FROM THE RECTOR: AN UNUSUAL TIME

As I write on Friday evening March 20, we have learned that the governor of New York State has issued Executive Order 202.6, which we interpret to mean that our parish administrator, bookkeeper, and our sextons will no longer be able to come to work for the foreseeable future. Chris, Jay, and I have spent part of the last hour talking about what we need to know and what needs to be done—and what can be done—in their absence. Those of us who live here know when the garbage needs to be put out. I’m good about turning the heat on and off. We know how to sweep, but the sidewalks may not need sweeping or washing quite as frequently in the coming days. We know where the light switches and the fuse boxes are. More will be revealed. We will use every means at our disposal to stay in touch. We will continue to live and pray faithfully and responsibly during this plague that has already affected so many throughout the world.

As you know, the church has been closed to public worship since Saturday evening, March 14. Our bishop has asked all of the congregations in the diocese to close their doors through Sunday, May 17, 2020. In the meantime, the Eucharist and Evening Prayer are being celebrated daily. We have moved these services from the high altar to the Lady Chapel. It’s a better place for recording videos of the daily Mass—many thanks to Br. Damien Joseph for his knowledge and for his photographer’s eye. He has resolved a number of glitches and is teaching us how to do all this more efficiently.

Br. Damien Joseph, Br. Thomas, Father Jay Smith, Father Jim Pace, and I have figured out where to sit when we worship and how to gather and speak at a distance from each other. The celebrant alone consumes the newly consecrated host and wine. A ciborium was filled with hosts untouched by human hands. This bread was consecrated and from this ciborium the others present receive communion from a gloved hand. We realized today that, since the celebrant is eating all of the newly consecrated host, he can show it at the elevation at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer.

In its own way, Mass in the Lady Chapel seems quite normal to me, but Evening Prayer, I confess, feels odd. Sometime in the spring of 2001, all of our weekday services were moved to the high altar. I’ve really gotten used to praying the Office while facing the other half of the congregation, who are also seated, for the most part, in choir. There is a rhythm to praying the Office together, and facing each other, seeing each other easily, is part of that rhythm. I miss it. But that is a small thing when so many other changes are being asked of all of us. We still gather to pray in the evening, and for my own Lenten discipline, I am praying Morning Prayer privately before I read the newspaper and turn on the radio.

I always look forward to hearing the story of Joseph during Lent. The climax of the story was read on Tuesday of this current week. It’s the scene when Joseph breaks down in front of his brothers and says “I am Joseph; is my father still alive?” (Genesis 45:3). The appointed passage ends with these words, “Then [Joseph] fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him” (Genesis 45:14–15). This story, these words, are words of resurrection. Easter is coming, but it’s looking as if it will be a very different Holy Week and Easter for us this year. The paschal mystery will feel different this year. It will certainly feel more austere, but perhaps that’s not an entirely bad thing. Perhaps we will discover new meanings this year in the stories of Jesus’ passion and his rising from the dead.

In the meantime, since the scaffolding still covers the 46th Street façade of the church complex, Board Member Thomas Jayne enlisted Br. Thomas SSF to create a shrine at the 47th Street doorway to the church. The shrine consists of an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, flanked by two large vases of flowers. A placard to explain the shrine’s purpose and inviting the prayers of our neighbors will soon be displayed. The shrine comes in at night and does not stay out in the rain. But it’s one beautiful way we say to those who pass by, that our parish community is still here.

The regular monthly meeting of the board of trustees was held via Zoom on Monday, March 16. A special meeting, scheduled at the end of January to take place on Saturday morning, March 21, will also be held via Zoom. In light of the human and economic challenges the pandemic has presented the world, the board will be working to begin to figure out our way forward.

A couple years ago, when I wasn’t jogging any more (since then I’ve discovered the elliptical works best for me), I laid out for myself a couple of four-mile walks. Yesterday I walked to a grocery store at 9th Street and 6th Avenue, two miles from the rectory, and bought a few things and carried them home. I saw no sign of panic buying there, but when I passed other stores, I could see empty shelves. I couldn’t help thinking about the enormity of the financial hardship the closings are causing. On Friday morning, March 13, there were seven of us at Morning Prayer in the chancel, while 17 homeless persons were resting in the church. Where are they now? I do not know.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was to be with us as celebrant and preacher this year on Maundy Thursday. It is a very sad thing that none of that can now take place. And yet, graces still occur in hard times. The Presiding Bishop has very kindly offered to record a sermon on video that we can use during our service on Maundy Thursday. We’re foot-washing Episcopalians at Saint Mary’s, but not this year. Perhaps after the sermon, we will have our camera focus on one of the bowls, pitchers, and towel that would be in use, as we reflect on the bishop’s words to us. Easter will come.

