From Cardinal Sean
In Prayerful Thanksgiving for his Service and Leadership
My Dear Friends in Christ,
As we all experience the unprecedented circumstances of the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis please know of my prayers for you and your loved ones. While striving each day to proceed as safely as possible we remember that our faith means we are never alone, even in the most difficult times. Faith is the foundation of hope, and with hope we can address even the most complex challenges of life without being overcome by them.
Our inability to come together as a community for the celebration of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith, has been difficult for all of us. As I share in the video message attached here, know that all my brother priests and I are praying for you every day at our celebration of Mass.
In this moment I am reaching out to you on behalf of all your pastors with recognition of the challenges our parishes are facing. At this time, I ask you to please continue your weekly offertory support of your parish by mailing in your envelopes or donations, or by making an online donation through your parish website. In asking for your support I note that approximately only 30% of all the parishioners in our 283 parishes currently contribute regularly online. We understand many of you may not be able to continue your offertory contributions given the economic impact this pandemic has had on your personal finances. We hope that those who are able will continue to support the operations of your parishes during this emergency.
Faith is indeed a gift in times of crisis, providing us with courage to look to the future with hope. It is through this hope that we are able to respond not only to the needs of our families and those closest to us, but also those of others who are served in our parishes. I am grateful for your consideration of this critical request.
Asking God’s blessings upon you and all whom you hold dear, I remain,
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Archbishop of Boston
A Virtual Lenten Retreat with Cardinal Seán
Christ, Our Light in the Darkness
We will remember this Lent as one “in quarantine.” Social distancing the new norm as daily social interactions are suddenly unavailable to us. Schools are closed. We can’t go out to restaurants. Even public Mass has been suspended to curtail any further spread of this coronavirus. Many people feel alone. Many are scared. And people are thirsting for something good.
The Lord appoints shepherds to lead his flock, to be beacons of light in darkness, and to be instruments of hope to his people in times of despair. This Virtual Lenten Retreat with Cardinal Seán is a means for our shepherd to feed us, to comfort us, and to give us the hope we need right now.
Join Cardinal Seán on this five-part retreat, using this opportunity to enter more deeply into Lent and grow in your relationship with Christ.
Virtual Lenten Retreat Schedule
Monday, March 23, 7:00 PM – Prayer
Tuesday, March 24, 7:00 PM – Mercy and Forgiveness
Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 PM – Faith: The Key to Meaning and Call to Friendship
Thursday, March 26, 7:00 PM – Who is My Neighbor? The Good Samaritan
Friday, March 27, 7:00 PM – The Seven Last Words
Additional Holy Thursday Retreat
Thursday, April 9, 7:00 PM – The Eucharist
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper from the
Cathedral of the Holy Cross to follow on Catholic TV at 7:30 PM
Retreat will air/stream nightly at 7:00 PM on:
Catholic TV (click here)
Catholic TV Facebook page (click here)
Archdiocese of Boston’s Facebook page (click here)
Bostoncatholic.org (click here)