Category: 2020 News

 

SCRANTON – As many parishes in the Diocese of Scranton faced declining financial contributions due to public Masses being suspended, several turned to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for help.

Some recipients of PPP loans say between the drop in Sunday Mass offertory and Holy Week collections at Easter, in addition to the cancellation of major fundraising events, keeping all of their employees on payroll would not have been possible without the aid of PPP loans. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations of the Church and the economy and its long-term impact on parish operations remains uncertain for the foreseeable future. They stress the loans allowed them to protect jobs and continue vital human services across all 11 counties in the diocese.

The federal program was established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide loans to small businesses to guarantee eight weeks of payroll-related costs and other defined non-payroll costs to help those businesses remain viable and allow their workers to pay their bills. The PPP loan program was developed as part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by President Trump in the spring.

Businesses and all religious entities that have 500 or fewer employees were able to apply for loans.

In the Diocese of Scranton, the program helped not only parishes, but schools and social service agencies continue their critical ministries as the region struggled with the coronavirus and various stay-at-home restrictions.

The Diocese of Scranton itself applied for and received a PPP loan of $1.2 million which was used to fund payroll-related costs for employees. Prior to receiving the loan, the diocese had announced furloughs for more than two dozen administrative staff members in March. The federal money enabled the diocese to rescind those furlough notices, in addition to keeping other employees on the payroll to provide support to parishes and those in-need in our community.

In addition to the Diocese of Scranton itself, to date, 92 other diocesan entities have received loans totaling $10 million. Those entities include:

• Catholic Social Services
• 72 parishes
• 19 Catholic Schools

Parishes, schools and charitable organizations, such as Catholic Social Services, are separate legal entities from the Diocese of Scranton. They are like any other small business that employs local people, provides healthcare and supports the community. As such, each entity needed to apply for PPP loans individually and many received diocesan support and guidance in doing so.

The loans helped Catholic Social Services continue providing meals and shelter to vulnerable and at-risk members of the community, regardless of religious beliefs. For example, during only the months of April and May 2020, when the PPP loan money was available, the Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre served 9,676 meals. During that same time period, the three homeless shelters in the Diocese of Scranton combine to provide 2,149 individual nights of emergency shelter to people in need. The impact of those federal dollars played a tremendous role in maintaining Catholic Social Services’ ability to continue its mission.

The drop in Sunday Mass offertory at parishes also put a strain on parishes’ ability to support Catholic education and the Diocese of Scranton Catholic School System. Tuition-alone does not cover the cost of operations.

Immediately upon the closure of Pennsylvania schools, the Diocese of Scranton Catholic School System transitioned to distance learning on the next school day. Monies from the PPP loan allowed the Diocese to keep hundreds of teachers employed and students learning during the pandemic.

Each parish made its own decision about whether to pursue federal assistance. While 72 parishes received loans, 46 others did not apply. The amount of loans for parishes that received funding varied widely based on payroll amounts and need. For example, one parish in Wayne County only requested and received a loan for less than $1,300.

In a May 20, 2020 article with Catholic News Service, Patrick Markey, executive director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, discussed the importance of the PPP loans.

“This was payroll protection, not church protection, not business protection. For small organizations – parishes, churches, synagogues are small organizations – they could apply for funding based on their payroll,” he said.

In short, Markey said, “this money went where it was supposed to go.”

No PPP loan money was used to fund the Independent Survivors Compensation Program for survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the Diocese of Scranton.

 

 

 

 

WILLIAMSPORT – “International students including myself never budgeted for a summer on campus.”

Those few words of Nidhee Seernaum concisely sum up his current plight and that of 27 foreign counterparts who find themselves still on campus at Lycoming College in Williamsport.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, the so-called “stranded students” at Lycoming began to suffer a somewhat lesser-known symptom brought on by the COVID-19 health crisis – hunger.

The global pandemic delivered a “gut punch” to the 28 international students when they realized they could not just simply “go home” like their fellow collegians, as the coronavirus spread with a vengeance forcing the long-term closure of colleges and universities around the country.

