St. Joseph Neier Catholic Church

St. Joseph's Neier Parish, Union MO

6 days ago

February 24, 2021

Hi everybody! This post will probably not be as joyful or pleasant as I would like it to be. If you recall before in prior statements, I said I would never tell anyone they could not attend mass when they came to church if they didn’t wear a mask, but now we have been mandated by the Archbishop to inform all parishioners that they MUST WEAR MASKS AT ALL TIMES during all public masses except when receiving communion. It doesn’t matter what municipality or county we live in, or what regulations that may exist in any of them, all Catholic churches are included in this mandate. Also, dine-in dinners and get-togethers are all prohibited. This is NOT a suggestion, it is a COMMAND. So I must take back my previous position and I will have to tell people to leave church if they do not wear a mask. Out of obedience to the Archbishop I will remove worshippers from church or not allow them inside if they do not wear a mask. If they take it off during mass, I will tell them to replace it. I’ve always tried to treat folks like the adults they are, but now I am in the position of being a policeman. Now, I do know this is not about me personally, but I’ll admit I am really sad about this, perhaps a bit angry. Think about it. We have been told to remove our holy water from the church entrances and baptismal fonts, the very sacramental that expels demons and renders profane things sacred. We have replaced it with bottles of hand sanitizer. I’ve seen people instinctively place their hands in our holy water fonts as they enter church only to find air and a sharp metal ring (I hope no one cuts their fingers on it). Our Lord’s precious blood has been off limits to communicants for almost a year now. We aren’t allowed to celebrate Anointing of the Sick masses because someone may get sick…really? The sacrament of Reconciliation (literally meaning “eyelash to eyelash” before God) has been relegated to six feet away between penitent and confessor, hardly a close encounter. Now, if someone wants to breathe air freely without any restriction in church, they are not allowed to do so. Proponents of these restrictions will cite safety as the main concern here. This is church and worship of God. Faith should be our main concern here, and I just hope and pray God forgives us for the things we have placed in front of Him. I read somewhere?? that we may as well place bottles of hand sanitizer, face masks, and plates of “Plexiglas” on our altars instead of bread and wine, and consecrate them, because these are the things we are worshipping today. My dear people, these are, indeed, strange and faith-challenging times, for me too! Pray and meditate on the situation in which we presently find ourselves. If you care to respond or express yourself, come by the rectory, call me, or drop me a note in the mail or drop it by the office. BUT.. Please DON’T LEAVE A COMMENT on this Facebook page because other followers may not fully understand our full meaning and intention. Everyone will appreciate that!

Okay, despite all this, may we together have a blessed and glorious Lent. God Bless St. Joseph Parish!

Thank you,
Fr. Tom

Also...
Next weekend, March 6th and 7th, we will host a missionary priest from the FOOD FOR THE POOR organization. They are a religious group whose mission is just what their name implies. He will celebrate all masses that weekend and I will be away from Friday morning, March 5th through Tuesday afternoon, March 9th. There WILL be Stations of the Cross on that Friday evening at 7:00pm. Please welcome him and be generous to this great charity. The priest will tell you much more when he comes. Thank you! ...