March 26, 2020 Dear Parents,
With great sadness and regret, I am writing to inform you that, after consulting with Sisters Regina and Mary Sue, I have decided to postpone the First Communion Masses currently scheduled for May 2 and May 9. I trust you understand that, given our current situation with the Coronavirus pandemic, we simply cannot presume to be back to normal by that date. The suspension of public Mass is painful enough. The suspension of giving First Communion to the children is even more so.
Our sadness is only increased because we cannot say precisely when we can have the First Communion Masses. We are looking at dates in the fall, but the parish calendar is a mess due to all the necessary rescheduling (e.g. Confirmations, Weddings). Another option is to space out the reception of Holy Communion over a course of Sundays and have each family sign up for a particular Sunday Mass. But this is all up in the air right now, as with so many other things, so I ask your patience as we discern the best way forward.
What is most important now is to do the most with the time given us. We did not desire or anticipate this extended preparation for Holy Communion. But neither should we let it go to waste. I ask you please to continue working with your children in their preparation for Holy Communion. I know that our catechists have been working hard to compensate for the lack of classes. But as you doubtless know from your children’s regular schoolwork, so much depends on your involvement.
I encourage you to live-stream the Masses that we continue to offer at the scheduled times at Saint James. Set up, as best you can, a little “chapel” where you and your children can together “attend” Mass. The Mass is linked here. The readings for Mass and other resources can be found here and here.
Please lead your children in the simple prayer of a spiritual communion that we pray at the live-stream Masses. It does do not substitute for the reception of Holy Communion, but it does bring grace to the soul and helps the children to look forward to when they can receive our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
One final thought. As much as this delay disappoints us, it disappoints our Lord even more. He Himself desires to come to your children in the Holy Eucharist. At the Last Supper, when He gave us the Eucharist, our Lord said to the Apostles, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you (Lk 22:15). That desire to give Himself to them in the Eucharist extends also to your children. So, our prayers to Him for a swift end to this pandemic will be heard favorably by Him.
Through the intercession of our Lady and Saint James, may the Lord bless and keep you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Scalia