Sunday, April 12, 2020

HAPPY EASTER 2020

“PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED IN GOD’S WAY IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS OF TRUTH” (Eph 4:24)

COPING AND LIVING LIFE AND FAITHTHROUGH THE NEW TEMPORARY NORMAL

Praying for you and your loved ones during this COVID-19 Pandemic

Both the offices at the school and the church are closed. The Staff are on call for emergency needs only. Urgent matter only, Ms. Kipp and I are available by email (frtruc@cathedralchapel.org and tkipp@cathedralchapel.org).

Our school and our religious education are opened and teaching on line.  Email me if you need financial assistance from the Cardinal McIntyre Fund.

Dear CCSV Parishioners, CCS Families, and Friends:

Jesus is Risen!

Jesus is our hope in conquering sins and death.  On Palm Sunday, we spiritually prepared to enter Jerusalem with our Lord, Jesus.  Our celebrations of the Triduum on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday were spiritually uplifting and solemn. During this 2020 Easter season, I wish you and your loved ones courage and strength, peace and acceptance.   May the Risen Christ transform you and your family by enlightening your mind and sanctifying your hearts.

  
OUR NEW TEMPORARY NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND THE WORSHIP OF RELIGIONS

Our new normal started after our last morning 9AM mass at our church on Monday, March 16.   There were no public celebrations of St. Patrick (3/17) and St. Joseph (3/19).  No more traffic all around southern California’s  streets, the highways and the freeways. There was just 30-40 percent of cars on the road. Special hours for grocery shopping for seniors from 8-10AM. All non-essential businesses are closed (dry cleaning, gyms, hair salons, and clothing). The city of Los Angeles is quiet and surreal. 

On Friday March  27, We watched Pope Francis on line giving his solemn blessing called “Urbi et Orbi” granting all of us special plenary indulgence.  The entire St. Peter’s square was empty including the basilica of St. Peter. The rain was pouring heavily on the miraculous cross of Jesus kept in the church of San Marcello on the city’s Via del Corso.  Pope Francis also prayed infront of the ancient icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani – usually housed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major .

For all of us, the joy of 2020 Easter celebration is uniquely differently: staying at home watching on TV or online. The celebrations of the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil) were simple yet spiritually uplifting.  They are all free!

The USCCB website provides the following resources for family faith enriching and activities that everyone can participate during this time of COVID-19. Liturgical Press: Give Us This Day. . . /  Magnificat: English. . . | Spanish. . .Bayard: Living with Christ. . ./   The Word Among Us: English. . . | Spanish. . .GIA Publications. . .Augustine Institute: Free Subscriptions of FORMED . . . for 40 daysCatechesis of the Good Shepherd. . . (for parents) /  RENEW International. . .Loyola Press. . . /  Oregon Catholic Press. . .  / Liturgy Training Publications (LTP). . .Our Sunday Visitor. . .  /   Sadlier. . . /  RCL Benziger. . .  / Pflaum: Resources for Families. . . / Catechist.com Resources. . .  /  My Catholic Faith Delivered. . .   

Normally when our body is aching and hurting inside, we make an appointment to see our doctor, or we go to urgent care. Now, the new normal we are encouraged to call our doctor and explain our illness.  The new normal during this time of the pandemic none of us want to be admitted to the hospital, because there is no visitor allowed. The new normal with Easter, there is no family gathering and going to church or brunch, no Easter egg hunt children.

In silence and solitude at early hour of the morning (4AM or 5AM), I pray for each one of you: your health and your well-being, your strength of faith, your family and children (emotional and financial stability), and all your loved ones. The “Our Father,” “Hail Mary,” and the “Angelus” have been the focus of my public prayers. United in Prayers, let us shower the world with God’s Grace and healing miracles. 

As a world, as a nation, as a Church, and as individual, Covid-19 pandemic affects all of us in way that is beyond our lifetime realization of sickness, tragedy and suffering, all major social events cancelled, and all church ministries stopped immediately.  The list goes on and on...

Please check our website or the Archdiocese website for changes in our churches, or other websites for an update on the Covid-19 pandemic. If you have any suggestions, please email me directly (frtruc@cathedralchapel.org). I conclude my Sunday message to you quoting from Pope Francis who was interviewed by the Italian newspaper La Stampa on March 20:  

“What helps us is synergy, mutual collaboration, the sense of responsibility and the spirit of sacrifice that is generated in many places,” he said. “We do not have to make a distinction between believers and nonbelievers; let’s go to the root: Humanity. Before God, we are all his children.” 

May the Holy Family of God (Joseph, Mary and Jesus) guide you in all your endeavors.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I pray for you and your family during the celebration of the holy Eucharist. 

My WORD for the first 6 Months of 2020:  CLARITY.May all of our journey in life lead us back to God.