Sports!

I'll be honest, I'm going to let my sports nut side out a bit here. I want to talk a bit today about the return of some sports, and how that can be an example for us as we begin to slowly open some things back up. I was inspired to write about this by the return of the Bundesliga. If you don't know what the Bundesliga is, that's okay. It's the German professional soccer league, with famous teams like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. After a break that lasted over 2 months, they played their first matches since March on May 17th.

How, when, or even if sports can return in 2020 has been a hotly debated question since this pandemic began. There are many differing views, and almost everyone has an opinion. Sports are an important unifying and cultural activity for just about every culture in the world, including ours. So is there a way to have them while ensuring the safety of everyone involved? This is why the Bundesliga is so important; it is the first major, internationally watched sports league to attempt to resume play.

Even if you don't care about German soccer (heck, this is America, maybe you don't care about any soccer), you should be interested in how the Bundesliga fares. The sports world is watching them with baited breath, waiting to see if their health and safety measures do indeed make sports plausible again. The MLB is considering a return in July, the NBA is opening up optional practice facilities, and the NFL has already stated that they plan to play their season in the fall. But, as with everything during the pandemic, those plans are subject to change.

See, the Bundesliga is kind of like world sports' guinea pig. How their re-opening goes and whether or not they have to suspend again will likely dictate how soon most other sports in the world begin play again. They will serve as an example for the rest of the world. Here's the good news: after the first round of games, things seemed to go well. This will obviously be monitored very closely, but so far, so good.

Things were certainly different, and that's an important thing to accept. Soccer, almost more than any other sport, is affected and enhanced by crowd chants and cheering. But if the option is games with no crowds or no games at all? I'll take crowdless games all day. This is the larger point I'm trying to make: if we accept that things are going to be different and work towards having them in altered states, it will make our eventual reopening much quicker and less painful.

My family had pizza for dinner the other evening. I went to pick it up, and I was impressed with the system they had. We had called ahead and paid over the phone, so I was only there to grab the food. They served the pizza out of a window they normally sell ice cream from during the summer, and the whole staff was wearing masks and gloves. There was a bottle of hand sanitizer right there on the counter. They simply asked me my name, came out the side door, and handed me my delicious pepperoni pizza.

This was certainly different from the normal takeout experience that we've become accustomed to. But you know what? The pizza tasted just as good. That's the point! If we simply accept that things are going to be different and focus our energies on making them work within the context of this pandemic, we can do great things. I still got my pizza, and Germany got their soccer back.

I'm not saying this is easy. I'm as frustrated and sick of not being able to go where I'd like as anyone. But we can delay the return of things we love, or even need (like public mass, sports, working together, or getting a much-needed haircut) by insisting that they must return exactly as they were before. My personal belief is that we will eventually get back to pre-corona norms, but that it will be a while before that happens. However, isn't a modified experience better than no experience at all?

It's important that we keep this in mind as some things start to come back. Rather than complaining about how unnatural it is to see sports played in empty stadiums, let's be grateful that we're starting to get some sports back. Rather than being angry that we can only eat outside at restaurants in the short term, let's be thankful for the opportunity to go out to dinner again. If we take this way of thinking into everything that opens up over the next few weeks and months, we'll be doing our mental health a huge favor.

I want to be clear, I'm not trying to call anyone out here, least of all those who are frustrated by this pandemic. But I've said it before and I'll say it until I'm blue in the face: there are things we can control, and things we can't. One of the things we can always control how we allow ourselves to react to situations. We will always be setting ourselves up to succeed if we approach things from a place of gratefulness for what God has given us. After all, isn't that what we're called to do as Children of the Lord?

I urge anyone reading this to make gratefulness their defining attribute for the next few weeks. If you feel yourself getting angry or frustrated about a pandemic-related change, press the pause button. Take a couple deep breaths, or even take a walk if you need to. Then try to view the situation through a lens of gratefulness. I can promise you'll feel a bit better. It might not make everything rosy, but it'll help you to cope with everything just a bit easier.

I hope you and your families are all doing well. Know you are in my prayers, and please continue to pray for the Next Generation of Disciples youth group and myself as well! I look forward to seeing many of you soon.

Regis

May 17, 2020 - Sixth Sunday of Easter

Dear Friends in Christ:

WHEN?

Father, when will we be able to come to Mass in person again?

Father, any idea when you think we will start to resume having public Mass?

