I’d like to share good news with you (we all need some!). We’ve figured out a way to make an improvement to our church building during this time. Click the title to read the article. / Comparto con ustedes buenas noticias (¡todos necesitamos algunas!). Hemos descubierto una forma de mejorar el edificio de nuestra iglesia durante este tiempo. Haga clic en el titulo para leer más.

Fr. Phil shares news about the Jesuits at St. Raphael and some thoughts for those of us who are "struggling with the present reality of so many having to go without receiving the sacraments of the Church, and being moved to say something more about that." / Padre Felipe comparte noticias sobre los Jesuitas en San Rafael y sus pensimientos para aquellos de nosotros que somos, "realmente están luchando con la realidad actual de que muchos tienen que irse sin recibir los sacramentos de la Iglesia."

Surely one of the struggles for most of us now is still adjusting to the fact that we’re having a “virtual” Triduum and Easter Sunday this week. The vast majority of you (and people around the world) won’t be able to come to the church building for these beautiful and powerful liturgies.  Let’s let ourselves feel what we feel about that: sad, frustrated, maybe even angry. And then let’s ask God to comfort and help us, and set our minds and hearts to how we can encounter him and connect with others this Holy Week. Below are some ideas from me, followed by more information on how you can be part of a Holy Week that is surely different - but may prove to surprise us with its blessings. Click the title to read the full article.

The time we’re in is hard, and the fact that we’re struggling is completely understandable. As I heard one of our leaders say recently, “It’s okay not to be okay.”  This is a time when we can be open to God leading us, as he did Fr. Ciszek, to give help to others when we can - and to ask for and receive help when we need it.  /Eso también es importante para nosotros escuchar. El tiempo en que estamos es difícil, y el hecho de que estamos luchando es completamente comprensible. Como escuché a uno de nuestros líderes decir recientemente: "Está bien no estar bien." Este es un momento en el que podemos estar abiertos a Dios guiándonos, como lo hizo el P. Ciszek, para ayudar a otros cuando podamos, y para pedir y recibir ayuda cuando la necesitemos.

Thanks for reading our new St. Raphael e-newsletter! I hope this is a good way we can stay in touch as a parish during this unusual time dealing with the coronavirus reality. This is a time of big challenges for all of us, to be sure. But as always, GOD IS WITH US. And with God’s help, this is also a time of opportunity.  Let me tell you a story about that from last weekend: ... click the title to read more.