Happy New Year, everyone! This is Fr. Greg here. I’d love to do this column spot weekly, and I used to do that, but as it seems my schedule only gets busier as time passes, recently I delegated if off to Fr. Andrew. However, from time to time, I will jump in like I’m doing now.
This weekend, Prince of Peace is lifting up our honorary campaign chairs for the “God’s House, Our Home” campaign. We have identified a bunch of our founding members still here and active at POP who are once again stepping up to support the parish in this campaign. We want to honor these honorary chairs! Apologies if anyone might be missed—many founders have moved on, or eluded our lists or contacts, or maybe just wanted to be anonymous. But as you can see listed in the bulletin here, we still have folks who helped start POP in 1979, and contributed in many ways to all that we have here, and are still building up the parish! May God bless them all! They should inspire us who have inherited our wonderful facilities to step up now to do our part in keeping things fixed up around here!
By the way, the campaign has pledged over $2.5 million out of our total goal of $6 million (about 42% of goal). We have received 223 pledges out of about 2600 parishioners (about 9% response so far). So, get those pledges in soon. I really hope for as many people to participate as possible. Thank you so much!
Also, I think the message of the real needs of the campaign can get forgotten as you look at proposed picture of the sanctuary remodel. The renovations are mostly about needs: worn out pews/kneelers, accessibility, lighting, sound, non-functioning projectors, teacher’s bathrooms, gym needs refresh, and we need better way to use space and keep kids secure (so the school cafeteria). I would say installing a new altar is also close to a “need” level. Church law doesn’t oblige it a permanent altar, but strongly desires it if possible. And, before my time, we already accepted about $200K to install said altar, so I am pretty obliged to carry out this project. Once you do an altar, it makes total sense to also upgrade to match the ambo, baptismal font, and such. Beyond that, yeah, there are some nice things we would like to do, but the needs do come first.
I’d like to comment on the big snowstorm of 1/5-1/6 and Mass. By the way, I had fun counting the people who made it to Mass—Saturday had the most by far, maybe up to 200 folks (which is still low). But Sunday was only a small trickle of brave or crazy folks, less that 100 total the whole day over four Masses. The Sunday 5pm Mass was cozy with myself, Dcn. Mike, and five people! The weather was really bad and transportation at times was near impossible. What was a Catholic supposed to do? You all know that every Catholic above the age of reason is obliged to participate in the Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. Are there valid reasons the Church acknowledges to be able to miss Mass in good conscience? Yes. Was the bad weather we had good reason—yes, it was impossible or near impossible or at least very dangerous for almost everyone.
It should be noted that simply watching Mass on TV or computer does NOT fulfill the obligation. You simply have to be physically present. However, if there is a valid reason to miss Mass, a Catholic is then “strongly recommended” to do something like watch the Mass, or do your own liturgy of the word, or take time to pray.
What are all the reasons one could validly miss Mass? Canon law is none too helpful here, it just acknowledges “If participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause…” (Canon 1248). So, if there is no priest to do the Mass (like in some parts of world but not so much here), you have a valid reason. Also, a “grave cause” is a reason. OK, what is that? The Catechism of the Catholic Church says in paragraph #2181 that we can be “… excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.” Again, a bit short on detailed examples, but here we see illness, and care of infants listed.
In general though, these are considered good examples of grave/serious cause to miss Mass:
—being sick (especially if you might be contagious),
—being in the hospital,
—having to care for someone like that and there is no one to relieve you,
—not having any transportation or possible means to get to Mass
-many in nursing homes or homebound
-youth who can’t drive and their parents choose not to go
-really bad weather fits into this cause if the weather makes it impossible to get to Mass (for instance our snowstorm was bad enough with the ice to qualify)
-some travel (not all) where it is impossible to make it to Mass (like being on a ship over a weekend)
—have a critical position that does not allow to get to Mass (think doctor, nurse, firefighter whose shifts cover all Mass times)
—some other cases I’m sure, but also if you are in doubt, we priests have the authority to dispense you from the obligation for a just cause lesser than these things. So just ask us.
Prayers for a blessed 2025 for you all!
Peace,
Fr. Greg