Hello everyone,
Please know that you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you all, for those of you who sent many encouraging comments to our Parish Facebook page, after viewing the Sunday Mass here in St. Peter Claver yesterday. I want to thank personally the these people for making it possible for us to stream live the mass yesterday. Thank you Mariala Malyszek, who provided us the equipment, Kristine Hellinger and Mary Monesi who assisted in the streaming the mass live. I also want to let everyone know that confessions during this Season of Lent continues. Mindful of the CDC mandate to maintain the social distancing we are doing Drive-through Confessions on Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Mondays during Lent from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Today, I received a request from our Archbishop Jose Gomez to let our local Senators or Representatives to support a Bill that will financially help all workers working for nonprofit entities.
Archbishop José H. Gomez is asking California Catholics to support extending unemployment benefits to Church workers under federal emergency legislation addressing dislocations caused by the coronavirus epidemic. Currently, non-profit employees in multiple states do not have access to state unemployment insurance. Faith communities are urging Congress to provide emergency disaster unemployment assistance to workers that are not covered by state unemployment insurance.
“As we know, the impact of the coronavirus emergency is being felt profoundly in our Catholic community. Nationwide, the Church has been forced to suspend worship services and close schools and other important offices and ministries, effecting tens of thousands of our employees,” said Archbishop Gomez. “Please join me in asking Congress to extend unemployment benefits to Church workers who might need this relief. Let us stand together in solidarity for our brothers and sisters in this time of trial and need.”
California Catholics are asked to contact Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, as well as local representatives, to make sure they are aware of this problem of non-profit employees in multiple states who do not currently have access to state unemployment insurance, and to ask that they support an effective solution.
For more information and assistance in contacting state senators and local representatives, please visit:
I did my part by sending my message to Senator Kamala Harris this morning and I encourage you to do the same.
Let us also not forget to support our parish with our regular Sunday donation. Even though we are not able to celebrate public masses due to the CDC mandate to keep everyone home, the church continues to operate and our employees need to be paid for their services. So, may I ask that you do that in whatever way possible. I would recommend doing an On-Line giving if you can which is available in our parish bulletin and the instructions are easy to follow. Thank you in advance for your consideration and I am always grateful for your generosity.
Let us pray for those who are sick and those who have lost loved ones already to this virus. May God console them and grant them peace. Let us also pray for doctors, nurses, and caregivers, for public health officials and all civic leaders. May God grant them courage and prudence as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in service to the common good.
May God be gracious to us, and make his face shine upon us. And may he grant us peace.
Love,
Fr. Riz