I mentioned in one of the interviews with RJ that we could organize the parish ten people at a time and create “small communities” within the parish, if this was how we needed to move forward. I am more and more convinced that this is what we need to do. There are a number of reasons why this is important and I will name a few here.

First, and most obvious, if covid19 comes around again or some other disease and we are limited to gatherings of no more than ten people, I want to have a plan in place so that I can go to a home and say Mass for those ten people. Better small groups than nothing.

Second, I am encouraging people to make their homes a “sanctuary” for the Lord. This is what the early Church did, and then did it down through the ages, even continuing today, in places where the Church is persecuted or disrupted. These “home sanctuaries” will be places of grace and blessings to the people that gather there even if we can gather in the church buildings, but also in times when there is no Mass.

Thirdly, it is an important sign to our parish community that, though we love our church buildings, we, the people, are the Church. We must allow God to live in us and be “living stones” as St. Peter said in his letter. We must know the Catechism, be people of prayer and the Scriptures. We must keep the Faith alive in ourselves, our families and one another.

So, I give you my blessing to be creative! Allow the Holy Spirit to move in your heart and your life. Call me and I will come to say Mass in your homes when you have gathered your “small community.”