For a variety of good reasons, I was alone in the Lady Chapel last night for Evening Prayer. I read it all slowly and aloud. As is sometimes the case on a feast day, the appointed portion of the psalter and the appointed lessons were short. I didn’t leave anything out except the salutation before the Lord’s Prayer and “Let us bless the Lord” at the end and its response. Small graces come our way even when days are long and anxious. Here’s petition from the psalter that I try never to forget when my heart is heavy, “Put your trust in the Lord and do good” (Psalm 37:3a). —Stephen Gerth

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding COVID-19

Father Jim Pace is the assistant priest in residence here at Saint Mary’s. He is also the Senior Associate Dean, Academic Programs, and Clinical Professor at the Rory Meyers College of Nursing at New York University. We asked him to write an FAQ sheet that we could circulate to our members and friends.

Q: What exactly is COVID-19?

A: COVID-19 is a virus strain, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, that has only spread in people since December 2019. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). On January 31, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. On March 11, WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. On March 13, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency.

Q: How is the virus spread and what are the symptoms?

A: COVID-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, which means to become infected, people generally must be within six feet of someone who is contagious and come into contact with these droplets which are taken into the mouth or through the nose. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and difficulty breathing.

Q: How long does it take for symptoms to appear?

A: The CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days, or as long as 14 days after exposure. To be cautious, many governments are requiring an isolation period of 14 days for people returning from endemic areas.

Q: How is COVID-19 treated?

A: There is currently no FDA approved medication for COVID-19. People infected with this virus should receive supportive care such as rest, fluids and fever control, to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ function(s).

Q: How can we prevent the virus from being spread?

A: Currently there is no vaccine – one is currently being developed that is estimated to be available sometime in 2021. The following practices can help control spread of the virus:

•           Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

•           Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

•           Avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with people who are sick.

•           Stay home when you are sick.

•           Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

•           Standard household cleansers and wipes are effective in cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

•           It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting vaccinated, taking everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.

Q: Should I wear a facemask when I go outside?

A: If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick. If you are not sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR Shalim, Diana, John, Ronald, Pat, Ellie, Sharon, Marilouise, MaryHope, Luis, Carlos, Ken, May, Willard, Alexandra, Karen, Takeem, Margaret, and Michael; for Barbara, Ethelyn, Emil, Dennis, Abraham, Bill, and Burton; for William Ronald, Nicholas, and David, religious; for Ronald, pastor; for Gene, Gaylord, Louis, and Edgar, priests; for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty; for all whose work is essential to the common good and the healing of all who are sick and for all the members, friends, and benefactors of this parish . . . GRANT THEM PEACE: March 22: 1889 Sarah Lee; 1914 Katherine Ott; Katherine Kopf; 1930 Emma Crego Pierce; 1971 Mary E. Fargher.

IN THIS TRANSITORY LIFE . . . Annie van Pelt, a member of parishioner Marie Rosseels’ extended family, died on Tuesday, March 17, near her home in Spain. Marie describes her as “a very kind and selfless person, devoted to her family” . . . Isaura Torres Sessa, the mother of José Vidal, died at home on the morning of Sunday, March 15, after a long illness. José is an active member of Saint Mary’s and is the husband of Father Jay Smith. Please keep Annie, Isaura, Marie, Bertha, Herman, José, Carmen, their family and friends, and all who mourn in your prayers.

THE WEEKDAYS OF LENT AND OF HOLY WEEK, except for the feast of the Annunciation, are observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial. Good Friday and all other Fridays of the year, except for Fridays in the Christmas and Easter seasons, and any Feasts of our Lord which occur on a Friday, are also observed as days of special devotion in commemoration of the Lord’s crucifixion.

SOME RESOURCES IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME TO CHURCH . . .

•           Trinity Wall Street always live streams their Sunday services on their website at the following link: https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/webcasts (as of Friday, March 13, it appears that Trinity will not be holding public worship for some days, but will continue to livestream its 11:15 AM Eucharist on Sundays.

•           If you do not have access to a Book of Common Prayer, the Prayer Book is available online at the following link: https://www.bcponline.org

•           You can also find the readings for all Daily Offices and Masses on Saint Mary's website: https://www.stmvirgin.org/bible-lessons-for-all-services.

