I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the new pastor of Saint Rose, Fr. Christiano Nunes da Silva “Fr. Chris.” He will be beginning in the parish during the last week of June. Father was born in Fortaleza, a city on the northeast coast of Brazil, in 1972. He pursued studies in the sciences with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. Along the way, he worked as a quality control supervisor in the clothing industry and as an administrator at a center for medical imaging in his hometown.

I think that most of you have already heard about Bishop Spalding's decision to lift the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation as of Palm Sunday. I want to address how we at Saint Rose are going to adapt to returning to the regular practice of the Church.

First, our plans are designed to accommodate everyone who comes to Mass while keeping prudent precautions in place. The major change will be that there will no longer be pews blocked off in the larger middle sections of the church. The faithful will be asked to practice social distancing according to their judgment in these sections.

As of Palm Sunday, Bishop Spalding is lifting the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. This is a return to the normal situation of the Church regarding attendance at Mass. I want to get this word to you as soon as possible, even though we will be working out the practical implications here at Saint Rose in the days to come.

The celebration of Mass is the heart of our parish's core purpose of being the place of encounter with the fullness of Christ in this community. That being said, we will proceed soberly and prudently in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember that there is no obligation to attend Mass at this time.

• Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or other communicable diseases should stay at home.
• Anyone in a high-risk group for COVID-19 should stay at home.
• Anyone with concern about attending public Mass in these times is covered by the dispensation and should not hesitate to remain at home.

Let me repeat: there is no obligation for anyone to attend Mass at this time.

We have the joy of resuming the public celebration of Mass at Saint Rose beginning on Monday, May18. The celebration of Mass is the heart of our parish's core purpose of being the place of encounter with the fullness of Christ in this community. It is wonderful to begin again!

BISHOP SPALDING'S LETTER dated MAY 7

That being said, we will begin again soberly and prudently in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember that there is no obligation to attend Mass at this time. Bishop Spalding has issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation until June 30, when the dispensation will be reviewed. 

Bishop Spalding has announced today that public celebrations of Mass can resume in the Diocese of Nashville on Monday, May 18. I am attaching the bishop's letter HERE. Of course, many precautions will be required before public celebrations can begin, including strict observance of social distancing, as well as the observance of civil regulations. This is very good news, but also a grave responsibility.

Although Bishop Spalding has authorized public celebrations of Mass beginning May 18, no parish is required to begin on that date. Each pastor is encouraged to use his judgment about the conditions for beginning public celebrations in his parish. Having only received the authorization, I cannot at this time announce the beginning of public celebrations of Mass at St. Rose, but my intention is to begin as soon as we prudently can with the precautions in place. I will be communicating in the coming days about our plan to begin public celebrations of Mass again and the precautions we will be observing. 

I would like to thank Saint Rose for this incredible opportunity to serve over the past two months. Through this assignment, I have been able to see what it means to be active in a parish and what it takes to be a fantastic parish. Growing up, I was never fully involved in a parish, which meant I didn’t find my love of the Faith until high school. It was only through the help of retreats and campus ministry groups, like Melchizedek Project, that I came to realize that God might be calling me to the Priesthood. When I recognized this call, I was unsure and afraid, so I went to college at the University of Montevallo in Alabama for my freshman year to continue playing Lacrosse. The year I played was fun and exciting, but it left me feeling unfulfilled, longing for something more. Near the end of the year, I felt God pulling on my heart again and began to think about seminary. Through unforgettable conversations with my old high school chaplain and an exhilarating race against deadlines, I was accepted into Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas, Texas. God-willing, I hope to be ordained to the priesthood in 2025 and ask for your prayers as I continue on my journey of discernment; know that I will keep all of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in my prayers as I return to seminary this August.

In Christ,
Preston Thompson