NO PALMS ON PALM SUNDAY
We are now beginning Holy Week. Know that Fr. Jacob, Msgr. Lane and I are praying to God for you daily, that you may find solace and strength in mind and body during this most difficult time. I certainly wish I could predict when the “social distancing” will end. I hope it is soon. We miss you all.

As you are aware, because of the coronavirus, the faithful are excluded from being at a public celebration of the Mass. Even when we were able to go to Mass a few weeks ago, there were a certain number of things the bishops asked us not to do. We were excluded from the Sign of Peace, holy water was removed from the fonts, and one could receive Communion only in the form of bread and only on the hand.

For Palm Sunday it is mandated, from the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith in Rome, that the opening rites of the Palm Sunday liturgy are to be omitted. This means there will be no blessing and distribution of palms ANYWHERE. This opening rite was negated this year because the Church views the distribution of palms as another potential means to spread the virus from person to person. The Church negated this blessing and the distribution of palms out of love.

This saddens me because blessed palms are an important sacramental and a sign that we take into our homes that acknowledge that Holy Week has begun. And while Holy Week has arrived this year with palms and publicly celebrated liturgies excluded, one can still draw into the mystery of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. You can participate in ALL the Holy Week services through the internet.

If you have internet in your home, go towww.stceciliacincinnati.org and click on the box “Parish Masses Live Streaming.”

If you need anything, please contact St. Vincent de Paul of St. Cecilia at 871-5757, ext, 203 or St. Vincent de Paul of St. Margaret-St. John at 271-0856. Volunteers can assist with shopping or with financial assistance. MEAC is also able to serve those in Madisonville.

If you are able and want to donate to your parish, please send your donation via mail or online, or you can have someone drop your Easter donation off behind the church at St. Cecilia from 11AM-noon on Sundays.

Amen? Amen!
Father Jamie

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Pastor's Ramblings

1  |  The Churches Are Open. St. Cecilia is open from 9:30 AM - 5 PM, Monday thru Friday (on Wednesday until 8 PM), Saturday from 9:30–3PM and Sunday 12 noon–4 PM. Confessions are heard Monday through Saturday at 9:30 AM until finish and Wednesday from 7–8 PM. At SM-SJ, the church is open on Saturdays from 10 AM–2 PM, with confessions from noon to 1 PM. St. Anthony will be open for Holy Hour, with Confessions on Thursdays from 7–8 PM.

2  |  Call Someone. During this time of isolation it is important that we reach out to others. I know all the parish staff in the region are urging people to stay connected and are making calls themselves. Stay connected through any means possible to not only family and friends, but you parish family members as well. Please reach out to those that might be the most isolated. If they need anything, like food or supplies, please let our parish staff know.

3  |  Sacraments. While the social distancing is causing us to miss Mass, priests are available for the sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, Baptism, Marriage, and Christian Burial. The only issue with having baptisms, weddings and funerals is that only 10 people can attend. We might be able, if we have the personnel, to “live stream” some of these events, if requested, at St. Cecilia.

4  |  Send Us Your Photos. I would love to see your faces! I know while we are only able to “live stream” at St. Cecilia, I would love to have pictures of you watching the Mass at home or just making the most of your hunkering down time. I would like to have a spread of pictures for the bulletin and Facebook. You can send your pics to me  at jweber@eastsideregion.org. Please send your name(s) and what parish you are from with the pics.   

5  |  Rest in Peace. Arlene Lange, a life-long parishioner of St. Cecilia, recently passed from this life after 96 years. Arlene’s Mass of Christian Burial was on Monday, March 30. Arlene was baptised, went to school, and received all of her sacraments at St. Cecilia. She was always at the 4 PM Saturday Mass. May the angels lead you into paradise. May the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.