“Under pressure! Pushing down on us!”

Whew! What a first month it has been. There has been a lot of frustration on people as they have tried to adjust to new procedures and having new priests that do it differently than what they are used to (and every week to boot!) This is an understandable frustration and for any way that I have contributed to your resentment toward me, the parishes, or Beacons of Light, I am sorry. But as I emphasized last week, please be patient with me, your priests, staffs, and parishes. We are all trying to figure it out and that is no easy task. So be frustrated and upset; allow yourself the space for your emotions to surface; but remember to pray for us and to assume we have the best of intentions. In the words of Gandalf, “I am not trying to rob you; I am trying to help you.”  

Please note that the priests, deacons, and staffs are working to better communicate with the entire parish. We have had some great ideas and I look forward to better communicating with you all in the future. There are so many ways of communicating today and we are doing our best to utilize these different modes of communication. Streamlining that process has not been easy. 

I am still on vacation at this point and hope that the vacation will help to give me a good rest and heal my frayed nerves.  I know that everyone is in good hands with our three vicars and know they will do a great job holding down the fort in my absence.  

Please note that something that will be standard across our Family beginning next weekend will be the use of a burse and chalice veil. What is a burse? It is a sort of folding pocket which matches the liturgical color of the day and holds the corporals used on the altar at Mass. The chalice veil, as the name suggests, veils the chalice. Why? Because the veil of the temple was rent when Christ died on the Cross (Matthew 27:51). As we move into the Liturgy of the Eucharist after the Liturgy of the Word, Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary is represented. Meaning that by using the chalice veil we are reminded that Christ’s death has set us free, and the fruits of His Cross continue to be poured out on us at Mass. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (a set of guidelines that says what is and what is not permissible) states that the use of a chalice veil is “a laudable practice.” Meaning it is a practice that is not required, but adds a certain reverence and mystery to the celebration of the Mass.  

Please note that there will be many opportunities for Confession in August. Along with our normal times already posted in the bulletin, we will have a Morning of Mercy at Ss. Peter & Paul on Saturday, August 13, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (noon), and then a Day of Grace at St. Michael on Wednesday, August 24, from 6:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Do not miss these opportunities to seek our Lord’s mercy and to know that you are loved. We have all been in difficult situations and have experienced numerous falls. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, when we sin mortally (sin that causes the life of God bestowed in Baptism to be quenched) we need Confession to return to a state of sanctifying grace and to worthily receive the Holy Eucharist. So please do not pass up these opportunities to receive our Lord’s mercy and grace.  

Thank you to my vicars who continue to lessen my workload and make my job as pastor more manageable.  Each one of them brings something different to the table and they all present the truth of the Catholic Faith in their own way. I am grateful that the archbishop and the Lord in His providence sent such fine men and holy priests to serve our Family of Parishes.  

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Jarred Kohn