Father, any idea when we will be able to celebrate First Communions and Confirmations?

I am flooded with questions like this each and every day via email, texts, calls, or someone I run into at the store or post office. And it really is hard for me, not because I get bothered people are asking the questions, but because I have no answer.

You are not alone! If you have asked me one of these questions or even just thought about them yourself KNOW that you are not alone. We priests have thought about these too! We have been talking about this with one another and with other priests hoping, just hoping, maybe someone knows something we don’t and yet each time we end with “well, we will just have to wait and see.”

In the coming days and weeks as Connecticut begins the tentative baby steps of coming out of the pandemic lockdown we should know more. I do want to add caution…I know we all long for getting back to some type of “normal” whatever that may be, but as we begin to see things reopen, please remember the COVID 19 pandemic continues. The virus is still active, it is still being passed on, and people are very sick and some even dying because of it. So as we see things start to reopen let us do our part to be smart and vigilant and protect one another from this disease.

A light is beginning to be seen at the end of the tunnel…but make no mistake the end of this tunnel is by all reports months away. But we will settle for a flickering glimpse right about now, won’t we! I have no answers to the questions above, and I wish I did. I do know this; and that is, that Archbishop Blair has appointed a committee of priests to come up with recommendations as to how we can best meet the challenge of reintroducing public worship while observing all the necessary medical precautions. They are doing their homework and certainly will be seeking advice from doctors and public health officials.

So what do we know? The only thing I can say with certainty is that WHEN we do begin to open up and resume public Masses it will NOT be as if we flip a switch and all of a sudden we will be gathering just as we had before March 16th. We are going to have to take small steps toward a full reopening to ensure that we do so properly and with the health and wellbeing of everyone as the priority. We also KNOW that Archbishop Blair has already said that it is his intention “to maintain the dispensation from the Sunday obligation for everyone once we resume public worship.” He does not want someone genuinely fearful for his or her health to be troubled in conscience about their Sunday Mass attendance.

We also know that this pandemic will be an issue for us until it is resolved medically by way of a cure or a vaccine. Until then we have to be smart and we have to take precautions. We cannot ignore it. We cannot wish it were not here when we open our eyes. It is here and if we all do our part, whatever that is, to be cautious, smart, and vigilant as we move into this next month we can help to stop the spread and get us closer to the day it is no longer a pandemic.

WE WANT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS to help us communicate important information with you in a timely manner! As I wrote about last weekend, Father Federico and I were so moved by the parade of cars who came on Good Shepherd Sunday to show your support for us during this time. Since that article I received a few emails and calls from parishioners saying if they knew about it they would have participated.

This was communicated by way of email to all those families who have given us their email. Many families when they registered in the parish over the years provided their emails, others when they got involved in a particular ministry in the parish then provided their email. IF WE DON’T HAVE YOUR EMAIL PLEASE SEND IT TO US!!! As we prepare to move into this next phase and begin to have more information regarding the resumption of public worship we will do our best to communicate that information to our families in a timely manner and having your email will help us to do so. Please send your name & email to office@stbridgetcheshire.org.

SAINT BRIDGET OF SWEDEN PARISH COOKBOOK 2020…as we hear from so many, this time of pandemic has been a time we are all growing in our culinary expertise. I have always enjoyed getting creative in the kitchen. I would not say I am good at it but I am a work in progress. I am also happy to report that during this time of pandemic Father Federico has begun to test the waters in the kitchen and truth be told it has been good! Laughing out loud. If you have tuned in to our Casual Conversations live from our living room on Saturdays you probably have noticed that a lot of inquiries have been made about what we have eaten, what we have cooked, and a cooking challenge has even arisen from these discussions with myself and Mrs. Nott, Sixth Grade Teacher in St. Bridget School and Parish Cantor. That is yet to be scheduled but will be when it is safe to do so! The question is whose meatballs are better? Should be fun!

That said, Father Federico and I thought it would be a great idea to take this time to create a Parish Cookbook with your family recipes or your favorites from this time of pandemic. I know cookbooks have been done in the past but now seems like a perfect time to create a new one for our parish family. Send us your recipes at

cookbook@stbridgetcheshire.org.

