Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following letter to the people of the Diocese of Little Rock, April 15, 2020, to address further changes to his March 12 mandate suspending all public Masses and non-essential events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I want you to know that I appreciate what a difficult time this has been for all of us, especially the suspension of public Masses and all other public gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I think we have all grown in our love for and longing for the Eucharist. I know this has been very hard for our priests, who miss intensely the joy of celebrating the Eucharist with the community, and even more so for you in the laity who must participate in the Mass through the Internet or on TV, if that. "And of course, there is everything connected with COVID-19 itself: the illness, the deaths, the loss of jobs and income, the isolation, the closing of schools, etc. I am convinced that the Lord will use this adversity to bring us many blessings, even if we can’t always see it at the time. Hopefully drawing us closer to himself, helping us to see more clearly what is really important and perhaps reassessing our priorities going forward. I hope that the increased time spent together will strengthen the bonds within our families and that time spent in prayer together become a source of spiritual growth. "As I am sure many of you will recall, on March 12 I promulgated required changes for the rest of March and the entire month of April in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the temporary suspension of all public Masses and previously scheduled confirmation ceremonies plus the cancellation or postponement of all non-essential gatherings in your parishes pending further notice. I also indicated that on April 15 I would make a determination regarding activities in the month of May. "Well, we have now reached April 15 and the COVID-19 cases have not even peaked yet in Arkansas. According to our public health officials, physical separation needs to continue to be maintained for the time being, so I am extending our present suspension of activities (and the corresponding dispensation of the Sunday obligation) to May 18. On April 30 I will make a further determination regarding the remainder of the month of May, including whether an earlier opening date might also be possible if things have changed for the better between now and then. May 31 is Pentecost; let us pray that by then the conditions will be right for us to resume normal activities. "In the meantime, let us pray for those who are ill and those who have died, for those searching for a cure and for medical caregivers who risk their own health to care for others, for those who are faced with unexpected financial difficulties and for those who due to age or underlying medical problems know themselves to be especially vulnerable.” For more information on this and other Diocesan announcements, please visit www.dolr.org
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Easter is one of the holidays where we go typically visit family and go home to celebrate the holiday with loved ones. We enjoy a delicious meal and time together. And we also know that Easter is one of those Sundays in the church year when folks tend to come home to their church. No matter how long it has been since the last time we were together, we are happy to be together to celebrate Jesus’ empty tomb.
This year is going to be a very unusual Easter because we are not coming together as God’s family to celebrate and eat a blessed meal. Some of us will not even be able to visit our family who is away from us. Due to the quarantine, we may be separated from our family this Easter. It seems very difficult to rejoice this Easter because of all that is going on in our world. But it is so very important to remember that when Jesus died and was placed in a tomb it was a time of pain and despair. But when Jesus came forth from the tomb and appeared to the women and the disciples, it was a time of great rejoicing! That is our message today. JESUS IS RISEN! This is our day to rejoice. Easter says to us that despite all that is going on in our state, our nation, and our world, let us never forget that He is risen and He is with us. This is our resurrection day. Let us remember that Easter says to us that despite all that is going on in our world today, Jesus will prevail. His love will prevail over suffering, pain, evil and yes, even death. Let us CELEBRATE and REJOICE! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! |