Celebration of Sacraments

Dear Friend,

Peace and all good be yours!

Last weekend’s celebration of Confirmations and First Communions brought such joy and spirit to the Mission. Many out of town guests and family members were able to join us under the beautiful Santa Barbara sky. Speaking as Pastor, it was a great sign that our life and growth as a community continues, even in the face of the many challenges of the COVID pandemic.

The celebrations were especially important as a reminder that SACRAMENT is a distinguishing feature of our Roman Catholic vision of the world. What we long for and dearly miss in sacraments forms a large part of the difficulty and even the communal pain we’ve felt in making the sacrifice of quarantine and social distancing during the time of the COVID pandemic over these past months. We Catholics are a people of touch, taste, smell, and physical community! Saturday was a time of hope and a small step toward the reactivation of the more familiar experience of sacrament and the unique and graced encounter that God provides through them. 

As we move ahead in this new phase of our liturgical life, we continue to look for affordable ways to provide shade for the assembly at our outdoor Masses. It hasn’t been easy. For now, bring a “pop-up” if you can. 

Our liturgical ministers – ushers and greeters in particular – will be working on our behalf to ensure that social distancing, face coverings, and safe movement and processions are more visibly part of our assembly. Because we are a people “set on a hill” like the Gospel light that cannot be hidden, we have a special responsibility to model good and safe COVID conduct for all who walk or drive past us as we celebrate our sacramental life in the Lord!

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan, ofm