us this peace, who leads us to love, who makes His home in our hearts.

On behalf of all the clergy and staff of Precious Blood Parish, we wish you the joy of Easter. At Precious Blood Parish, we continue to pray for each one of you, and we thank you all for your generous support. Please continue to pray for an end to this pandemic as we all celebrate this Easter that love is stronger than death, that new life promised in the resurrection is for all. God bless you all.

March 28, 2021

On this Palm Sunday weekend, I share some odds and ends, and some reflections.

First, this weekend will mark the return of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist serving at Mass. All who are volunteering have been vaccinated. You may also notice the priest and deacon being in closer proximity, as all the clergy have been vaccinated as well. We will add back in the Saint Michael prayer at the conclusion of Mass, and the missals are returned to the pews. While all the cleaning regimens will continue, if you are not comfortable using the missal, just leave it in place.

This previous year’s Palm Sunday there were no public Masses, and we made palms available at the doors outside. Palms will be available outside again this year. Look for them at the doors as you exit, please do not bring them in to the church. Opportunities for confession this week are Monday, March 29, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Saint Mary; Saturday 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon at Saint Mary, and 3:30 to 4:30 PM at Saint Agnes. Remember, there is only one Solemn Vigil of Easter at 8:00 PM Saturday at Saint Mary, no 4:30 PM at Saint Mary or 5:00 PM at Saint Agnes on Saturday, April 3. On Easter Sunday there is an additional Mass in the school gym at 10:15 AM Easter morning. There is no 4:30 PM Mass on Easter Sunday at Saint Mary.

All the clergy here at Precious Blood Parish continue to pray for all of you, and pray for an end to this pandemic. This has been a year for many that meditating on the Cross of Christ has also been lived out in families and communities. A wise mentor of mine once told me that you know the Cross is for you when it seems like too much to bear. May each one of us, purified in the experience of our personal crosses, come together to celebrate the joy of the resurrection this Easter. Our risen Lord offers healing and hope, and new life in abundance. May God bless you all.

March 14, 2021

On this fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, we pause to reflect on the upcoming joy of Easter. So many of our parishioners are vaccinated, and feel safer to be out, especially at church. If you are coming to church, you may notice that it is a little more crowded. We will continue to have social distancing, every other pew still blocked off, and all will continue to wear masks. All the priests and deacons are fully vaccinated, and as we near Easter, some of our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will begin to serve again, as they are vaccinated as well. We have many Mass choices on the weekends, and some are less crowded, so I hope you can think about when you can be joining us in person soon. Archbishop Blair has extended the dispensation for the obligation to attend until May 23, 2021.

When reflecting on the deadly sin of envy, we need to be clear that the remedy is gratitude. We should all be thankful that a vaccine is available to lead us out of this pandemic. We should all be thankful that so many have done so much to keep us safe during this time, at great personal risk to themselves for the greater good of all. Most of all we should be grateful that our loving God has been accompanying us on this journey. We have not been left alone, not abandoned. The prophet Isaiah tells us that God’s promise to His people is: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.” Let us all live, not envious for what we do not have, but in gratitude for the blessings of the continued presence of God in our lives.
Have a great week!

February 28, 2021

During the season of Lent, we tend to think more of sin. Of the seven deadly sins, pride is one that can be good or bad. Having appropriate pride in your achievements is always a good thing, excessive pride in your accomplishments is not. It is when we move from thinking “I have done this well” (always with God’s help) to thinking “I am the only one who could do this” that we enter the realm of sin. Pride is a deadly sin because it refuses to acknowledge our reliance on God and gives all credit to ourselves. Whenever we place God outside our experience, we are surely in danger of being in the realm of sin.

You can think of it like this: a grain of wheat needs water, but if it only gets water, it is bloated and will not grow. It needs light, but if it only gets sunlight, it will not grow. But planted in the earth, the grain of wheat dies to itself. Then, surrounded by moisture and seeking the light, the grain of wheat grows, properly nurtured by everything around it. If we rely only on ourselves, our pride leads us to a false sense of importance, and a sure occasion of sin.

