Whether you have been a part of St. Peter's Parish Family for a few months or many years, your presence has left a unique mark on the life of our church. During this past year, we've missed seeing you and we're excited to welcome you back and build an even stronger parish community!
As we begin to return to normal, we will cherish all the opportunities for community and fellowship that we will be blessed to share with one another.
As the pandemic subsides, and public gathering restrictions and safety protocols are lifted, it is time to gather as the Body of Christ once again. Therefore, the bishops and diocesan administrators of the Minnesota Catholic Conference have decided to reinstate the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation beginning the weekend of July 3-4, 2021.
Even after that time, there remains reasons why a Catholic has a dispensation from the Sunday obligation, including when he or she is ill or serving as caretaker for one who cannot attend Mass. The faithful who do not attend Mass in person are asked to find a Mass on TV, the radio or online and make a Spiritual Communion. Where that is not an option, it would be appropriate to pray the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary.
Read about this decision, and find examples of special circumstances when a dispensation would still apply, in recent letters from Archbishop Hebda and the Minnesota bishops.
For we are Created for Communion. That is, we are created for communion with each other, and we are created for Holy Communion, “the source and summit of the Christian Life.” (CCC 1324)
We are created for fellowship. Just as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have a living union, so are we created to reflect their union in our relationships with others. It is through our relational nature that we recognize our vocations and grow in love and holiness.
We are created for the Eucharist. While livestreaming, watching Mass on TV, and listening to it on the radio have been suitable ways to celebrate the Lord’s Day when we could not come together in person and will continue to have their place, they lack one key piece: Jesus Himself. During the holy sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus Christ becomes truly present in the Eucharist. The bread and wine are not simply signs that lead us to Christ, but completely transform into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.