June 23, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am truly grateful that we are able to gather together again in person to celebrate Mass and the Sacraments as jurisdictions throughout the State slowly proceed through the reopening process. I am grateful to our pastors, parish staff and volunteers, and to all our parishioners for the hard work and abundant caution everyone has devoted to ensuring we can gather safely as we resume public worship.
There are many changes that we have to adjust to as we join together in person for Mass. Critically important precautions such as social distancing, sanitizing, and, in particular, wearing face masks are imperative for ensuring the safety of all. Because we know from public health officials how the virus is transmitted, we know the steps we can take to keep ourselves and others safe while we are outside our homes and around other people. We are grateful to you for complying with these measures, which we have asked our pastors to ensure are in place so that everyone can worship safely together.
Just as I thank you for your generosity and fraternal love for doing your part to ensure that we can continue to safely gather for worship, I join our Holy Father in calling for your continued cooperation when he said, “Let us pray that the Lord gives his people, all of us, the grace of prudence and obedience to the protocols so that the pandemic doesn’t return.”
Such times call to mind the words of St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians: “I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10
As always, I ask for your prayers as we face these challenges together, and I assure you of mine.
Faithfully in Christ,
Archbishop of Baltimore
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