We are holding another poster contest! It is that time of year again when we need to prepare for our annual parish Christmas card. We are looking for children of all ages to design our parish Christmas card. Last year it was a huge hit. I heard from so many people how much they loved that we used artwork from one of our young parishioners. We invite all school-aged children to think of Christmas and send us their design. The winner’s artwork will be the cover of our parish Christmas card which is sent to all parishioners and friends of Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish. All artwork must be submitted to the rectory by June 30th for consideration! We look forward to many submissions!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT…I have formed a New Cemetery Advisory Committee for Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish. It has been too long since the rules and regulations for St. Bridget Cemetery have been reviewed and evaluated. It has been too long since the rules and regulations have been enforced. It has been too long since we have given the proper attention to our parish cemetery. That said, I have decided to form a new Cemetery Advisory Committee to address these matters. I am pleased to report that our Parish Trustee Candy Nesbit will chair this committee. She will be assisted by four fellow parishioners Sandra Pasqualoni David, Daniel Ford from Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes, Leslie Marinaro, and Brad Zibell.

I am excited that they have all agreed to serve their parish in this way. Their first responsibility is to review and evaluate the rules and regulations for the cemetery. Once this is done, we will notify all parishioners that the rules and regulations have been updated and the date that those rules and regulations will go into effect. After this initial project, their main task will be to advise me of items and make recommendations of projects that may be needed to be completed to ensure the cemetery remains a comforting and prayerful place for all who visit. I am confident that with their advice this will be achieved.

Last Sunday, in the afternoon we were joined by singer-songwriter, and friend of Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish, Dan Ferrari. Dan provided an hour-long concert for our parish during this time of pandemic. He was awesome! He came to Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish last fall to sing at and speak at Theology on Tap and then led a mini concert for our school children the next day.

We were so pleased to invite him back for a special concert on Mother’s Day as our gift to the mothers of our parish and in gratitude for the Appreciation Parade on Good Shepherd Sunday. During the concert we also held our Parish May Crowning as we crowned the statue of our Blessed Mother which is located in the backyard of the rectory. It was a special moment as Dan played his song “Prayers to our Lady” which is the “Memorae,” the “Hail Mary,” and the “Hail, Holy Queen” set to music as one song. Thanks Dan! If you missed the concert you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/JfBjT90jz5w

For more information on his music you can visit his website www.danferrarimusic.com.

As always, remember to pray for our parish family and ask God’s blessings upon us all in this time of pandemic. With the gracious intercession of Saint Bridget of Sweden, our Patroness, may we be united with one another in prayer! Please pray for me and know that I am praying for you! Continued prayers for you all to know and experience the joy, the peace, and the hope of the Risen Christ!

Ask Father: What are the Ten Commandents?

Ask Father: Finding a list of all Ten Commandments, other than in the Bible, is becoming a rarity. What could be more basic than to know these rules of life? Can you list all ten for us to revisit?

Dear friend in Christ,

Ask and you shall receive! Here is a list of the Ten Commandments along with a practical examination of conscience based on each one. This would be a very helpful way to prepare for Confession. It’s adapted from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

I. I Am The Lord Your God, You Shall Have No Strange Gods Before Me Is God the top priority in my life? Have I treated people, events, or things as more important than God?

II. You Shall Not Take The Name Of The Lord Your God In Vain Do I use the name of Jesus in anger? Do I challenge others when they do so? Do I use my words to build people up or tear them down?

III. Keep Holy The Sabbath Do I go to Mass (outside the pandemic) at least every weekend? Do I keep the Holy Days of Obligation? Do I treat Mass as a burden or a gift? Do I rest on Sundays? IV. Honor Your Father And Mother Do I respect my parents and keep good communication with them? Do I care for them generously? V. You Shall Not Kill Have I harmed people emotionally, physically or verbally? Do I manipulate others? Do I deal with my anger in constructive ways? VI. You Shall Not Commit Adultery Do I respect the physical and sexual dignity of others? Do I use others for my own gratification? Do I honor the promises I have made to spouse? VII. You Shall Not Take Steal Do I take what does not belong to me? Do I waste time or resources, especially those that I owe to my employer? VIII. You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor

Do I lie, gossip or embellish? Do I tell stories to show how much I know about others? Do I mind my own business? IX. You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbor’s Spouse Have I honored my spouse with my full affection and exclusive love? Have I engaged in inappropriate relationships with others? X. You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbor’s Goods Am I content with everything God has given me or do I compare myself to others? Am I jealous? Do I inordinately pursue material goods and pleasures?

And here’s a link to a version that kids can use: https://bit.ly/3636CW8