Dear Parishioners,

I hope everyone is doing well. We received the difficult news yesterday that the school campuses with remain closed until Friday, April 24th. School is still going on at a distance, but the school buildings will remain closed. Let us pray for all those families with children who are living through this difficult time.

The number of those with the virus in Maryland is up over 500. The number is still increasing which means we are in for more social distancing. I just signed off from a Priest Council Meeting held over the phone. The Archdiocese and all the parishes are dealing with some vey difficult decisions. The most difficult is to provide for the Priests to celebrate Holy Week and Easter without the people. Archbishop Gregory, though, is going to celebrate the Holy Week and Easter Liturgies in the Cathedral. These celebrations with be live-streamed. I will let you know how this live stream will be broadcast as details come out.

On Friday, Pope Francis will give a special blessing to the world. He will grant a plenary indulgence to all who view it. The blessing will be Friday (tomorrow) at 6:00 pm Rome time or 1:00 our time. I imagine it will be on EWTN. As far as finding it online, I don’t know. If someone could e-mail me with details, I will put it in my report tomorrow morning.

I pray for you everyday. I look forward to the day when we will all be back together in our beautiful church. Please let us pray for each other. God bless, Fr. LaHood