Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I’m sure you are aware that Governor Abbot has decreed churches as an essential “business”. It makes sense. We can go to the doctor for our physical needs; we can go to a therapist for our emotional needs; and we can now go to a church for our spiritual needs. Body, mind and soul make up the whole of the person. Cardinal DiNardo issued an updated letter last evening allowing us to open a part of our churches once more for prayer. And so, effective immediately, I am very happy to announce that we are reopening the Reservation Chapel. We ask that you be conscious of physical distancing while in the chapel and that you be aware that no more than 10 people may gather at any one time. If you arrive to pray and see that there are already 10 people in the chapel, please exit and wait until someone leaves. The Marian Garden would be a wonderful place to wait in prayer. If you feel comfortable wearing a mask, then know that you can wear it in the chapel as well. One of our hand sanitizer “kiosks” will be appropriately placed in the chapel for your use. Let us continue to fight against this pandemic through prayer and practical means.
It’s time to prepare for Holy Week. This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, traditionally known as “Palm Sunday”. Because the order is still in place not allowing large gatherings of people, after consultation, it has been decided not to distribute palm branches at this time. There were a variety of creative ways that were brought to the table, but each way hit a roadblock. Our ultimate concern was how to distribute palms in a safe way, how to keep them from blowing all over the parking lot and the palms sanitized, while keeping the ministers protected. And, we have directives not to allow people to congregate, even in their cars. We envisioned a line of cars snaking through the parking lot for people coming to receive a palm branch. There is a discussion going on throughout all of the USA regarding this. One voice spoke up and said, “Friends, this is a SACRAMENTAL, similar to a holy card. Why are we discussing this when people have been deprived of the SACRAMENTS?” What a great question! And so, after lots of discussion we arrived at a consensus for us at St. Ignatius of Loyola. The decision was made that we would hold the palms until the community can gather again. Then, we will bless them and distribute them. Remember that the palms are a sign of triumph and victory. The people of Jerusalem greeted Jesus, the Son of David, as Messiah – the one who would triumph over evil, over sin and over death. What a marvellous sign it will be for us to gather, waving our palm branches together in community to greet the Lord in our midst after we triumph over this pandemic! BUT, the symbol of the palms should be used this Sunday. What is everyone on Sunday, April 5^th in the morning, puts a branch on their door or in their window to celebrate Palm Sunday? It could be any green branch you can get – maybe a sego palm, elephant ears, branches from a crepe myrtle tree, etc. – anything green. Tie a red ribbon on it and hang it. Mark your house with branches and let the world know that you are a Christian. Matthew 21:8 states: The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. By you marking your home with cut branches from trees, you will bring alive the message that the Messiah has come. I’ve attached a picture for you with ideas.
I want to direct you to a new feature on our website, Faith@Home. While working from home and holding meetings via Zoom, the formation team has put together many ideas on how to live out Holy Week this year. There are many ideas in English and in Spanish on how you, as a family and as individuals, can bring alive the mysteries we celebrate during Holy Week and Easter. There are even videos there for you to watch and put into practice.
          We continue to live stream our daily Mass at 9:00 am, Mass on Sundays at 11:00 am and the Spanish Mass at 1:00 pm via Facebook. We have begun sending out a PDF of the worship aid for the Masses via Flocknote. You are invited to print the worship aid and have it ready for full, active and conscious participation in praying Holy Mass. We also continue with praying the Angelus and the Holy Rosary at 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday, as well as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday. On Fridays at 3:00 pm we will live stream the Stations of the Cross. I’ve once more attached the downloadable PDF of the stations to pray along with us at home.
Since we are faced with the difficult decision to suspend the public celebration of Masses, you are encouraged to consider online giving to continue your faithful donations to the parish. Please consider using our online giving option, https://membership.faithdirect.net/TX134. You may also donate via texting any amount to 281-801-4940. Lastly, if you prefer, you may also mail your check donation to the parish offices, 7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, TX 77379. Your contributions assure that we will not only be able to minister during this time but will be here when the pandemic has past allowing us to gather again. Many are choosing to give, and I am edified and grateful. If you are financially unable to give at this time, know that your prayers are important and needed.
The Outreach department, with the assistance of a group of volunteers, is reaching out on my behalf to check on all of our parishioners. They have reached out via phone or email to over 2100 registered households. If your phone number has changed or your email has changed you are encouraged to let us know so we can be in touch beyond this pandemic. If you find that you are in a need of some kind or know someone that is in need, please call the Outreach Department directly 281-290-4606. Ascención Amado, the director, will return your call if she is on another line.
While we are at home, I want to bring to your attention that the US Census is underway. It’s important that everyone be counted at this time. The citizens in the State of Texas are lagging behind in being counted. Remember that the number of Representatives in Congress is based on this census. Federal funding to our area is based on the census. And, the census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2. Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners, and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions. The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children. The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. I invite you to visit www.my2020census.gov for more information and to be counted.
Remember, Jesus died for you to redeem you by His blood and to free you from sin. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, so that we might have life. This week as we approach Easter Sunday, how can you thank God for dying for you? Think about how you can honor and remember His sacrifice in the coming days. Even in these unprecedented circumstances, we can live Holy Week with our eyes turned to God. Spend some time in prayer and thank God for the life he's given you. Be assured of my prayers as well as Fr. Justin’s. May God keep us all safe.
Continue to watch for more Flocknotes to come. Our Formation Team is keeping that little sheep busy!  
Blessings for peace and good health,
Fr. Norbert
 
