Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First of all, I want each of you to know that during this time, I have held you close to my heart. I can only imagine the worry and anxiety that you feel in your heart because at times I carry that same feeling within mine. This is a truly challenging moment for us, for our world, for our Church, for our families and friends. We humans are built for community, we are made for one another. Among the first words that God speaks in sacred scripture are these: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” That perhaps is the cruelest reality of this present crisis: at a time when we long for the reassuring comfort of others we are each of us isolated in our homes.

Yet I know that even if I cannot be physically present to you, even though we do not see one another gathered around the altar every week, we are still present to each other. St. Paul calls the Church the Body of Christ. The Church, wherever she may be, however isolated she may seem, is always the Body of Christ. You and I and everyone who calls themselves a follower of Christ is intimately connected to one another. When we pray, we are together. When we read Scripture, we are together. In our quiet triumphs and trials, we are together.

Secondly, my purpose in writing to you today is to thank you. In this moment when so many are losing their jobs, when hours are being cut back, when families are struggling to make ends meet, you have stepped forward and supported our parish. When difficult times come, it is important that those of us who are able step up for those who can no longer give. I know that even for those who have kept their jobs, this is an uncertain time. You naturally worry about the future and how long this might last. It is with deep gratitude and humility that I thank you for supporting St. Pascal’s at this time.

As I have said before, my goal during this time is that I continue to pay our dedicated staff and provide them with benefits. All other expenses are basically shut down at this time. Your generous gift has enabled me to continue to meet that goal. I have been encouraged by the generosity of spirit I have seen in this community. Whether it’s giving to charity, buying groceries for an elderly neighbor, placing a phone call to check in on a friend, these actions both big and small speak to the Spirit that dwells within us all. Thank you again and know that you are all in my prayers.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Yours in Christ,

Father Elliott Dees

Electronic Giving

Cancellation of Mass is leading to significant losses in our offertory income, which is placing all our ministries and operations at significant risk. Many people in our parish and community depend upon your regular, weekly offertory contributions and, during this current challenge, they are needed more than ever. We ask you to prayerfully consider maintaining your regular weekly donation level or even increasing it during these times

Please consider giving online at GiveCentral.org where you can make a weekly offertory contribution to our Saint Pascal Church family and keep the vital ministries and services we provide going. You can use this website to make paperless donations to our church by using your credit card, debit card and electronic checking payments making either one-time or recurring donations. To access this site, click on the "Donate Now" button on the right side of this page.