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Our Lady of Consolation Church, Vattmann
March 25, 2020
Dear Brothers, Sisters and Children
Hi everyone! I hope you all are staying healthy at home and doing well. Thought of writing a few lines to share a couple
of thoughts and a few pieces of information.
1. Yesterday, March 25th, was the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. Let us pray through the intercession of our Blessed
Mother for an end to this Pandemic and for Peace in our world. Our blessed mother teaches us from her experience that resilience
is the need of the hour. Let us remain kind and empathetic to one another as our Mother at Cana where Jesus changed water
into wine at her request.
2. Yesterday was the 10th Anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of our Bishop, Most Rev. Michael Mulvey. Please say
a prayer for him and for our diocese.
3. One of our parishioners, Sister Mary Juliane Kuntscher, IWBS, sister of Joe Kuntscher, passed away last Sunday. Please
pray for the repose of her soul. Her funeral took place yesterday. May her soul Rest in Peace.
4. Holy Father Pope Francis has announced an hour of universal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday, March 27.
In our church it will be at 12 noon on the same day.
5. Please thank the Medical and First Responder Heroes using social media platform.
6. Ami Flannery, our parish secretary, started working from home from yesterday till further notice. Her contact number
is
(907) 598-3229. She works on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
7. I remember each of you and pray for your intentions in the Mass I celebrate every day and during the Holy Hour praying
Divine Mercy chaplet.
8. Call me if I can help you in any way. Contact numbers: Office: (361) 297-5255. Cell (361)738-9988.
9. We are trying the possibility to live stream our daily Mass, Adoration and Divine Mercy Chaplet. If it is possible,
we will let you know the time and other details.
10. Parents and children are experiencing a new way of schooling. I can't imagine how much the children miss their teachers
and friends at school. I pray for patience for the parents. Hope the children are having fun.
11. As a parish we are missing a sense of community because we are not able to do community worship and other community
activities. Please continue to be united in prayer making your home the domestic church. You and your families especially
the home bound and elders of our community are fondly remembered during the Mass I celebrate daily. I miss you in the church.
For me it is difficult to celebrate Mass without our parishioners in the church. Please pray for me too.
12. Last but not the least. It seems we are going through our Good Friday meaning to say through suffering, fear, anxiety,
depression, panicking and insecurity. Life is not easy these days. But we believers in Jesus knowing that the greater is coming.
Easter Sunday of glory is not far away. The sufferings don't come to stay. They come to pass.
Paul tells us that the afflictions are for a moment. They are working in us an eternal way of glory. Stay focused on this
glory.
Just stay in faith, keep an attitude of faith and go through it. Stay in hope. This suffering is a test. It is an opportunity
to show God that we are not going to get discouraged. We are not going to give upon our dreams, not to lose our passion. The
trouble is temporary and the glory is permanent. If you keep the right perspective God himself will restore you. There is
a reward for going through difficulties with good attitudes.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, remember every set back is a set up for God to take us further.
I recommend that you read and study the scriptures in a new way. Let us learn to celebrate life in a new way.
Let us be hopeful that we will rise from the ashes of this adversity together with the Triune God, the Father, son and
the Holy Spirit at our side.
Thank you. I pray that the abundant blessings of God be upon each one of you and your families.
Fr. Varghese K. Ethappiri,
Pastor
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