Cathedral Reopening
February 9, 2021
St. Cyril of Alexandria, Pray for Us
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
THE CATHEDRAL IS OPEN ONCE AGAIN! The Catholic News agency reports: “California’s strict coronavirus rules banning indoor worship were blocked and revised by a U.S. Supreme Court injunction late Friday night, drawing praise from figures like Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. He emphasized the importance of in-person religious gatherings and stressed that the Catholic Church is following “reasonable measures” to limit the epidemic. “This is a very significant step forward for basic rights. This decision makes clear we can now return to worshiping safely indoors without risk of harassment from government officials,” Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco said Feb. 6.
“As Christians we are members of a Church, which literally means an assembly of people coming together to worship God,” Cordileone continued. “This is our identity; it is in our very nature to gather in person to give honor and glory to God. And especially as Catholics we know that our worship cannot be live-streamed: there is no way to give Communion, or any of the other sacraments via the internet.” … Critics have said the ban wrongly singles out religious gatherings and is among the strictest in the country. The Supreme Court’s unsigned order said that the total ban on indoor worship is unconstitutional. At most, the state may limit indoor capacity to 25% of normal. It left the ban on singing intact. … Six justices favored the injunction, while three did not. “California no longer asks its movie studios, malls, and manicurists to wait,” [Justice] Gorsuch said. “As this crisis enters its second year—and hovers over a second Lent, a second Passover, and a second Ramadan—it is too late for the state to defend extreme measures with claims of temporary exigency, if it ever could. Drafting narrowly tailored regulations can be difficult. But if Hollywood may host a studio audience or film a singing competition while not a single soul may enter California’s churches, synagogues, and mosques, something has gone seriously awry.” Gorsuch said lower courts should have followed the “extensive guidance” previously given by the Supreme Court. “This court made it abundantly clear that edicts like California’s fail strict scrutiny and violate the Constitution,” he said. Chief Justice Roberts, writing in his own opinion, said that the state’s judgement that no adherents can safely worship even in “the most cavernous cathedral” is a view that “appears to reflect not expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or consideration of the interests at stake.” At the same time, he saw “no basis” to override the state ban on singing indoors, given conclusions that singing raises the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Cordileone said the importance of in-person worship and in-person distribution of the sacraments is why he gave pastors permission at Christmas “to bring congregations indoors under the same conditions permitted indoor retail, if the weather or safety conditions required it.” “The Supreme Court has now made it very clear to California government that permitting this is a fundamental right and the law of the land,” the archbishop said.
Announcements
Ash Wednesday: which falls on February 17 this year, begins Lent. To minimize any potential spread of coronavirus, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued a statement directing priests to sprinkle ashes on the heads of people on Ash Wednesday, rather than making a cross on the forehead of each person. Sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads, rather than marking foreheads with ashes, is the customary practice at the Vatican and in Italy. Given the spread of the coronavirus, the practice has the advantage of not requiring the priest to touch multiple people. Also, a traditional biblical practice was for people, as an expression of sorrow and penance for sin, to throw ashes over their own heads and don sackcloth.
Also, as of Ash Wednesday, we will resume our 6:45 a.m. Mass. If, however, we are once again barred from indoor worship, this Mass will be stopped (and celebrated privately).
As you know, Fr. Wolfgang Seitz will return to the Cathedral next Tuesday, to perform the Consecration to our Holy Guardian Angels. He will offer the 5:30 pm Latin Mass and then perform the Consecration ceremony at 6:30 p.m. This ceremony will take about 30 - 40 minutes. Immediately following the Consecration, at 7:30 pm, our 40 Days for Life Kick-Off (no pot-luck) will take place outside where we have Mass. Please join us for prayers and updates!
Lenten Fish Fry: The Knights of Columbus will hold their annual Lenten Fish Fry at the Becker Center for “Drive Through” service on Feb. 19, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. It will be Take-Out Only. For$16.00 enjoy fish, french fries, coleslaw & ice cream! Tickets are available in the Parish Office, M-F, 9-4 and at the Bookstore/Gift Shop.
Indoor Confessions: We are planning to resume using our indoor confessionals this Saturday. The normal Confession schedule is 3-4:30 pm. Confessionals contain a sanitizing ultra-violet light that is activated after each person leaves, so please remember to alternate use of each confessional.
Parish Finances in the Age of Covid
As you all know, these are hard times for all parishes in terms of finances. Even though we are “shut down,” the bills keep coming in and salaries have to be paid. For those of you who have been giving a little extra each week/month, I really appreciate your generosity. For those of you who are unable to come to Mass, please consider giving on-line or the good old-fashioned way, by mail. Thank you and God bless you. Learn more »
Fiscal Year to Date:
Income: $421,698
In the black: $47,946
Thank you for your generosity!!
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