News - July 2020 RSS Feed

As the coronavirus continues to affect our lives, it seems we are living in a new world each month. There has been a significant decline of COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations in our state yet increases in other states have left many of us to question when will there be normalcy again. Or is this the “new normal?”

Article 140 - Catechism of the Catholic Church Series Paragraphs 1877-1889 COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus, has taken our country and the world by surprise, like nothing ever experienced in the life of anyone living on planet earth today! What began as something considered “worse than the flu” became an outright war against an invisible enemy.

If ever we felt like the world was going to end, it would be here and now. COVID-19 has incapacitated all walks of life and paralyzed the workplace, schools, hospitals and even our Church. Who would have thought a year ago that we would all have to don masks when not able to keep six feet from others? Who would have thought that our children’s schools would be closed for six months and Zoom would become the new classroom? Who would have believed that ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood in our own diocese would be postponed to late summer?

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,  These days our lives seem like anything but normal. Our usual and planned vacations this summer have been cancelled or disrupted by restricted travel. Most summer camps and vacation Bible schools are either not opened or have been scaled back. Even simple family barbeques are not held.

The diocesan Office of Human Life and Dignity received 165 poster entries from 15 Catholic Schools and 10 Religious Education Programs for its annual “Kids Look at Life” poster contest. Students from grades one to eight were asked to reflect on the theme: The U.S. Bishops invite us to be part of a Year of Service for Moms in Need from March 25, 2020 to March 25, 2021. Walking with Moms in Need. “How can you help Moms? Many pregnant and parenting moms struggle. Some feel alone, others have low-income jobs and many are overwhelmed with the daily tasks of raising their children. They need our support.” Posters were judged on grade level, creativity and visual appeal. Winning posters will be used to create a 2020-2021 Respect for Life Calendar and awarded to all poster winners.