MAY 11, 2020
"GRACE AND PATIENCE"
Christians & Coronavirus:
Staying Connected in Christ
GRACE AND PATIENCE
This past Friday, May 8, at the work days' end when most of us should have long been logged off of email and entering the weekend, the Ohio Bishops and Archdiocese of Cincinnati announced that public Mass will resume on Monday, May 25, 2020, Memorial Day.
To explain the mix of emotions I felt in receiving this news is incredibly difficult to describe.
Happiness to be returning home to St. Andrew for Mass? Absolutely.
Joy to be able to receive the Eucharist again? Most certainly.
Excitement to see my St. Andrew family again? Without a doubt.
But also...
Overwhelm trying to envision the "logistics" of what this will look like. As a St. Andrew staff member, I know this is going to be a big undertaking for our small staff.
Concern for what this will mean for our community members who have health risks but who will still be eager to attend Mass - including some members of my own family.
And as much as I hate to selfishly admit this...anxiety as I continue to face the challenge of helping our parish communicate this new, yet ever-evolving information to our community in a pro-active, positive and safe way.
My intention in writing this post is not to downplay the joy/relief/excitement/happiness about our ability to return to Mass and receive the Eucharist as it is most certainly cause for prayers of thanks....but to humbly ask you, our wonderful SA-SEAS family....to PLEASE have patience and understanding with our parishes, our parishioners, the staff, the bishops of Ohio, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati - with ME - during this worthwhile, albeit difficult, transition into a new "normalcy" at Mass.
Jesus has not forgotten us during our time away from his physical presence. Please, let us also not forget each other and the various life circumstances each of us are coming from as we gather to celebrate Mass together again. Please, help us treat each other - and ourselves - with grace and patience during this time of transition.
Blessings,
Mandy Geyman
St. Andrew Parishioner & Communications Coordinator, St. Andrew Parish