The doors are finally open again for all of us to receive the sacraments. My heart is full knowing we can return to the altar together after this long struggle. Let us remain deeply committed to our faith now that we have reclaimed this vital part of our lives.
July 20, 2020
Final supporters
An Open Letter to Bishop Michael Burbidge and the Presbyteral Council of Arlington Diocese
We, the undersigned, faithful parishioners of Arlington Diocese, respectfully urge you to reconsider the decision to suspend all public masses.
Prudent caution in the face of an entirely unknown threat is reasonable. But that is no longer the case, and no longer an excuse to deprive the people of the right to practice their faith. In light of the information we now have and continue to receive daily about the Coronavirus, its transmissibility, its mortality rate, and the highly effective treatments already available, we believe Churches can be made as safe as any other place considered ‘essential’.
We hope you will once again re-assert the essentiality, indeed the primacy, of religion to life, and adjust your policy.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 21, 2020
April 20, 2020
I have been reading through the deeply moving messages you left about what the loss of the sacraments has meant for your families. These stories are a reminder of why we continue to press for the restoration of our public life in the church.
Reached 100 supporters
April 19, 2020
April 19, 2020
My heart aches every Sunday spent away from the altar and I know many of you feel the same emptiness. We are getting very near the two hundred fifty mark so please send this link to your prayer groups right now so we can show the bishop the true depth of our longing.
82 Comments
Dear Bishop, I cannot thank you enough for letting our Churches remain open and to be able to go to Confession. Please, allow those priests who are healthy and not at great risk, to provide us with the Eucharist. There are so many creative ways to do this! Please, prayerfully consider our request. God bless you.
Bishop Burbidge, Please give us back the public Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Give a dispensation to anyone not comfortable attending Mass, but please don't deny those of us who want attend the Holy Sacrifice.
I believe our spiritual health is as important a part of our being as is our physical health. I also believe the Diocese should encourage us to participate to the extent we think is proper for our own family circumstances.
Please open the churches now. My local Aldi has a sign, "No more than 60 people inside at one time". My local Home Depot says, "No more than 100 people inside at one time." My local Church says we are closed except for a few hours with no more than 10 people inside at one time. Disordered priorities? You bet.
We are in desperate need of spiritual food...of “The Eucharist”. Nothing can replace it in our lives. We urge you to help find creative ways that we can partake again in that which is the source and summit of our faith. We are starving....
I have a dream, that someday Catholics will stand up for what Jesus taught us and stop trying to please the world.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith
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The doors are finally open again for all of us to receive the sacraments. My heart is full knowing we can return to the altar together after this long struggle. Let us remain deeply committed to our faith now that we have reclaimed this vital part of our lives.
July 20, 2020
Final supporters
An Open Letter to Bishop Michael Burbidge and the Presbyteral Council of Arlington Diocese
We, the undersigned, faithful parishioners of Arlington Diocese, respectfully urge you to reconsider the decision to suspend all public masses.
Prudent caution in the face of an entirely unknown threat is reasonable. But that is no longer the case, and no longer an excuse to deprive the people of the right to practice their faith. In light of the information we now have and continue to receive daily about the Coronavirus, its transmissibility, its mortality rate, and the highly effective treatments already available, we believe Churches can be made as safe as any other place considered ‘essential’.
We hope you will once again re-assert the essentiality, indeed the primacy, of religion to life, and adjust your policy.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 21, 2020
April 20, 2020
I have been reading through the deeply moving messages you left about what the loss of the sacraments has meant for your families. These stories are a reminder of why we continue to press for the restoration of our public life in the church.
Reached 100 supporters
April 19, 2020
April 19, 2020
My heart aches every Sunday spent away from the altar and I know many of you feel the same emptiness. We are getting very near the two hundred fifty mark so please send this link to your prayer groups right now so we can show the bishop the true depth of our longing.
82 Comments
Your Excellency. Is it impossible to have Mass and access to the Bread of Eternal Life while maintaining social distancing norms? I fear that we have given up much ground by accepting that Mass is non-essential versus other "essential" services like Dunkin Donuts or the like. In Christ.
Dear Bishop, I cannot thank you enough for letting our Churches remain open and to be able to go to Confession. Please, allow those priests who are healthy and not at great risk, to provide us with the Eucharist. There are so many creative ways to do this! Please, prayerfully consider our request. God bless you.
Bishop Burbidge, Please give us back the public Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Give a dispensation to anyone not comfortable attending Mass, but please don't deny those of us who want attend the Holy Sacrifice.
I believe our spiritual health is as important a part of our being as is our physical health. I also believe the Diocese should encourage us to participate to the extent we think is proper for our own family circumstances.
Please open the churches now. My local Aldi has a sign, "No more than 60 people inside at one time". My local Home Depot says, "No more than 100 people inside at one time." My local Church says we are closed except for a few hours with no more than 10 people inside at one time. Disordered priorities? You bet.
We are in desperate need of spiritual food...of “The Eucharist”. Nothing can replace it in our lives. We urge you to help find creative ways that we can partake again in that which is the source and summit of our faith. We are starving....
I have a dream, that someday Catholics will stand up for what Jesus taught us and stop trying to please the world.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith
Share Petition
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Your Excellency. Is it impossible to have Mass and access to the Bread of Eternal Life while maintaining social distancing norms? I fear that we have given up much ground by accepting that Mass is non-essential versus other "essential" services like Dunkin Donuts or the like. In Christ.