All of our COVID 19 protocols continue as we gather for worship. Masking and social distancing are a must. Our present regulations allow for 50% capacity in our churches, and you may notice more persons here. We are glad so many are being vaccinated, but that does not mitigate the need to be cautious. We will keep you apprised of what we are doing in this regard, and how we can all keep one another safe.

May God bless you all in this Lenten season; we thank you all for your continued support.

February 14, 2021

This coming Wednesday, February 17, is Ash Wednesday, and Lent begins. Our parish will have three Masses on Ash Wednesday, and three prayer services for the distribution of ashes. At the 7:00 AM and 12:05 Mass at Saint Mary, and the 9:00 Mass at Saint Agnes, ashes will be distributed at the conclusion of the Mass, and then you will go directly out. There will be a service of Ashes at 4:00 PM at Saint Mary Church, and a service of Ashes at 12:05 and 7:00 PM at Saint Agnes Church. Ashes will be sprinkled on your head, not imposed by touching the person. There will be a free will offering collected at each Ash Wednesday Mass and service, all proceeds to benefit the Beth El Shelter. There is never an obligation to receive ashes.

Beginning in Lent, we will hold Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at 7:30 PM at Saint Agnes Church, and we will begin again the Novena of the Miraculous Medal on Monday evenings at 7:30 PM at Saint Mary Church. There will be music at each, but no congregational singing. Of course, all other COVID19 protocols will be followed, mask wearing, social distancing, etc. During the season of Lent, there will be three daily Masses Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM at Saint Mary, 9:00 AM at Saint Agnes, and 12:05 PM at Saint Mary.

The State of Connecticut has relaxed the capacity requirements for religious worship, allowing for 50% capacity in churches. We will continue to have every other pew blocked off, and of course follow all other protocols, including cleaning. You may notice more and more parishioners returning to Mass, and the church will appear more crowded. If you are not comfortable with this, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass is extended to May 23, 2021. We thank those who continue to support us, whether in person or from home.

Many of our parishioners are being vaccinated, as are all our priests. While this affords a comfort about being “in touch” with so many of you, this will not lead any of your clergy, and should not lead any of you to be less cautious about your health or the health of your fellow parishioners. Please continue to follow all precautions as you have, so we can continue to minister to you as safely as we are able. When the majority of us are vaccinated, a return to a former normalcy will be in sight. May we all pray during this lenten season that we can have an Easter celebration this spring that truly celebrates that life triumphs over death, that love is always stronger than death.

December 27, 2020

I share with you the conclusion of Pope Francis’ reflection on family, for the Feast of the Holy Family. Notice the pope gives homework, a good practice, I think.

Pope Francis says:
And finally: the family experiences joy.
I would like to ask you all a question today. But each of you keep it in your heart and take it home. You can regard it as a kind of “homework”. Only you must answer. How are things when it comes to joy at home? Is there joy in your family? You can answer this question.

Dear families, you know very well that the true joy which we experience in the family is not superficial; it does not come from material objects, from the fact that everything seems to be going well...
True joy comes from a profound harmony between persons, something which we all feel in our hearts and which makes us experience the beauty of togetherness, of mutual support along life’s journey.

But the basis of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God, the presence of God in the family and his love, which is welcoming, merciful, and respectful towards all. And above all, a love which is patient: patience is a virtue of God and he teaches us how to cultivate it in family life, how to be patient, and lovingly so, with each other. To be patient among ourselves. A patient love.

God alone knows how to create harmony from differences. But if God’s love is lacking, the family loses its harmony, selfcenteredness prevails and joy fades. But the family which experiences the joy of faith communicates it naturally. That family is the salt of the earth and the light of the world, it is the leaven of society as a whole.

Dear families, always live in faith and simplicity, like the Holy Family of Nazareth! The joy and peace of the Lord be always with you!

May we all take the words of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to heart. May you know the joy of this season......our Savior is here, He has found us!

November 29, 2020

An Advent Message
:

Our loving God, through the prophet Isaiah, tells us that we are precious in God’s eyes, and honored, and God loves us. This Thanksgiving, we have been grateful for all God’s blessings, even though our celebration of the day has looked different than in the past. We are grateful for healthcare workers, who continue to care for so many. We are grateful for food service workers, who help to feed us all. We are grateful for so many essential workers, who continue to “show up” and do their jobs at the service of so many.

