Speaking on behalf of all the priests in the archdiocese of Los Angeles, in his weekly column published today, Archbishop José Gomez expressed his longing for the faithful during this Easter season, and acknowledged that although there might be frustration due to the extended quarantine and stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) this is a time to reflect on how God is calling us to show love for Him by serving our neighbors.
“In my own reflections I see God calling us, in a most dramatic way, to realize how much we need him, how we cannot live without him. But I also see God calling us to a deeper sense of solidarity, to realize that we are responsible for one another, that we depend on one another and we have to take care of one another,” said Archbishop Gomez in his column, “See how they love one another,” (Miren cómo se aman) .
Recalling how in the first century of Christianity, when plagues and pestilence overwhelmed the population, non-Christians marveled as they watched Christians show their charity and compassion to others.
“And it has been beautiful for me to witness so many of you showing your love for God by serving your neighbors in this time of crisis,” continued Archbishop Gomez. “Although our Catholic school buildings are closed, we are still educating tens of thousands of young people every day through distance learning. And we are feeding thousands of poor children every day, offering ‘grab and go’ meals at our schools. In the past month alone, we provided more than 300,000 meals.
“And although our church buildings are closed, our parishes remain ‘open.’ We are helping people in our food pantries and giving financial assistance to our neighbors who need food, clothing, and shelter. Our Hearts to Serve hotline is assisting hundreds or people seeking everything from help paying bills to mental health resources.”
Archbishop Gomez also acknowledged the “beautiful network of compassion” that has been formed between the archdiocese and agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, and Habitat for Humanity, and the archdiocesan Catholic Communication Collaboration.
He encouraged the faithful to intensify their prayers and to keep loving one another “in this time when faith is tested.”
Due to gathering and social distancing restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no media access at the cathedral. A feed of all services and events from the Cathedral will be provided via livestream. Masses are streamed live Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. in Spanish and 8 a.m. in English; and Sunday at 7 a.m. in Spanish and 10 a.m. in English.
The above comes from an April 22 release from the Los Angeles archdiocese.
Archbishop Gomez needs to take care of his flock. The sins that are committed in his Archdiocese spread across the country and the world. I know everybody wants to sit at the cool kids table but he needs to speak out against sin and error.
It is never permissible to do evil hoping good will come of it. Yes, good does come of it-that is the sole reason that God allows evil. But woe to the person who does evil and does not repent. More good will come from not doing evil and doing good.
If you want babies, marry. Don’t freeze your eggs. And don’t create children and then decide which of them look strongest and freeze them. Embryos are children. and of course, don’t kill your children at any stage of development.
Good advice, Anonymous. Hopefully Archbishop Gomez encourages good Catholic literature in his diocese that explains that those things are wrong. “Man does not live by bread alone,” as the Lord Jesus told us. We should do both — feed the soul and the body.
One problem is that some people do not like to read, even if they can, so such things need to be declared at times from the pulpit. Then if people do not listen, he will not be at fault, and they alone will bear their guilt.
In the first century we had clerics who were martyred for standing up to and defying the State, and yes some presumably out of fear who caved into the State’s demands. We need clerics today to do the former.
Amen, Del. Can you imagine St. Athanasius ordering his parishes closed and cowering in his office during a pandemic? The question answers itself. A strong, confident bishop would tell the Governor to his face that in light of the clear evidence that this pandemic is no more lethal than a bad flu, that he’s overstepped his rightful authority, that people have a God-given right to earn their daily bread and cannot be barred from doing so, and that people have a right to worship and receive the sacraments. He’d open his churches, and give his pastors broad leeway in how they choose to implement any safety measures, if any.
He would do exactly what the bishops today have done. He wasn’t stupid. I would love to watch him on YouTube. I do not know why but I keep getting impulses to pray for the intentions of Cardinals Sarah and Burke. And of course, please pray for a safe return to the sacraments for all of us who attend Mass weekly and all those who had been less faithful. To God be the glory.
Archbishop Gomez needs to earn our love by opening up all of the Archdiocese churches for EVERYONE who wants to attend Mass.