How different and how special this Holy Week will be for us all. During these days more than ever we are confronted with the fragility of our lives, and again we are reminded that we are all one family under God. Through our daily prayers, devotions and Sunday Liturgies, we are reminded that God does not abandon us. He stays with us even now in this time of the pandemic. It is important for us to rest our hearts in Jesus Christ through prayers and sacrifices and deeds of charity for one another.
 
United with people all over the world, we continue to pray for those who are sick, and for those who have lost loved ones to this virus. May God console them and grant them peace. We pray also for doctors, nurses, caregivers, for public health officials, all civic leaders, and first responders. May God grant them courage and prudence as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in service to the common good.
 
Palm Sunday and Holy Week
Today we enter into the passion of the Lord and to bear witness in our current situation to the moment of his isolation, suffering and death on a cross. No other Sunday has so much drama – Jesus’ royal entry to the city and his humble entry to the Paschal Mystery – his suffering, dying and finally his rising from the dead. 
 
There will be no palms in our hands this weekend, I will bless them in my chapel, and they will be ready for you to take when we return to our church.
 
Please check the schedule in our Bulletin and on our website and Facebook Page for times of our liturgies and devotions during these Holy Days.
 
I have enjoyed so much sharing our daily prayers via Facebook. The liturgical celebrations of Mass on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil will be broadcast live from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. I hope you will join the Archbishop via live stream, I too will be watching. By being together spiritually via our electronic devices – we join the Archdiocesan Church in prayer, supplications, and the celebration of our faith.
 
Easter Mail
You may have received our Easter card by now. It was planned and printed before the virus changed the course of all our lives, and required cancelation of our liturgies. I hope you enjoy the card created by Colleen Keelan our media coordinator.  Please accept our wishes that you have a blessed Easter and may our “Home Alone” time be one of spiritual fulfillment. 
 
As I speak with parishioners by phone in recent days, two topics of concern were shared: communion and confession. Please see the explanation below make a copy for yourself and keep it handy. I hope this will help.
 
Spiritual Communion
It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace Him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.
 
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 in 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.
 
Confession:
What do we do if we can’t go to confession?
Despite some creative efforts by many priests to continue to offer Sacrament of Reconciliation during the pandemic, country-wide lockdowns and stay-at-home orders mean that Catholics around the world are finding it difficult to seek God’s forgiveness in the confessional.
 
The Church teaches that it is possible to repent in another way: through an “act of perfect contrition.” But what is an act of perfect contrition? In a simple way: “perfect contrition” is sorrow for one's sins based upon love for God, which includes the firm resolution not to commit them anymore.
 
When contrition arises from “a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called ‘perfect,’” the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1451-53) teaches, but it also says that this act is not a replacement of the Sacrament of Confession but one must make “the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.”
 
So, how is an act of perfect contrition done?
Practically, there are two things a Catholic must do.
The first is to pray an act of contrition "out of love for God," Being sorry out of love for God has often been described as having a desire to be reunited to God because of who he is-because of God's perfect love for us, and because of sorrow for having offended God by sin. It means wanting to live in unity with God, and to put aside the sins that stand in the way.
 
There is no set formula for making an act of contrition, but a common one is this:
“My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with Your help,
to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Amen”
 
Second, a Catholic must make a firm commitment to go to confession when that becomes possible. The sacrament of penance remains the sole, ordinary means for the forgiveness of our sins. Contrition is about conversion which means turning away from sin and turning toward the sacraments.
 
Here is how our Holy Father Pope Francis encouraged Catholics confined to their homes: ask God for forgiveness and then to go to confession when you are able. “You do what the Catechism says. It is very clear: if you do not find a priest to hear your confession, speak to God, he is your Father, and tell him the truth...Promise him: ‘Later I will confess, but forgive me now.’ And immediately you will return to the grace of God”.
 
The ripple effect of the Virus
Just like everyone else the economic impact of COVID 19 has affected our parish and school. After consulting with the diocese HR office, our own deliberations with the Principal and Business Manager I have made the decision to layoff some of the school and parish employees, while others have had their hours reduced. They have been notified and the situation and circumstances explained. Together with Archdiocesan Parish and School offices we will communicate with everyone if there are any changes. Despite these changes – you can be assured that your phone calls and emails are received and will be answered in a timely manner. I understand how difficult this is, I ask all of our St. Clare Community to join me in prayer for an end of this pandemic.
 
Wishing you many blessings
and continued good health ,
 
Fr. Andrew