Pastor's Letter -- April 11, 2021

Easter weekend was a great success for our parish. We saw
many people here to celebrate Our Lord’s Resurrection, and
we will continue that joy for the next six weeks through Pentecost Sunday. It was also the first time we used the gymnasium for overflow, which gave me joy because I have been
setting it up every Sunday for six months in hopes of that
moment. I was delighted to hear from many who were leaving the gymnasium that it was a very positive experience. For
those who are looking to attend Mass in person, this could
give you some relief of the anxiety and uncertainty of the
crowds, since you could survey the church and if it feels like
too much, the gymnasium would be a great alternative with
much more space. Please consider this as a way to try coming to Mass so you can pray with us and receive the Risen
Lord in His eternal gift of the Eucharist.

A quick construction update. The final few slabs of wood
needed to complete the area near the low windows (which I
affectionately call “the playground” or “indoor slide”) will not
be in for a few more weeks. Placing a new order for a few
planks nowadays means quite a delay in shipment. I also
anticipate the final pieces of glass to be installed for our
chapel area to also serve as a temporary “calming area” for
children who are testing their vocal limits and can return to
the congregation after they are a little quieter. (Let it be
clear, we do want the kids in church praying in the pews with
their families, and so we all must smile with joy at the
babbling and fidgeting of our young Christians!)

When the lights arrive, hopefully next week, we will move
quickly to try to install those, since they are the first necessary piece of the puzzle before most of our church gets
transformed. The last things we will see installed are in the
sanctuary and devotional areas. I believe that these will be
very impressive. Please pray that we finish for Pentecost, as
we need to work with many different schedules from our
various crews for the lights, flooring, and pews.
Some exterior work has also begun in our parish: you will
certainly notice the repair work has begun on our bell tower.
The company, C & S Masonry, has worked to restore other
brickwork in the area, including at both St. Patrick parish and
Saint Joseph’s in Mishawaka. After the first day which
surveyed and assessed various parts of the tower that looked
problematic, I got an update from the lead worker. The brickwork shows significant deterioration, as well as the weatherproofing on the top of the cement where the bells rest. There
is also some significant concern about the ladder that allows
access to the upper bell. After these problems are addressed,
we will have our bell mechanisms repaired and updated, and
finally will be able to hear the clear ringing to call us to Mass
and to note the times of noon and 6:00p.m., which traditionally are calls to prayer (we don’t ring at 6:00a.m. out of courtesy to our neighbors).

At those hours, the Angelus is typically prayed, except during the Easter season. Now we are invited to pray the Regina Caeli, or “Queen of Heaven.” Here is the simple prayer that takes about one minute to pray. If you would like to learn to sing it (in Latin) I would
recommend it. You can find the music online easily.

Queen of Heaven
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we
may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ
our Lord. Amen.

Regina caeli
V. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia.
R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.
V. Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.
R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.