Dear OLG Family, 

The world looks dark. We aren’t able to come together for Mass and the sacraments, and many of us are asking, “What does it look like to live out our faith right now?” We’re wondering how we can live in solidarity as a community while we are isolated, or how we can be a church when we can’t come to OLG for Mass and Adoration. It has taken me all of the last week to adjust to this new reality and process it myself.

In this time of grief, we take solace from the early Church and the examples of those who first believed. The Apostles gathered in the upper room to pray, and throughout history, Catholics sustained their communities in their homes during countless seasons of persecution or hardship.

Now, more than ever, we must remember what our parish truly is — a community. We are, and always have been, connected beyond the four walls of our spaces, and we must remember that the four walls of our spaces are not the Church — we are the Church. Our Lady of Guadalupe is alive and strong in you.  

Live in the Light

Start with Prayer
When we can’t rely on the buildings and structures of our parish, we are offered an opportunity to lean into our unity of faith as a body. Enlightened by Christ, by the many saints who have marked the way before us, we are invited to share this light with one another.

Let’s start this vigil together with a practical, simple first step of offering everything we do back to God. A great way to start is with  a morning offering. Let’s reclaim these days ahead of us. Although we are being asked to physically distance ourselves from one another, we have an opportunity now to spiritually unite each day as we claim our homes and our daily lives for Christ.

If you would like to go deeper, Bishop Barron proposes in  his article for Word on Fire several suggestions of how we could think of this “semi-quarantine as an invitation to some monastic introspection.”

Fr. Devin’s Action Items for the Week

You aren’t alone — you are a part of our parish. And you have the ability to be light for others, and to lean into their support when you need it in return. Here are some simple ways you could reach out to others during this time of isolation:

1. In the next few days, we want to invite you to call a friend from our parish community. Ask them how they’re doing, how they are living during this time, and how they might need help.  If nothing else, pray with them over the phone. Let’s all be connected with each other in this time of need. 

2. We also want to invite you to keep in touch with each other and with us on our social media channels:  Facebook Page,  YouTube video channel . We also recently updated  our website, which will stay updated with resources. Let us reach out boldly to others and share these messages of encouragement and hope.

3. Finally, if you would like to help Our Lady of Guadalupe or St. Mary's School specifically respond to this moment, here are a few ways:

• Pray, especially with the Bible. Jesus said to his disciples, "I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you." Take comfort in this and spend some quiet time with the Word of God during this time. Lectio Divina is a great way to do that, so that God can speak to you personally. 
• Join our Lenten video study on the Mass. We are still able to send out videos from Bishop Barron about the parts of the Mass. Just go to https://olgnewton.flocknote.com/OLGLent and you will get all the videos. 
• Continue to practice Stewardship during this time. Our grateful response to God's gifts is true in season and out of season. You can mail in your donation to 421 S. Ash or give online at olgnewton.com/online-giving. I encourage you to continue to make a gift to God out of gratitude for His love to you. Don't forget that He will never be outdone in generosity.

In the love of Jesus and Mary,

Fr. Devin Burns