International travel restrictions forced the foreign students to remain in the middle of Pennsylvania, including Seernaum, a native of the tiny island nation of Mauritius, situated off the west coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

Lycoming College responded to housing needs free of charge for their “stranded students,” but when the school’s cafeteria service closed on June 1 a stomach-churning reality set in. Most campus jobs had not reopened yet and spending money for students became harder to come by.  A food pantry was reactivated in the Academic Center’s Student Hub, but could not fully cater to the students’ dietary needs, including strict guidelines followed by those who practice the Muslim faith.

Fortunately, the crisis came to the attention of Father Bill Corcoran, pastor of nearby Saint Boniface Parish who also serves as the college’s chaplain. The students’ dire situation hit home with Father Corcoran, who knows full well about being a foreigner in a foreign land. For three years during the early 1990s, the priest served in a Vatican appointment as regional director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine based in Amman, Jordan.

“I heard of the ‘stranded students’ through a professor of biology who is a parishioner (of mine),” Father Corcoran said. “I was shocked to hear that students were still living on campus, unable to go home. The school had nicely given them rooms and stretched the cafeteria closing date, but their conditions were rough.”

As Father explained, the college was supplying basic food stuffs through a pantry; however, the students were still struggling.

That’s when the parishioners of Saint Boniface came to the rescue. After speaking with Lycoming Dean of Students Dan Miller, Father Corcoran arranged for the church to donate a $100 Wegmans gift card to each of the 28 students. “The cards seemed ideal,” he said, “because each student then had the dignity of choosing his or her style of food.”

Extolling the compassion of his flock, Father Corcoran continued, “I was thrilled with our parish’s interest, though many were surprised that so many foreign students live in Williamsport. They were very interested in their backgrounds and couldn’t imagine the loneliness and boredom the students were facing.”

Not surprisingly, the students’ grateful reaction has been palpable.

“As a stranded student on campus away from home and family, this gift card didn’t only help me financially, but it also faded the feeling of alienation and loneliness I had,” said Aseel Tork, a political science major from Palestine. “It opened my eyes to a great community we have here in Williamsport.”

The Lycoming co-ed related how the generosity brought the students closer together as they used the gift cards to buy groceries and cook each other cuisines from around the world. “This made our summer nights glorious,” she said.

Seernaum’s fellow countryman from Mauritius, Vishesh Ram, a chemistry major at Lycoming, said, “The Wegmans card came as a blessing, given that work was scarce and we needed groceries. Thank you!”

Father Corcoran and his caring parishioners aren’t quite done yet. This Sunday, July 19, Saint Boniface will host a barbecue outing for the students on the church grounds, complete with a multitude of picnic foods.

“Most of the students’ families are not even of middle-class means, which is why several of the students needed scholarships to attend college,” Father Corcoran added. “Many come from countries severely hit by COVID, and some have had their family bank accounts frozen.”

He also related that these international students lost a great deal of money when they were able to begin their sojourns back to their native lands, only to have to return to America when they encountered further travel bans along the way.

“We will be forever grateful to Saint Boniface Church for this act of kindness,” Seernaum offered. “I felt supported and less lonely during such a chaotic moment away from home. I was able to buy nutritious food to get me through the break, instead of going for cheaper products to make ends meet.”

 

 

MOOSIC – The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may have thrown a curveball into traditional graduation plans for students at Holy Redeemer High School but it didn’t result in a strikeout.

On Wednesday, July 8, the Class of 2020 officially graduated at PNC Field, receiving diplomas after traveling down the first-base line and crossing a stage set up near home plate.

“I’m a softball player so I think it’s pretty cool that we get to graduate on a baseball field. I’m okay with the way things turned out,” graduate Meredythe Baird said. “We did miss out on a lot, that’s the nature of the (COVID-19) disease.”

A total of 114 students received diplomas during the 75-minute ceremony. In order to follow recommended guidelines for social distancing, graduates sat in several rows between the first-and-third base lines.

Graduate Joseph Delaney, who plans to go onto Mansfield University and study sports communication, was excited when he first learned that he would be graduating at PNC Field.

“I grew up at the baseball field learning things about sports, always wanting to become a commentator, and even doing little league color commentary at times. It’s definitely going full circle for me,” the 18-year-old student said.

