Message from the Archdiocese of Boston
March 13, 2020
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Boston, has made the decision effective immediately to TEMPORARILY SUSPEND ALL daily and Sunday Masses and religious services in the Archdiocese of Boston until further notice. This begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, March 14.
In announcing this decision, the Cardinal has also issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass during this time to the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Boston.
All Faith Formation, of all ages, is also to be suspended until further notice.
To read the messages from Cardinal Sean, please go to https://www.bostoncatholic.
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ON HEALING: ST. JULIA PARISH RESPONSE
To Our Parish Community:
Given the Archdiocese of Boston’s directives from Cardinal Sean, we regret that there will be no Mass or religious services until further notice, out of an abundance of caution to avoid spreading the current viral pandemic. Please refer to the Mass Schedule page of our website for any further changes and announcements that may not have been published in the latest parish bulletin before it was printed. All faith formation and large gatherings and events are also cancelled, including Café Julia gatherings which will resume in the fall.
It was especially difficult to have to re-schedule the Healing Service on Mar. 20th with Frank Kelly, but we are reminded by scriptures to be attentive to the physical infirmities that may afflict us. St. Paul preached to the Galatians while he was afflicted by a “bodily ailment” and also mentions that he had to leave his companion Trophimus in the town of Miletus because he was too sick to travel (2 Tim. 4:20). In his first letter to Timothy, St. Paul urges his young protégé to “no longer drink only water, but to use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Tim. 5:23). Notice that Paul does not tell Timothy to pray harder and have more faith that God will heal him from his stomach ailment. Rather, he tells him how to manage the illness through medicinal means.
So we take care not to infect others, we pray for ourselves and others in their suffering and we have faith in God’s promise of fullness of life. A spiritual healing can take place even if there are no physical signs of relief. Healing involves our whole person. Physical pain or illness may continue even as Jesus promises us fullness of life. We were created to be with God in fullness of life forever, this is God’s plan. Our prayers are always answered.
MAY GOD BLESS US ALL.
