From the Pastor's Desk

Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners,

Today is Palm Sunday when we typically join the crowds of long ago in the streets of Jerusalem commemorating Jesus’ entrance into the holy city and claiming him once again as our Messiah and Lord. Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. Hosanna in the highest. Our streets are empty on this Palm Sunday 2020 as we are unable to gather in our churches to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week. Since the earliest days of the season of Lent we have been preparing our hearts for this week’s celebrations through our acts of penance and charity. We never imagined that the ending of our Lenten days would look like this. We long to be together for Mass today, but we must stay apart and at home.

Today the entire human race and the whole world are united as one as we fight a common enemy – not a dictator’s army nor totalitarian state, not a terrorist threat nor one nation attacking another. Instead, we find ourselves battling the invisible, insidious coronavirus. This is a virus that knows no boundaries nor can it be contained by any wall. Today we reflect upon Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem and call to mind his incredible suffering and death on the cross. We cannot help but think of all the sacrifices that people are making these days out of loving concern for others and the cross of suffering that so many other people now carry. This year the Palm Sunday crowds will not be found on the streets, but in the hospitals where doctors and nurses and health care teams are working around the clock to care for the sick as they comfort the dying. And it is right there where the Lord Jesus is walking in the midst of them. And we, the scattered sheep of His flock, are in our homes united in our prayer being safe and keeping others safe. Although apart we are together still in our prayer for the world. Our St. Mary’s parish community completed 24 hours of praying from 12 noon on Friday until 12 noon on Saturday for an end to the coronavirus pandemic, the healing of the sick, the salvation of the dead and the protection of healthcare workers and those who keep the necessities of life flowing in our nation and throughout the world.

Let us continue those prayers today and throughout these holy days. While there will be no Masses in the church on Palm Sunday or Easter, please pray with us at Mass on the parish website, facebook page and Shrewsbury Media Channel 28. Palms will be available today in the church parking lot and in the church as well as during the week for those who wish to make a visit. Our St. Mary’s Parish & School staff will continue to pray for your continued health and safety.

God’s Peace in this Holy Week,
Msgr. Michael Rose