Delaney admits he didn’t even know what graduation would look like at first during the height of the coronavirus.

“This year has been crazy. Honestly, it’s a little surreal that we’re finally able to graduate because it has been a rollercoaster of emotions,” he said.

While admitting that he was excited to get to see the Class of 2020 on the big screen at the stadium, Delaney said the most important thing was that his classmates got to come together one last time.

“We had surveys. They kept asking us ‘what do you really want,’ and the main thing I said is we wanted it to be in person, we wanted to be with everybody,” he explained.

Holy Redeemer principal Doreen Dougherty said administrators worked extremely hard to listen to what was important to both students and families.

“We did four separate Zoom conferences with all of our seniors invited to participate. We then had four separate Zoom conferences so all of our parents and guardians had the opportunity to weigh in as well. The input from those conferences helped us develop a survey to our senior class and invited them to finalize their thoughts as far as what they wanted Baccalaureate and Commencement to look like,” Dougherty said.

In addition to graduation being a special occasion for students, Dougherty added that it was also special for seven faculty members who retired at the end of the year after decades of combined service.

The valedictorian of the Holy Redeemer Class of 2020 is Brandon Gebenus of Wilkes-Barre. The salutatorian is Marissa Jason of Wilkes-Barre Township. Both addressed their fellow graduates during the graduation ceremony.

At the beginning of his speech, Gebenus discussed the coronavirus, encouraging his fellow graduates to remain strong, courageous and not be afraid.

“We all will have sad and challenging times to go through. The important thing is for us to stay strong and to keep faith in God’s love for us. We must allow God to guide our actions here on earth so we can make the world a better place and so we may somebody share eternal happiness with God in heaven,” he said.

As a graduating class born in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, Gebenus stressed the Class of 2020 is destined for greatness because of the values learned at Holy Redeemer.

“We are a graduating class that knows now more than ever how much the world needs unity. We are a class that knows the importance of involvement in social, church, and community services. We are a class that knows we each have the responsibility as citizens of the United States of America to exercise our right to vote. We are a class that knows we have the power to help end racial discrimination and lead the efforts to combat disease, poverty and climate change,” he added.

During her salutatorian address, Jason looked towards the future but also reflected on her high school experience.

“Holy Redeemer teaches far more than academics. In that building, you learn kindness, faith, altruism, and how to have a little fun in class. Holy Redeemer has provided us with the academic, social and spiritual tools we need to thrive,” she said.

At the conclusion of the graduation ceremony students got to participate in the traditional cap toss because administrators ordered each student a second cap that wouldn’t need to be retrieved so that no one intentionally broke social distancing guidelines during the pandemic.

“It’s not every day you get to have a graduation at a place like this,” graduate Jack Daoud of Wilkes-Barre said. “We’re just blessed!”

Daoud plans to study architectural engineering at Penn State in the fall. He said he was excited to graduate at PNC Field. While he is a Mets fan, not a Yankees fan, he said that didn’t dampen the excitement.

“I remember growing up, playing baseball, how much fun I had. It’s awesome it came full circle and I get to graduate here. It’s definitely a unique experience,” Daoud added.

Following their high school career, a total of 99 graduates will be attending a four-year college or university, including 35 who will be pursuing higher education at a Catholic college or university. Eight students plan to attend a two-year college, four will enter the work force and three will be entering military service.

The Holy Redeemer Class of 2020 received a total of 474 scholarships, earning more than $26 million.

 

MUNCY (July 3, 2020) – The pastor of Church of the Resurrection, Muncy, is currently in self-quarantine after possible exposure to COVID-19. Father Glenn E. McCreary, V.E., is currently reporting mild symptoms and has undergone a coronavirus test. Test results are expected back by early next week.

This notification is being sent to parishioners and the community as a precautionary measure while test results are pending, in an effort to mitigate any further exposure.

The last time Father McCreary celebrated Mass publicly was Sunday, June 28, 2020. Anyone who has recently attended Mass at Church of the Resurrection is encouraged to pay close attention to any potential symptoms and contact their health care provider if warranted.

There will be no public Masses or the Sacrament of Reconciliation at Church of the Resurrection until further notice. The Church will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Information on when the parish will reopen will be communicated at the appropriate time.