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to our aid!
 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In my promise to keep you updated, I bring this latest news to you. I keep praying that a drooping spirit will be uplifted by the Holy Spirit. And even though things may be beyond my control, I want you to know that I trust implicitly that God is in our midst and will see us through.
As you know, Harris County issued a work from home mandate that went into effect midnight, March 25, 2020. The mandate had specific provisions for churches. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, in consultation with lawyers, has determined the mandate to mean that faith leaders may minister and counsel in individual settings, so long as physical distance protocols are followed. This indicates that individual Confessions may continue by appointment only for those who are gravely ill. In his homily of March 20, 2020, Pope Francis reminded the world that the Catechism of the Catholic Church, N. 1452, provides for moments like these. It states: “When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called ‘perfect’ - contrition of charity. Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.” The Holy Father said, “As the catechism teaches, you can draw near to God’s forgiveness without having a priest at hand. Think about it. This is the moment.” He continued: “Do what the catechism says. It is very clear: If you cannot find a priest to confess to, speak directly with God, your father, and tell him the truth. Say, ‘Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me,’ and ask for pardon with all your heart. Make an act of contrition,” the pope said, “and promise God, ‘I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now.’ And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God.” And so, make that perfect act of contrition and make a firm purpose of amendment not to commit those sins again. In case of grave illness, call the Administrative Assistant to the Clergy, Mary Blanton at 281-290-4617, and she will assist you. There are a variety of Acts of Contrition suggested in the Rite of Penance. You may find them at this site: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers/act-of-contrition.html.
The Order also prohibits public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit. This prohibition requires the closing of our church and Reservation Chapel to private prayer. Therefore, effective immediately, the Reservation Chapel is closed, and the church will not be open for praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament has been cancelled. This is in effect until further notice.
Ron Svoboda, the Director of Operations, and I met with each and every staff member individually on Tuesday and discussed with them the options of working from home and furlough. Much of the staff was furloughed in one way or another, i.e., work from home with less hours, less pay, use PTO time, no pay, no PTO, etc. It was a horrible day all the way around for sure. But, with such a mandate in place and the parish facing hard economic times ahead, it was something that we had to do. I am very proud of this parish staff. They are very qualified and filled with understanding and compassion. Some asked to be paid half their normal salary and others to have their hours cut so that the parish could meet our other financial obligations. While it was a sad day, my heart overflowed at the tremendous dedication of each staff member.
          We will continue with to live stream our daily Mass at 9:00 am, Mass on Sundays at 11:00 am and the Spanish Mass at 1:00 pm via Facebook. We have begun sending out a PDF of the worship aid for the Masses via Flocknote. You can print those out and join in with praying Holy Mass. We have also begun work at establishing a YouTube page and, hopefully, will be able to live stream through YouTube as well. I will keep you posted.
We also will continue with praying the Angelus and the Holy Rosary at 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday, as well as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday. On Fridays at 3:00 pm we will live stream the Stations of the Cross. I invite you to download the attached PDF and pray along with us at home.
Since we are faced with the difficult decision to suspend the public celebration of Masses, we want to encourage you to consider online giving to continue your faithful donations to the parish. Please consider using our online giving option, http://faithdirect.net and use our parish code TX134. OR, you may donate via texting any amount to 281-801-4940. If you prefer, you may also mail your check donation to the parish offices, 7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, TX 77379. We are most grateful for your continued support during this stressful time in our country, world and parish.
In this update, I would like to share two more opportunities for common prayer. The first opportunity comes from Pope Francis. Tomorrow, Friday, March 27, 2020 at 12:00 PM CDT (6:00 PM local time in Rome), the Holy Father will impart an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing on all of those tuning in worldwide. The Urbi et Orbi blessing (meaning “to the city [of Rome] and to the world”) is traditionally offered each year in St. Peter’s Square on Christmas and Easter or in extraordinary fashion following the election of a new pope. Those who take part in the blessing (in person, by television, radio, or internet), and express sorrow for their sins and promise to go to confession and receive the Eucharist as soon as they are able are offered the opportunity for a plenary indulgence. At this time it remains undetermined what television networks might be broadcasting the blessing, but at a minimum, the Holy Father’s address and blessing to the world will be accessible by livestream at www.vaticannews.va. All of the faithful who are able to tune in are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for prayer with the whole Church.
The second opportunity is one that is more local and ecumenical. In conversation with local religious leaders of different traditions, Cardinal DiNardo has given his support to a city-wide Moment of Prayer and Reflection in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, March 30, 2020 from 12:00 — 12:05 PM CDT, all people of faith and goodwill are asked to pause wherever they are and pray according to their own faith tradition. We will unite our prayers for the intentions of an end to the pandemic, for the healing of those who are sick, for those who have died, and for strength and wisdom for our medical personnel and government leaders. This effort is being organized by Pastor Harvey Clemons of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the assistance of Interfaith Ministries (www.imgh.org).
Continue to watch for more Flocknotes to come. Our Formation Team is about to launch some wonderful ways to keep your formation ongoing.
Be assured of my prayers as well as Fr. Justin’s. May God keep us all safe.
Blessings of peace and a Lenten conversion,
Fr. Norbert
 
