My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
May the Lord give you His peace! Before I say anything, allow me to apologize for getting this letter out later than I had originally planned. I wanted to send it out yesterday so that I could wish all you moms out there a happy Mother’s Day, but I failed to be on time. So, to all you moms out there - HAPPY BELATED MOTHER’S DAY!   I truly hope that you all had a blessed and joy filled day! I’m sure it was a tough day being under this stay at home time, be certain that I prayed for you all.

Speaking of Mother’s Day, I had this silly thought that, perhaps in heaven, Mother’s Day is just as much of a celebration as it is here on earth? Maybe even more? Think of all those wonderful and beautiful mothers who now enjoy the miracle of heaven. Amazing women who sacrificed so much of themselves for their children, driven by only the desire to love. Even Jesus celebrates Mother’s Day with His, our, Heavenly Mother. Jesus, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, existing for all eternity without beginning or end, was born into our world as one of us. He came into the world the same way we all did, through a Mother. Even God knows what it is like to have a mom.
When I think of the baby Jesus being held, cradled and sung to by our Lady, I think of the incredible love that Jesus received from Mary. Think of it.  It was the first time in all of creation that God was finally truly loved by one of His creatures. Not with any love but loved with a mother’s love. For the first time in God’s eternal existence He was loved with a mother’s love, His mother’s love. Someone who loved Him with every ounce of her being, just as our own mothers loved us. Their bond, like the bond we have with our own moms, must have been incredible.

There she is in Bethlehem holding the eternal Son of God in her arms, nursing Him at her breasts, kissing His face and rocking Him ever so gently. Over and again she whispers His name; Jesus. She says His name like no one else ever can. His name falls from her lips with so much love that He smiles and coos. His eyes that saw the very foundation of the world look deeply into hers, the eyes of His mother. The hands that held back the Red Sea so that the nation of Israel could pass through dry shod, reach up and grab her finger. The luminous face of God that Moses was forbidden to look upon is smothered with her kisses. The mighty voice of God that thundered the mountain and said I Am Who Am now babbles a baby’s babble.

As time passes, the omniscient and omnipotent Son of God is taught by His mother to form words. Just as our mothers taught us. Little by little the words form and God Himself speaks a word to someone that He, the Word Made Flesh, had never spoken before to anyone: Momma. Year after year He learns lessons that we all learned: to walk, to talk, to use utensils, to read, to tie His sandals and so much more. All those little life lessons our moms taught us; Jesus was also taught by His Mother. How humble Jesus was to not only become one of us but to do so in a way that was so…human! With a divine and human heart, He loved His mother. He loved her so much that He wanted all of us to love her as well. Just as He loved her.

When the time came for Jesus to leave home and begin His ministry, it was His mother who sent Him forth. At the wedding feast of Cana, Mary realized they were out of wine and told Jesus so. His answer was in the form of a question that drew out from Mary the necessary maternal love for us, her adopted children: Woman, how is this to you and me? My hour has not yet come. Woman; prophesied from the beginning of time, the woman who has enmity with Satan, the woman who would crush the head of Lucifer (Genesis 3:15). My hour has not yet come. In other words, if I work this miracle my passion begins. The sword that Simeon told you would pierce your heart will begin. I will be rejected, scourged, beaten, crucified and killed for the life of the world.

Here we see Our Lady’s love for us. The love that has made her our mother too. Knowing that He came to take away the sins of the world. That He came to give His life for the ransom of many. Knowing that the Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Our Lady now also gives her only begotten Son for our ransom, the forgiveness of our sins, for our lives and the life of the world. She turns to the waiters and say: Do whatever He tells you. Thus, initiating not only His public ministry, but His passion, death and resurrection as well. What extreme suffering and pain it must have caused her Immaculate Heart to give the permission for Jesus to begin His ministry knowing all the suffering it would cause both He and her. So selflessly did she love us. Was her permission necessary? Well, He did write the fourth commandment, He had to obey it.

Hanging upon that Cross, Jesus makes that wonderful proclamation about Mary. Fulfilling His promise that He would not leave us orphans He gives us, not only His Father to be our Father, but He even gives His Mother to be our Mother: Behold your mother! He says. Like John, the beloved disciple, we take Mary into our homes, the home of our heart. Like any mom, she loves us just as much as she loves her first born. She may be the Queen of Heaven, the Mediatrix of All Graces, the Gate of Heaven, the Morning Star, the Queen of Angels and Saints, but really, in all truth, she is simply mom to us all. And what a mom she is!

So, back to my original thought; Yeah, there is Mother’s Day in heaven. All moms here on earth and in heaven, along with our universal mom Mary deserve much more than a day. They are owed a lifelong gift of our gratitude and love.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Coming Back to Holy Mass: An Update
I sent you all a postcard reading the following information:
I will resume celebrating Mass in our newly renovated church beginning next week. At this time, only 10 people will be allowed to be in the church, and we must adhere to the guidelines put forth by the Governor and Bishop McManus.

For older adults and those with underlying health conditions, it is still recommended that you continue to watch the Mass either on TV or on our website, where I will record one Mass every weekend.

Masses will be celebrated Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 8am.
Mass will be celebrated Thursday at 7pm, Saturday at 8:00 am and 4:30 and 6:00pm.
Mass will be celebrated Sunday at 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 am.

We will need to track attendance to not exceed the limit of 10, so we ask that you either email frdavidmaryengo@gmail.com or call the rectory at 508-839-5354 to state your mass preference and number of people attending.

First come, first served. Please consider leaving openings at weekend Masses for those who are still working outside their home. Mandatory attendance at Mass remains suspended.

When Governor Baker decides that we are moving into Stage 2 of recovery we will begin having 50 people per Mass, still with social distancing and precautions. Right now, that is being projected for the end of the first week of June. We will let you know as soon as we do as to the actual date. When we enter stage 3 of recovery then we can all be back together and return to life as normal, or so we hope.

Please continue to pray for the end of this pandemic and for those who are suffering and those who have lost loved ones. This is a very painful time, but we must do our best to keep each other safe and healthy. Please remember to check in on anyone you know who might be alone or feeling alone. Let us do our best to make sure that the people around us feel cared for and remembered.

Thank you all so much for the wonderful love that you have shown to our parish community. Your care for the parish and the members of our parish is quite amazing. Also, thank you to all of you who continue to make the great sacrifice of financially supporting your parish. You’re amazing!

Please check out our parish website and keep up with our daily posting of Mass from our newly renovated Church and my daily homilies. The homilies are posted separate from the Mass. They are posted in case you needed some help falling asleep!

Be sure of my prayers for you and your loved ones. Please stay safe and healthy. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call.

May God bless you and may Mary keep you,
Fr. David Mary