Father McCreary is a member of the Diocese of Scranton’s Task Force which helped to develop diocesan directives for the resumption of public Masses. Father McCreary has followed all directives during the public celebration of Masses, including wearing a face mask during the distribution of Holy Communion and limiting church occupancy to 25-percent of seating capacity.

We pray for Father McCreary’s health and all who are sick, and we pray for the health and safety of our parishioners, their families and communities.

All of the liturgical directives in the Diocese of Scranton, put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, are available at www.dioceseofscranton.org.

 

SCRANTON – Saying that the entire Church of Scranton rejoices for their selfless gift of service to God, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera ordained three men to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Saint Peter on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

The Mass was invitation-only in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was broadcast live at 10 a.m. on CTV: Catholic Television and hundreds of other people watched a livestream on the Diocese of Scranton’s website and social media channels.

Called forth to the priesthood were Jonathan P. Kuhar, 36, of Mountain Top; Kevin M. Miller, 55, of Wilkes-Barre; and Shawn M. Simchock, 44, of Hazleton.

“I don’t even know how to begin to describe it,” Father Kevin M. Miller said immediately following the Ordination Mass. “It is overwhelming joy, joy of the Lord, joy of all the people.”

Each new priest has spent years preparing for the priesthood spiritually and academically.

“It has been a long road and I’m so happy to be here,” Father Jonathan P. Kuhar said, slightly lifting his vestment in amazement. “I’m still coming to terms with it. It’s great.”

“It has been a glorious day. It’s so exciting and there are so many emotions on my mind but it feels wonderful and I’m just excited to go to work for the people of God,” Father Shawn M. Simchock said.

Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus, family and friends of the new priests were able to socially distance themselves in the Cathedral for the celebration. Everyone in attendance also wore masks to follow diocesan guidelines.

“We gather in a very unusual way,” Bishop Bambera said during his homily. “Jonathan, Kevin and Shawn, you are entering priestly ministry at a crucial time in the life of our Church and our world. We’ve been buffeted by the harsh winds of a global pandemic that has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and here at home. It has stolen our peace and well-being and become a source of fear and anxiety.”

Despite the challenges of the coronavirus and racism, the bishop said the Ordination Mass and celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Orders should bring hope.

“You take your place today among a myriad of faithful servants called forth by God to bring healing and hope to brothers and sisters who are overwhelmed by sin and suffering,” the bishop said. “The Spirit of the Lord God rests this day upon you, just as it rested upon Isaiah, Peter and Paul. As their words have echoed God’s healing touch, so too will yours, if you hold onto the treasure of God’s love.”

The bishop’s touched each of the new priests deeply.

“I hope God’s grace works in my heart and that I’m receptive to receiving that grace all the days of my life” Father Kuhar said.

During his homily, Bishop Bambera also explained the sacred role priests play in the Church.

“While it is true that God has made his entire people a royal priesthood in Christ, Jesus chooses certain disciples to carry out publicly in His name, a priestly office in the Church. Today brothers, He calls you to that office. He calls you to shepherd His people in a unique way, patterned on his own life of service and sacrifice,” the bishop said.

Kuhar, Miller and Simchock said they are each ready to follow Jesus’ example as a teacher, priest and shepherd.

“Always remember, when you teach in the name of Christ the Teacher – when you work for justice, truth and freedom – when you gather others into the Church through Baptism – when you forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Church – when you comfort the sick and the dying – when you serve the poor – and when you celebrate the sacraments and particularly the Sacrifice of Christ in the Eucharist – you are both a servant of the Church and a member of the People of God. Remember, then, that while you are appointed to act on behalf of the Christian faithful for those things that pertain to God, you – like all of us – are in need of God’s continued presence, life and mercy,” Bishop Bambera added.

During the Ordination Mass, Father Miller said he felt the goodwill and prayers of people across the Diocese of Scranton.

“The well wishes, the prayers that have come in, the Masses that have been said … I felt every single one of them with me here today, especially those members of my family and friends that have departed,” Father Miller said.

In between being asked for blessings after Mass, Father Simchock shed a few tears as he discussed the significance of the day.

