We find ourselves in unchartered waters! As a parish community I believe there’s a real need to stay connected. Since each day seems to bring new information, we’re going to utilize the website/Facebook as a main source of communicating. You can look forward to YouTube links which will provide taping of the Sunday liturgy. (Keeping in mind the 4:00 folks we’ll try to have it ready by that time each week.) There will also be timely articles posted elsewhere on this site easily identifiable. Make sure you check every e-mail coming from stjoebyz@sbcglobal.net. Major announcements will also be going outin that manner. I wrote a pastoral letter which was sent to all households (noting that everyone does not use the internet). Watch for that in your mailbox. Let us continue to pray for one another, especially those who have contracted this ugly virus.

In Christian Love,

Fr. Bruce Riebe

Dear Parishioner:

The Byzantine Catholic Church is known for ritual, customs and splendor. At no better time does it come alive than during Holy Week and Easter. This year we will be doing without the celebratory features that make this season so special. Although the celebrations will be greatly diminished (live streamed or on-line at best) what we are commemorating remains the same. The “extras” have been taken away, leaving only the essentials—the remembrance of what makes this week Holy…the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord.

Last year at this time who would’ve guessed things would be the way they are. It’s not what we’ve come to expect. It’s not what any of us wanted. It’s missing so many of the things--and people that we love. But come Easter morn we still will be exchanging “Christ is Risen, Indeed He is Risen!” because that is for all time. It is the essence and core of our belief. This year, stripped of all the trappings, we can acknowledge the gift of God’s love for us, in the person of Jesus Christ, for what it is. 

Writing in the 4th century, St. Athanasius argued that Christians’ hope in the resurrection was so great that it had taken away their fear of death. May it be that way for us some 2000 years later!

In the Glory of the Resurrection,

Fr. Bruce Riebe