At Precious Blood Parish, we are grateful for the prayers and support of so many of you. We all continue to pray for an end to the pandemic. We are grateful for the promise of vaccines, and for the efforts of so many to develop and distribute these vaccines. We are grateful for the gift of patience, even though so many of us cannot find the patience when we need it. We are grateful that we can be the opportunity for so many to encounter Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, sacramentally and in each other.

May God’s blessing be on you and your family this Advent season and know that God is with all in your family, even if all of your family is not with you. Through this Advent, we await the coming of the Christ child, confident that in so many ways He lives among us still.

November 14, 2020

We are well into November, and the election is ended, but the struggle with Coronavirus continues. Archbishop Blair has extended the dispensation of the obligation to attend Mass until February 16, 2021. Both our churches will remain open, all regularly scheduled Masses are celebrated, and at present we can have up to 100 persons in attendance per Mass. For many of you who are coming to Mass, this is working well. We all wear masks, we are socially distant, and we do not sing. While normal is still a way off, all are welcome to continue to worship with us in person.

There are many reasons why numerous parishioners are not worshipping in person, and Archbishop Blair has extended the dispensation until February 16. We are all together in prayer each and every day, and our most fervent prayer is for the pandemic to end. We absolutely honor your choice to attend or not; we cast no guilt toward anyone who is making a grownup choice.

You should have received the parish letter about the Precious Blood Parish annual appeal. We know we can count on the generosity of so many. Please make the return in the envelope provided. In these difficult times, our Deacon John Rigely Food Pantry has been busy, and will host a drivein food drive and blessing on Saturday, November 21, from 8:00 AM until 12:00 noon, in the Saint Mary Church parking lot. A list of needed items is in the bulletin and on Facebook and Instagram, and donations of grocery cards are always welcome. Monetary support is helpful so we can continue to purchase fresh food. We have partnered with other area agencies to reach even more of those who are hungry.

Please know that above all, each of you, our parishioners, are in the prayers of all our clergy each day. May God bring you peace, calm, and a way forward in what ever struggle you may be facing. Be assured that our loving God holds each of you close to His heart, in the palm of His hand.

October 11, 2020

Mid October finds many of us struggling to find the normal in our lives. If we look to our parish, we can find some examples of normal beginning again. Groups of young parishioners are making their First Holy Communion, over the course of several weeks. Yes, all have masks on, attendance is limited, but access to Jesus in the Sacrament of Eucharist is what is most important. This is the normal all of us as Catholics long for.

A number of different groups of parishioners are being confirmed this month. Archbishop Blair has granted permission to our pastor to confer the sacrament of Confirmation. And well over 100 will be confirmed. Yes, the look is very different, but the Holy Spirit is present, and touches the lives of all who are present. This is the normal all of us as Catholics long for.

Many families are having their children baptized at one of our two churches. We are on pace to have one hundred baptisms this year. One family at a time, and yes, this looks different as well, but families are being drawn to connect again as a family. They are connecting to the source of life as Christians, the living waters of Baptism, Jesus Christ himself.

Our school is open. Saint Mary School is open five days a week, from preschool through eighth grade. Our teachers and staff have adapted, our students are happy to be together. They begin and end each day with prayer. It all looks different, but provides a normal we all can appreciate.

Looking for normal in your own life? Here are some suggestions: First, set aside regular time for prayer. Spend time in conversation with God, especially taking time to listen to what God is saying to you. God will speak to you in the quiet of your heart if you take the time and have the quiet moments to listen. Second, find an opportunity to worship. Maybe just a daily Mass, or a Sunday Mass. Worshipping together is one of the most normal things we do. In Eucharist our hearts are joined to Jesus, offering himself again and again for each one of us. Third, connect with friends and family. If you are wondering how they are doing with all this, maybe they are wondering how you are as well. That connection can help to remind you of what is normal in your life.

Be grateful. Here at Precious Blood Parish we are grateful for all of you who pray for us, and for all of you who support us financially. God’s work continues in small ways and large ways. Please know that all of you are held in our prayers as a parish family each day. God Bless.