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to our aid!
 

Several peopke have asked for the homily from the Mass for March 22, 2020. You may access it by clicking HERE.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As you know, life is not what it has been. It’s a crazy Lenten season that is calling for all sorts of sacrifices in our lives as citizens of this country as well as Catholic Christians. As the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continually plays out, I wanted to take this time to update you about our life together as members of the St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Community. This may be a little long, but there’s a lot of ground to cover for us, especially with some major (and shocking) news.
But, before I do, I want to thank those of you who came to the Parish Mission and viewed it on Facebook Live. The mission is still posted on our Facebook Page for your viewing. I thank those who came out last Saturday to disinfect our entire church space. They worked long and hard to cover every space. I thank you for your patience, flexibility and life of faith as a community who believe that God is in our presence. And I want you to know that the entire Parish Staff is working hard to help us have some sort of normalcy in the midst of these trying times.

This past week, Cardinal DiNardo issued a letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The letter can be found in its entirety on the Archdiocesan website, but I want to break it down for you and our life together here in the parish. He states that the current health emergency has induced fear and anxiety in many hearts and minds, and, yet, at the same time, it has brought unity to us as a people who seek the good for others. Our faith has to be lived with reason, prudence and good judgement.

In consultation with Bishop Sheltz and the entire Presbyteral Council, Cardinal DiNardo has made the following announcements:
 
PUBLIC MASSES
The public celebration of all weekday and Sunday Masses will be suspended in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston effective Wednesday, March 18, 2020, until further notice. Our Reservation Chapel will remain open for private prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will continue on Fridays of Lent in the Lady chapel from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
 
Fr. Justin and I will be celebrating Mass to fulfil all scheduled Mass intentions; however, these Masses are not open to the public. Though we do so privately, I assure you that you and your intentions will be in our prayer. We invite you to join us on Facebook and to make a spiritual communion as you do so. The prayer is posted on our website homepage.
 
Here at St. Ignatius of Loyola, we will deploy the use of Facebook Live. It can also be accessed via our home page on this website. We suggest you gather as a family to join us in our Live Prayer times as follows:

• Monday through Friday we will live stream on Facebook at 9:00 am for daily Mass.
• Monday through Friday we will live stream at 12:00 noon to pray the Angelus and the Holy Rosary together.
• Monday through Friday we will live stream at 3:00 pm to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy together.
• On Sundays we will go live for the 11:00 am Mass, which is always prayed pro populo, that is, for the people of the parish and the 1:00 pm Mass in Spanish.
• If you cannot join us during one of these times, there are many other parishes (even the Pope) offering Mass that you can view online.
• Sunday is still the Lord’s day and even though the obligation to participate in Mass has been suspended, we invite you to use the resources from Magnificat, Our Daily Bread and others that we have sent to you in other Flocknotes and emails. You can pray Morning and Evening Prayer, reflect upon the daily readings, and, as a family pray the Rosary.

One on one appointments with members of the Clergy and the Lay Ecclesial Staff will continue at the discretion of the Clergy or Staff member.
 
OFFICE HOURS
We will maintain our staff, possibly rotating staff members during office hours. Our hours will be Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Office hours on Tuesday and Wednesday will continue to 8:30 pm and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
 
Lent is about making sacrifices, and, I’m sure that none of us chose this type of penance. But it is an opportunity for grace and for us to find new ways to be united in prayer with one another and for those who are suffering greatly at this time. I and the staff will keep you posted about other modifications as they come to us as soon as we can. In the meantime, let us keep Our Lady of Prompt Succor in front of us as we beg her intercession.
 
Blessings and peace and a Lenten conversion,
Fr. Norbert


O Mary, Mother of God, through the years,
your people have called on your intercession in times of epidemic and illness.
We call on you, now, as our mother and ask that you pray for us,
that we might find healing and refuge, and a quick end to this time of illness.
Be to us truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor
and draw us ever closer to your Son,
the source of all healing and consolation.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. Amen.