My dear Parishioners of St. Peter Claver,
This is my very first time to have this blog space in our Parish Website so I can reach out to you during this trying time when the whole world is dealing with the Covid-19 (coronavirus) Pandemic crisis. If you have not received the message from our Archbishop Gomez, a decision was made by him after serious consultation with his auxiliary bishops, the council of priests, lay leaders and health authorities, to suspend all masses effective March 17, 2020. He said that what we do in church, we do out of love for God and love for our brothers and sisters. We are taking this extraordinary step today out of love and concern for those in our families and communities who are most vulnerable to this deadly coronavirus.
He also asked us to pray for all those who are afflicted with this virus and those who are afraid and vulnerable. Let us pray and reach out to help the many families who are facing difficulties as a result of this emergency. We also need to keep in our prayers all the doctors, nurses, caregivers, and public health and civil authorities working to contain the outbreak of this virus and treat those who are sick.
All of us Catholics are encouraged to continue to pray at home with our families and join to the sacrifice of the Mass by making an act of spiritual communion. We are all encouraged to participate in the Holy Mass via Internet. The Archdiocese will provide a livestream of non-public Masses celebrated by the priests from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels daily and on Sunday via Facebook, @lacatholics, (facebook.com/lacatholics/) or visit lacatholics.org/emergency/. The daily Mass (M-F) in English at 12:10 p.m., and the Sunday Masses in English at 10:00 a.m. and in Spanish at 12:30 p.m. will be livestreamed.
ST. Peter Claver Parish will livestream the Sunday Mass to be celebrated privately by me, Fr. Riz, March 22 at 8:00 a.m. The good news about this format is that you can go into the St. Peter Claver facebook page and celebrate viral mass with Fr. RIz any time after 8:00 a.m. livestreaming. The mass that I will celebrate at 8:00 a.m. this Sunday can be viewed any time for your convenience since the mass has been saved in our facebook page. I hope you will be able to join me with your family.
Here is the prayer that you can say for your spiritual communion: "MY JESUS, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE PRESENT IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT. I LOVE YOU ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND I DESIRE TO RECEIVE YOU INTO MY SOUL. SINCE I CANNOT NOW 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."
LOVE YOU ALL,
Fr. Riz