This weekend we take a break from our walk through the Mass for two very important reminders. First, this Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. It is my hope & prayer that each of you will be able to spend the day with those who are near & dear to you. As we take time to give thanks, please know that I give thanks for each & every one of you. It is truly a blessing to be here with you & I am grateful that God’s plan for me led me to be a part of our faith community. There will be a joint Mass on Thanksgiving Day @ 9:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Parish. We will join together as two parish families around the altar as we begin our day by giving thanks to God.
Second is what we know is coming, if it hasn’t come already, winter weather. In Northeast Ohio, we know that the upcoming months will likely end up featuring such highlights as Winter Storm Warnings, multiple inches of snow forecasted, snowplows driving up & down the street, & maybe a few whiteout conditions. As we enter into these days where the weather can be uncertain, I just wanted to remind everyone that when the weather becomes bad to the point where it is dangerous to wander out, please know that there is NO obligation to attend Mass. I know that so many of us love Mass, we love Jesus, we love to receive Him in the Eucharist, but we are also not called to risk our lives just to be there. For the most part, since Fr. Clyde & I are on campus, there will usually still be Mass celebrated, no matter what the weather is. There may be the rare occasion where conditions are so bad that we cancel Mass altogether, but those conditions are rare & will usually be communicated via the Parish Facebook page & website. But, even though there may be Mass, neither God, myself, or your family & friends want anyone to risk their life to get here. If the roads are so bad that you are unable to drive or the sidewalks are so icy that walking is dangerous, please do NOT risk health or life to come to Mass. When we miss Mass due to our own fault or laziness, or the weather is too bad to go to Mass but at the same time it’s not too bad to go somewhere else, then there is sin involved. But, on those days where you are unable to attend Mass due to weather, there is NO sin involved & you do not need to confess missing Mass.