Reflection by Father Alo - 25 March 2020

Dear parishioners,

Two days ago I said the last daily mass with parishioners after the government announced that several public places including places of worship (churches) should be closed at midday. We don’t know yet when the next public mass should be celebrated which will allow people to come to the church. Since yesterday was my day off, I did not say any mass as usual on Tuesdays.

This morning at 9am, I celebrated the first mass without people. I was lucky to have Fr Quy MSC who joined me for mass. It was a very touching moment. Indeed I was very sad and yet I included all of you in my prayer during the mass. In my homily for both of us, I said: “celebrating the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, we may recall that Mary didn’t have any idea about what was going on. She wasn’t sure with the message of the angel Gabriel. However, after short conversation with the angel, she said: ‘let it be done to me according to your words’. A response that based on her own trust that God loves her. And because God loves her, there will be hope for a better future. We are in the middle of a ‘tragedy’. Let us continue to have hope for a better future, trusting in God’s love for each one of us”.

Yesterday I called some of our elderly parishioners who have been unwell for some time. All of them are in good spirit. Please keep each other in your prayer but also call your neighbours or your family friends or parents who live on their own to see how they are.

God bless you all.

Alo