May 05, 2020 Eastertide Tuesday
Parish Update
A person will walk through many doors in a lifetime. There are large doors, small doors, beautiful doors, and humble doors. Sometimes doors are open and sometimes they are locked. Everywhere we go, a grocery store, a doctor’s office, a neighbour’s home, a bank, we enter through a door. And when we enter the door we encounter either a warm, or lukewarm welcome, at best. One is never sure what they will encounter on the other side of that door. The massive bronze doors to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome open early every morning. Crowds eagerly wait for them to open. At the precise hour the Swiss Guards open the doors and the crowd breaks out in applause knowing they can now enter the doors leading into a glorious sanctuary waiting to greet them. The doors are joyful, welcoming, and loving. There is a wonderful painting that depicts Jesus standing in a doorway, he is smiling and holding a warm lantern casting a beautiful light in his hands, inviting all those who stand at the door, to enter. The door is open, the door is warm, it is joyful, welcoming, and loving. If only all doors in this world were so. But not all are. Too many doors are closed and slammed shut, in people’s faces. There are too many doors in our culture that are now closed and say do not enter. Many homes today have their doors closed to one another, after argument or disagreement, and have slammed the door to a parent, a son, a daughter. The doors of many marriages are closed to a loved one forever. And more neighbours are closing their doors to neighbours. In so many ways doors are closing, the door to someone seeking a career is closed, someone seeking a second chance the door is closed, the door seeking forgiveness closed, doors of nations closed. In truth it is really not doors that are closed but hearts. Hearts and homes closed to God.
In the Mass readings of today the apostles are getting the doors of their own families, friends, and neighbours closed in their faces. The very people they believed would be most receptive to the love of God and His Son are not interested. They travel to others lands and discover doors eager to open. Doors they don’t think will open, are in fact eager to open, to listen, and with open heart welcome the love of God and His Son into their homes and lives. When Jesus enters the temple in Jerusalem we are told he walks through a particular door called the Portico of Solomon. Solomon is one of the most revered Kings of Israel. The portico of Solomon is meant as a symbol, or meant to prefigure the coming of true Wisdom. Jesus is Wisdom. When he walks through the door He fulfills the coming of Wisdom. The Door is Jesus. He is waiting at the door to welcome us and love us. He is holding a lantern of light in His hands to guide us through the door. The doorway is joyful, loving, and welcoming. It is never locked and it will never slam shut in our face. Jesus is the door that opens the way to love in our homes, our families, our marriages. He is standing at the moment in our doorway, smiling, waiting for us to invite Him into our lives. His heart, like a door that never closes, is always open. (Scripture Ref: Acts 11. 19-26 John 10. 22-30 )
Announcement: Holy Rosary Parish has been consecrated to Mary, Mother of the Church in Time of Pandemic. The Act of Consecration took place on Friday May 01, 2020 @ 3PM on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Fr. Daniel and I offered the Act of Consecration in the church before the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Consecration was offered for the well being of all our families of the Parish, for the sick, the afflicted, for those dying, those who have died of the virus, for the safety of all first responders, nurses, doctors, and personal care workers. The Act of Consecration can be found for personal prayer on the parish website.
Mass was offered today for the repose of the souls of Bruno & Polly Santos the parents Melissa & (in-laws) to Tony Buenaventura.
Support Catholic Education Week. Pray for our Catholic Schools, Principals, Teachers, Faculties and Students. Bishop Crosby will offer a live stream Mass for Catholic Education on May 08 @11 AM. Link to found on Diocese website.
Thanks for those who signed up for Care for Neighbours Team. Those assigned please keep a check on your neighbours.
Pray the Rosary at 4 PM in your homes offering prayers for end of the pandemic , the sick and afflicted, all who have requested prayers for our families, nurses, doctors, personal care workers. Pray for all in our nursing homes.
Mail drop off at the Rectory mail box kitchen door. Place prayer requests, Mass intentions, messages, envelopes, letters. The mail box is carefully monitored. Thanks for your continued offerings. Very much appreciated.
Dry food items for food pantry can be placed in the grey bin outside office entrance doors. Thank you! Also don’t forget to donate your spirit bottles to grey bin to help raise funds for the capital campaign.
DIOCESE DECREES ALL WEDDINGS MUST BE CANCELLED UP UNTIL JUNE 30, 2020. A WEDDING CAN TAKE PLACE BUT ONLY WITH THE BRIDE, GROOM, AND WITNESSES.
FIRST COMMUNIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS ARE ALL CANCELLED . TO BE RESCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE.
Reminder that the Fifth Sunday Easter 9 AM Mass will be live streamed. It will also be our Mother’s Day Mass! Instructions are posted on the Parish Website https://holyrosaryguelph.ca/ under the “MASSES” header on the home page of website. A link to a recording of the previous Sunday Mass is also available in the same location.
The Diocese has informed me today all parishes and parish offices closures are now extended to May 12th, 2020.
Courage everyone. Pray. With my blessing.
Fr. Vernon P. Boyd S.J.
Pastor
Holy Rosary Parish, 175 Emma Street, Guelph, ON, N1E 1V6
519-822-4701 x 22 www.holyrosaryguelph.ca