During the pandemic, we know that we are unable to gather as we normally would for Mass . Through this page, we want to bring some additional opportunities for prayer, reflection, and faith-sharing directly to you. Please be sure to scroll down through this entire page to see all that is available. Currently you will find the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, Reconsecration of the US to Mary, Musical Reflections, and Pope Francis' extraordinary Urbi et Orbi address and blessing.
RECONSECRATION OF THE UNITED STATES
TO THE CARE OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER
THE ROSARY
Rosary, Adoration, and Parish Consecration
The Luminous Mysteries
The Lord's Prayer & Rosary
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis invited all Christians to pray the Lord’s Prayer on March 25, 2020 at noon. To this we added a time for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Rosary.
MUSICAL REFLECTIONS
Without Seeing You
"Without seeing you, we love you; without touching you, we embrace; without knowing you, we follow; without seeing you, we believe."
How many different aspects of our lives can these lyrics be applied? For us as a parish family, unable to gather as we normally do, the closing line "Without seeing you, we believe" really speaks to the current reality. The refrain also helps to reflect on the Gospel from the 2nd Sunday of Easter. Are we more like Thomas? Are we unable to believe without touching the nail marks and Jesus' side? While we are away from friends and family during this pandemic, how have we been able to embrace them without physically touching them? These are some of the most difficult times that any of us have ever gone through, but our faith always gives us a reason to be hopeful and a reason to always believe.
How many different aspects of our lives can these lyrics be applied? For us as a parish family, unable to gather as we normally do, the closing line "Without seeing you, we believe" really speaks to the current reality. The refrain also helps to reflect on the Gospel from the 2nd Sunday of Easter. Are we more like Thomas? Are we unable to believe without touching the nail marks and Jesus' side? While we are away from friends and family during this pandemic, how have we been able to embrace them without physically touching them? These are some of the most difficult times that any of us have ever gone through, but our faith always gives us a reason to be hopeful and a reason to always believe.
We Will Sing Again
In light of the news received about restrictions in singing during the COVID_19 pandemic, well-known Catholic composer David Haas composed a new text reflecting on the situation based on his well-known hymn, We Will Rise Again. Fr. Brad Zamora and Michael Ward offer their take on David's new text, We Will Sing Again. They offer it as they pray for and remember all those who are hurting right now, especially musicians, as we wait with joyful hope to sing together again with friends and community.
Lasst Uns Erfreuen
The hymn tune, LASST UNS ERFREUEN, is well-known from hymns like All Creatures of Our God and King or Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones. You can't miss singing this hymn as the resounding Alleluias throughout make it memorable to all. Mike Brose offers his take on the hymn tune as he spends time improvising around this hymn tune. Mike often joins us to share his talents on the piano and is probably most recognizable to our parish when he and the other members of the praise band, Twist of Faith, join us to help enhance our music during Mass. To help focus your reflection, Mike has added beautiful photos to accompany the music that were taken by his wife, Lisa.
All Creatures of Our God and King
This hymn text uses the same hymn tune, LASST UNS ERFREUEN, as above. In this video, our mother-daughter cantor duo of Mary Ernster and Isabella Andrews come together to sing Rick Modlin's arrangement of All Creatures of Our God and King. They also share a fun story of how this hymn will forever be associated with the Easter Season for them.
O Come to the Altar
Hurting? Broken? Overwhelmed? I think those are feelings we are all familiar with, whether or not we are living through a pandemic. O Come to the Altar helps to remind us of and ground us in the reality that the loving arms of our God are always open wide, ready to embrace us. The lyrics of bridge really help us to put into song the joy we have in knowing our loving God is there for us, "Oh, what a Savior, isn't He wonderful. Sing alleluia, Christ is risen." Let's sing Alleluia indeed! Christ is risen, Christ is alive, and the risen Christ walks beside us, especially during the most challenging moments in our life.
Amazing Grace
The COVID_19 pandemic continues to be challenging time for every one of us. The gift of our faith reminds us that God's love and mercy is truly amazing as it goes beyond our wildest imagination, beyond any virus or any pandemic. Trusting in that love and mercy, one of our cantors, Jacque Kress offers this beautiful, a capella version of the beloved hymn, Amazing Grace.
We Walk by Faith
Jenny and Aaron Stash shared their beautiful duet of We Walk By Faith, arranged by Ed Bolduc. The lyrics help us to pray with the words of Jesus to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29). This piece works so well during the Easter season as it helps us to further reflect on the Gospel from the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday). In our currently reality, it also helps us to reflect on the state of the world around us. In the time of this COVID_19 pandemic, the song and its message take on a dual meaning. We are all aware that there are many, many uncertainties right now. However, when we put our full trust in our faith and commit to walking by faith rather than sight, we can be reassured that we are never alone and we will be okay through all of this.
Via Dolorosa
The song Via Dolorosa is a beautiful tradition during the Good Friday liturgy in our parish. It so beautifully and prayerfully puts Jesus' ultimate act of love for us into music. Our mother-daughter duo of cantors, Mary Ernster and Isabella Andrews, have arranged this beautiful duet of Via Dolorosa. We offer this video now to help us remember what Jesus did for us on Good Friday.