“They are tears of joy. It’s just such a joyful moment right now. It’s a lot to absorb. It really is,” Father Simchock explained.

Moving forward, Father Simchock will now serve as Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Lake Silkworth, and Saint Faustina Kowalska Parish, Nanticoke.

Saying that he already spent two summers at Saint Faustina Kowalska Parish, Father Simchock said, “I know the people. I love the people there.”

Father Kuhar has been assigned to serve as Assistant Pastor at Saint John Neumann Parish in Scranton.

“I was there the last two summers as a seminarian, last summer as a deacon and the summer before that. It’s a great parish. I know a lot of people over there already so I’m really excited to jump into it. Father Michael Bryant and Sister Suzie Armbruster form a great pastoral team and the parishioners are just so open and wonderful and generous and giving so I’m really looking forward to getting started,” Father Kuhar said.

Father Miller will begin his ministry as Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Saint Rose of Lima Parish, both in Carbondale.

“What a blessing. I had such a great time there last summer. I’m so looking forward to working with Father Walsh. I’m looking forward to being a part of that community that has grown to occupy a place in my heart that I will cherish forever. I’m sure no priest ever forgets his first assignment and the nice thing is I’m going into it able to hit the ground running knowing so many people and being so blessed,” Father Miller explained.

A recording of the Ordination Mass remains available for the public to view on the Diocese of Scranton website at www.dioceseofscranton.org.

 

SCRANTON – More than  23,000 parishioners and friends contributed to the 2019 Diocesan Annual Appeal: Serving in Faith with Hope and Gratitude raising $4,117,000 in gifts and pledges for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Thirty-seven parishes surpassed their parish goal for the Annual Appeal. A final Appeal report listing all parish results is included in the June 25^th edition of The Catholic Light newspaper.

“I am grateful to everyone who donated to the Diocesan Annual Appeal and to our pastors, parish staffs and volunteers who join us in assisting the Diocese in this effort each year. This commitment to our local Church makes it possible for our Diocesan ministries to positively impact thousands of lives each year,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said. “The generosity of our parishioners is especially impactful at this time as our parishes and Diocese respond to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The 2019 Diocesan Annual Appeal surpassed last year’s totals of $3.74 million and 19,500 donors and reached 82% of the goal of $5 million.

Gifts to the Diocesan Annual Appeal support the following ministries:

• Catholic Social Services kitchens, food pantries, shelters, relief assistance and social justice efforts in our parishes that compassionately provide to those most in need in our community.
• Catholic education in our parishes and schools that prepare children for fulfilling, responsible and faith-centered lives.
• Support and care for our retired and ill  priests and for our seminarians preparing for the priesthood.
• Parish life, ministry and faith formation programs that strengthen our parish communities.
• Catholic communication programs that spread the Gospel and build up the body of Christ.

 

 

Calling all students in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades!

The Up & Over Junior High School Retreat is going virtual this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic! The retreat team has been working hard to take the best aspects of Up & Over and turn them into a virtual experience at home.

Once a student registers, they will get access to the virtual camp website where they will find a suggested schedule and videos from our team members walking them through each activity.

Resources needed for each activity will be mailed home, so a participant will have everything they need!

The Up & Over Junior High Retreat is open to students in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade during the 2019-2020 academic year.

The registration fee is $20 and includes access to the virtual camp website and mailed home resources.

For more information, contact Shannon Kowalski at shannon-kowalski@dioceseofscranton.org or visit: https://www.dioceseofscranton.org/parish-life/word/youth-ministry/up-over-jr-high-retreat-virtual-edition/ to register your child.

 

Safety measures to be emphasized during 96^th annual spiritual pilgrimage

SCRANTON – Even the Solemn Novena to Saint Ann cannot escape the unprecedented impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the rest of the world.

This summer’s annual Saint Ann Novena – the 96th consecutive in its storied history – will still be offered, but it promises to be a significantly scaled-back version of its original self.

Every mid-July for nearly a century, faithful followers of the venerated Saint are drawn by the thousands to the Catholic Church’s only national shrine and basilica church dedicated to the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus – located high atop the hill on Saint Ann Street in Scranton’s West Side.

