By Bishop Robert J. Baker

It is regrettable that large gatherings are prohibited in the State of Alabama because of the coronavirus, but understandable, due to the risk factors involved.

One of our diocesan priests has contracted the virus. � e Archbishop of New Orleans has tested positive. And a priest laboring in the Brooklyn diocese has died a� er contracting the virus.

It is medically and logically advisable to stay at home and away from crowds until the risk factors are eliminated.

All who cannot be at holy Mass physically can still be present spiritually by joining in a Mass that is televised or live-streamed from our cathedral or parish churches.

Holy Week services at the Cathedral of St. Paul will be live-streamed through our diocesan website. � e schedule is published on page 3.

� e longing for the Eucharist that good Catholics have is a re� ection of their deep faith in the Lord of the Eucharist.

My friend, Mother Elvira Petrozzi, foundress of the Cenacolo Community in 1983 in Saluzzo, Italy, which has helped thousands of young men and women struggling with addictions back to recovery says: “You have to eat three times a day for your body. You have to eat three times a day for your soul as well.”

Conscious of the spiritual needs of our people, I sent a memo to priests, deacons, and others who minister in the diocese earlier this week appealing to them to consider distributing Communion in an appropriate way on Holy

� ursday – being careful to observe proper hygiene given our present circumstances. Since then, I have heard arguments for and against this initiative (some of which were even presented in a respectful manner), and have ultimately decided that it is best to delay it a bit longer. It seems that scientists do not yet agree on whether the virus can be passed through the air. As long as the virus is still so prevalent (it has not yet peaked in Alabama) and we do not yet have clear answers on such weighty issues, I now judge it best that we revisit the possibility of distributing Holy Communion a� er Easter.

I do wonder, though, what the history books will say about this crisis decades from now. During past pandemics that a� icted Western society, the Church was found on the front line – not only in attending to the physical needs of her people, through her hospitals and works of charity, but also – and more importantly – by attending to their spiritual needs, � nding creative ways still to administer the sacraments even amidst prudent restrictions. I again commend all the priests in our diocese who are � nding safe, appropriate, and creative ways to hear confessions (e.g., outside, in drive-up arrangements, with social distancing) and who are taking appropriate risks to anoint the sick and otherwise assist people spiritually. We are body and soul; while our bodies will die and decay in spite of all the attention we give them, ultimately to be raised again, yet our souls will never die – they will live forever. And how our souls will live forever – whether in heaven or in hell – is a most serious question. It is a mistake for us practically to obsess over the

body and to sideline our souls.But this is what has happened. In many

places, the various “lockdown” ordinances explicitly or implicitly treat the Church as a “non-essential service.” People still have the freedom to get their oil changed and go through fast food drive-thrus; moreover, much to our shame, in some places, even abortion clinics and marijuana shops are included on the “essential” list. Our society has forgotten about the human soul and about what we could call its “collective soul” – namely, the Judaeo-Christian spirit that once ordered it more fully to God. � e clergy have a duty to speak out about this, but not only – lay people need to raise their voices in their own spheres of in� uence, even (and especially) in times of crisis, and � ght to defend the rights of God and the rights of their own souls. Creativity is not only for the clergy during this time.

One alternative for the Holy � ursday celebration is for the priest carrying the Blessed Sacrament at the end of Mass to exit the front of the church, with the bells ringing, and bless any of the faithful gathered there - six feet apart - as well as the entire population of the local community.

We were all moved to participate in Pope Francis’ recent Urbi et Orbi blessing, as he held up the Most Blessed Sacrament over an empty St. Peter’s Square and blessed us and the whole world. We join our prayers to his and ask the Lord to guide us, as to how we can bring his blessings more fully to our community.

I welcome any further suggestions you may have.Fo

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Vol. 50Vol. 50No. 14No. 14

Catholic Charities

Appeal updatePage 12

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

Eucharistic Adoration SchedulePage 11

(One Voice photo/Mary D. Dillard)

Remote learning continues for

diocesan schoolsPage 2

2020 cc prayer front final 7-19-19.pdf 1 7/19/19 12:38 PM

Cardinal Burke urges 'necessity' of prayer during coronavirus pandemic

God, our loving Father, send Your Holy Spirit upon us this Lenten

Season to awaken in us an awareness of Your divine presence in our lives, guiding us to holiness of life.

Help us to avoid anything that would not please You or bring You greater honor and glory.

Separate us from the power of Satan and all forces of evil within and without us.

Eradicate every form of sin and evil from us by the power of Your grace that comes to us through the Passion and Death of Jesus.

Lead us, by Your Holy Spirit, to Holy Week and Easter, renewed as faithful disciples of Your Divine Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and make us joyful messengers and missionaries of Your Holy Gospel.

� rough Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Lenten Season

Longing for the

EUCHARIST