Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at the Mass for your Sunday, either live or on the internet? Let us know what it was.
Also, are you churches opening up? What was attendance like?
For my part, I was not on the schedule at the parish today (the Diocese’s Vocation Director with two new deacons had a Solemn Mass! The future of the TLM is bright here!), so I said Mass privately and live-streamed it. Here’s what I had to say (You might have to wait a bit while the video is processed):
Mid-sized diocesan parish. Capacity limited to 25% of fire code and you have to signup on a web for a ticket / “permission slip” giving name, address, email, and phone number for every member of the party in attendance. Ticket is checked at the door.
Sunday July 26th. Attendance down from the 25% capacity by 41-54% depending on the Mass.
Sunday July 19th. Attendance down from the 25% capacity by 26-48% depending on the Mass.
Sunday July 12th. Attendance down from the 25% capacity by 27-34% depending on the Mass. (special parish event done this Sunday).
Sunday July 5th. Attendance down from the 25% capacity by 27-39% depending on the Mass.
I went to an 8 o’clock Mass at my parish in South Boston. The attendance was certainly greater than it has been over the past few weeks, although still less than 50% (archdiocesan guidelines require every other pew to be cordoned off). For the sermon, the priest spoke about the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, noting how many of us are all too happy settle for small contentments and pleasure, rather than paying the great price for eternal joy. He then reflected on how all our lives we must endure the loss of worldly pleasures, youth, health, family and friends before ultimately giving up our very lives themselves. I was reminded of your sermon from the other day about our need to “practice dying”
I was going to go to Mass today, but unfortunately there were severe Hurricane threats here in Hawaii, so masses were closed to the public. Fortunately, the hurricane didn’t make its way here.
Other than that, we are fortunate the Diocese of Honolulu was one of the last to close public Masses during COVID and one of the first to open public Masses during COVID. Hopefully it’ll continue.
In Kennebunkport Maine again so attended mass at the Franciscan Friary. They have a limit of 50 no sign up so first come first served. There was about 40 at the 8 AM mass so did not fill up. Confession is still available before mass.
The homily talked about various ways people find the kingdom of heaven – they can be hit with it all of a sudden like st. Paul on the road to Damascus, or it can come gradually as they learn about Christianity, or perhaps they find their pursuit of the good life is missing something.
In Wales (UK), first public Mass for nearly five months! Father Jason Jones offered an EF Mass at 4pm with booked slots only. Capacity was 22 and we had 20 in congregation – if you have not booked you cannot attend. Confession was available and communion kneeling and on the tongue. Father came to each bench so that people were not moving around. Everyone helped clean the church afterwards with joyful hearts.
Father preached about how we had used our time away from Mass ‘ could we say how many extra prayers we had said or did we find it easier to list the film we had watched on Netflix!’. It struck a chord. He linked this to confession and renewing our efforts.
About 75% of normal Sunday attendance. The obligation is still lifted, and two or three people have mentioned to me that they are coming on a weekday instead (as the diocese suggests). Weekday mornings about 30% up which gives a total attendance for the week around 10~15% down. The rules laid down from on high about communion are ignored.
Still going to Mass at the university chapel. The bishop did the rotation thing, and our young priest was replaced by another younger priest. He seems like an okay guy and definitely says Mass reverently and in an EF influenced way, but I can’t say more than that because I don’t know him yet. (We have had some eventish things for the university kids, but it was either during my work hours or it was too hot to walk 40 minutes.)
We are back down to one summer Mass on Sunday, as opposed to three Masses for the first three weeks of getting out. Our governor imposed masks on all counties, so that’s super-delightful during Mass. The “half-capacity” is something like 50 or 75 people? Anyway, we usually have pretty close to that. I think a fair number of families with young kids are going here during the summer, because it’s a bit easier to come to a small church (vestibule and restrooms are closer!).
The homily was on the parable guys giving up everything because they expected an even greater profit. Giving up everything for the Lord is not a sad obligation; it is the path of greatest joy. We all need to be ready to give up everything if we are asked, and persecution happens. (I should probably mention that our new priest is even more enthusiastic and joyful than our previous two priests, and they were pretty upbeat guys. So this homily had a living example as well as some stories he told about other guys.)