Devotees of “Good Saint Ann” will once pilgrimage to their favorite destination next month; however, the annual ten-day religious experience will be like no other during the Solemn Novena, beginning on Friday, July 17, and continuing each day until the devotion’s faith-filled conclusion on the Feast of Saint Ann on Sunday, July 26.

According to Very Rev. Passionist Father Richard Burke, rector of the Saint Ann Passionist Monastery and director of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Ann, planning for the Solemn Novena has also required a great many conversations, discussions and decisions.

“This year, those consultations were multiplied by a factor of ten,” he said, referring to the worldwide COVID-19 health crisis.

Ultimately, the priest commented, the wearisome ride set in motion back in March led to this month’s upgrade in reopening allowances and a new set of precautionary guidelines from both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Scranton.

“After all, we decided that we could have an in-person Novena for a good number of people,” said Father Burke, who also serves as pastor of Saint Ann Basilica Parish.

The Passionist superior is encouraged by how well the first gatherings of prayer in three months have unfolded at the Basilica parish, indicating the popular weekly Monday Novena to Saint Ann resumed at the shrine on June 22.

“We have spent a great deal of time creating the changed atmosphere and schedule of services that will enable us all to pray fervently and pray safely during the Solemn Novena,” Father Burke said.

The changes that will be put in place to adhere to current restrictions and protocols for public gatherings include the required designation for seating to comply with social distancing guidelines. That translates into the Basilica now allowing a maximum of just 135 faithful at a time, where it normally can accommodate a congregation of nearly 1,000.

Hand-sanitizing stations have been installed throughout, and congregants are requested to enter the Basilica through one front door and leave by way of an “exit only” door.

Other noticeable changes for the 2020 Solemn Novena are as follows:

All Masses and services will be held indoors, as opposed to the traditional practice of holding three of the five daily services outdoors.

Due to the need to sanitize the Basilica after each service, the 7:30 p.m. Mass and Novena service have been eliminated, except for the Solemn Closing of the Novena on the Feast of Saint Ann, when Bishop Joseph C. Bambera will celebrate the concluding liturgy on July 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Daily afternoon Eucharistic Adoration is cancelled, in order to properly sanitize after the 11:45 a.m. Mass and Novena, and all-night Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is suspended.

The Novena’s annual Healing Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and the Mass for children and grandparents will not be held.

Only a general blessing of the faithful with the relic of Saint Ann will be imparted. No individual blessings with the relic will be offered.

Traditional tents and chairs in the Basilica’s front parking lot will not be set up. Stay-in-your-vehicle parking will be available throughout the front and immediate back parking lots, with all services broadcast over a sound system that can be accessed through FM radio. Communion will be brought to those in their cars.

Holy Communion will be distributed at the very end of all Masses, and upon receiving, all communicants are required to leave by the exit door immediately.

Confessions will be available on a limited basis, with the sacrament being offered only every other day of the Novena. All confessions will be held for 45 minutes only in the Lower Basilica before the celebration of Masses and the 3:30 p.m. services. Social-distancing guidelines will be in place.

Unlike years past, the traditional Saint Ann Novena food stand will not be open on the Basilica grounds.

Protective facial masks/coverings are required of all those in attendance at all times, including inside the Basilica, in the confessionals, and within the Shrine Center.

Father Burke added that those attending the Novena will be allowed to sit on the many benches around the Basilica property, since they are spaced sufficiently to provide for safe social distancing.

“Our Saint Ann devotees will definitely notice the changes required for safety from the coronavirus,” Father said, emphasizing that although the faithful are gradually returning to church, the pandemic is still very present and must be respected. “We consider it a blessing that we are able to provide a safe environment for us to come together to pray to Saint Ann here at the Basilica. So long as we all maintain our vigilance, we will be able to pray fervently and safely together.”

He also referred to the recommendation of Bishop Bambera that the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions should consider remaining in the safety of their homes and participate in the Novena devotions through broadcasts by Catholic Television (CTV).

“The Solemn Novena in honor of Saint Ann evokes memories of parents, grandparents and cherished family traditions for so many people who participate each year,” Bishop Bambera remarked. “Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all faced many difficult and challenging days, but it our faith that gives us a reason to move forward in the midst of struggle.”