Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

As part of All Things New, and in fact preceding it in some ways, Bishop Neary has said that he does not want priests to be celebrating more than three Sunday Masses (using the Sunday readings), and he directed that by July 1st of this year all priests are to go to that schedule. That has always meant that our ACC would be losing a weekend Mass, and a big part of our All Things New planning process was to determine what that would mean and how things would change.

 

Officially, our Mass schedule after July 1st, 2026 will be: Saturday 4:00 p.m. at St. Louis Bertrand in Foreston, Sunday at 8:00 a.m. at St. Mary in Milaca and 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary in Mora. The decree also directs us to move towards daily Masses at the Primary Church with allowance for the Partner Church as well. The weekday Mass schedule will also be changing July 1st to 8:00 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday in Milaca and Monday and Tuesday in Mora. This schedule should be the minimum amount of change for our parish, and avoids making changes now that we might have to change again soon after we get farther along in the All Things New plan.

 

The intention is to go with that schedule until more is known about the property of St. Louis Bertrand. If the building is sold or needs to be prepared to be sold, we obviously could not have Mass there. But if there are no interested buyers or contracts in the works, we would likely continue to have the Saturday Mass there even past the December date mentioned in the decree by which we are to submit a report to the bishop on the future of the facilities. Conversely, if a buyer is approved before December, the Mass schedule would have to change before then as well.

 

I know that this can cause confusion and uncertainty among the people as we do not have clarity on when the last Mass might be at that location. It can make it hard to plan and schedule things that are several months or more from now. And that uncertainty can lead to holding back or simply not participating any more in the life of the parish. There will be many things in life that make living the faith more difficult; many different things to use as reasons or excuses to not pray, to not come to Mass, to not volunteer or be engaged. When they arise, it is often the devil trying to turn us away from God and what will really benefit us and each other. He wants us to give into that laziness or apathy that tells us “I don’t feel like it now. Maybe later.” Until eventually we do not think about or practice the faith at all. Instead, in those moments we should be even more proactive and engaged in the matters of faith. We should seek out and join new groups or start new activities and devotions instead of sitting back and complaining that things have changed and what we used to do is now harder. I would recommend that it is okay to begin looking at how things that would be difficult to schedule could be brought together in the new parish in perhaps a new way or a new location. The things that were good in one place do not have to die – the good seed that was planted and shared can be planted anew to bring forth an abundant harvest in a new place. Let those seeds be planted. Be the good gardener who faithfully works the soil, and see how the grace of God will bring it to fruition.

 

Peace in Christ,

Father Timothy