•           The Society of Saint John the Evangelist’s online Lenten program, Signs of Life, may be accessed at https://www.signsoflife.org/

•           The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) offers a daily online meditation. One can sign up to receive the meditation at https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/. Father Richard Rohr is a Roman Catholic Franciscan. CAC is a decidedly ecumenical program.

•           Father Andrew Mead, former rector of Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, is currently priest-in-charge at the Church of Saint Stephen in Providence, Rhode Island. He recently posted some thoughts about making a spiritual communion, if one is unable to receive the sacrament in person. His blogpost is available at http://sstephensprovidence.blogspot.com/

FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE . . . To fund operations, Saint Mary's routinely liquidates certain investments in accordance with its annual budget plan. However, the recent volatility in financial markets means that those liquidations are potentially very damaging to our long-term stability. We could be selling equities at a 10%+ discount, meaning that every $1.00 we liquidate is costing us $1.10 or more in long-term principal. Therefore, we ask that those of you who pledge or plan to give donations for Lent or Easter to please consider fulfilling those commitments now so that we can meet operating cash-flow requirements—utilities, salaries, etc.—from our cash accounts without dipping into investment accounts at their currently depressed value. Thank you for helping us weather these volatile times!

THIS WEEK AT SAINT MARY’S . . . The resident clergy and the friars will continue to gather for Mass—most days at around 10:00 AM—and Evening Prayer at 6:00 PM in the Lady Chapel. Brother Damien will continue to try and post the video of the eucharistic celebration by midday . . . We are closely following Governor Cuomo and Mayor De Blasio’s directives about closures and workers who will be allowed to come to work. We will keep the Saint Mary’s community posted on all developments as soon as we are able.

AROUND THE PARISH . . . Since it appears that parish administrator Chris Howatt will now be required to work from home, the resident clergy will check the voicemail messages on extension 10 at 212-869-5830 on a regular basis . . . The bishop of New York, the Right Reverend Andrew M.L. Dietsche sent a pastoral letter to the people and clergy of the diocese on March 13. The letter may be accessed on the diocesan website . . . The Reverend Dr. Peter Powell has very graciously agreed to continue his Bible Study Class on the twelve so-called “minor prophets” in a digital form. We are still trying to figure out how best to circulate his class notes, outline and study questions to the Saint Mary’s community. (He has already circulated it to members of the class.) We should get all this posted for the wider community by the end of the weekend. Father Powell’s assigned portion this week is Amos 7:1–9 . . . We received a nice note this week from bishop suffragan, and former Saint Mary’s curate, the Right Reverend Allen K. Shin. He told us that he and his wife, Clara, are mostly working from home these days. He wanted us to tell the members and friends of the parish that he is very sorry that, since the church is closed, he will not be able to be with us for a Solemn Mass on Annunciation. He hoped that we would be able to find a date when he can be with us again, hopefully not too far in the future. We, too, hope that the church will be open before too long, that music will soon be heard in the building, and that we can all be together, along with Bishop Shin, for a Solemn Mass at Saint Mary’s.

FROM THE FRIARY AT SAINT MARY’S . . . There is an old “curse” of dubious origin that goes like this, “May you live in interesting times.” And I'm afraid we do. The current pandemic presents real challenges to all of us, and our community is no exception. I've seen some comments from monastics giving tips on how to live a “socially distanced” life (their cloistered life has made them experts), but for Franciscans, the impact is rather different. As you'll know if you've had much interaction with the brothers here, our life is anything but cloistered. So, this pandemic represents big changes for us.

Most directly here at Saint Mary’s, activity restrictions have meant suspending our direct outreach ministry to the very vulnerable population served in our clothing assistance program and in opening our doors daily. The risk of gathering is simply too great, though we’re still able to provide help to individuals on an emergency basis. Beyond this, we’re affected by travel restrictions in that our Brother Desmond Alban SSF, who was to be joining us in residence here beginning April 2, has had to postpone his arrival indefinitely.

More broadly, our community members are having to cancel travel (including a novice pilgrimage to Assisi that was to have occurred last week) and modify daily routines like the rest of the world. Our annual meeting ("Chapter") in Arizona, scheduled for the second week in May, will likely be rescheduled or held virtually. We are committed to doing our part to stem the spread of this virus.

Our houses in the United States are located in three deeply impacted locations: New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  Both of our California houses are largely restricted to remaining at home now, both by health guidelines and by the fact that both have residents who (by reason of age or illness) would be at very high risk if infected. Worldwide, our brothers and sisters are adapting to the reality of this pandemic. We are hopeful that travel will be possible again by September, when our world-wide chapter meeting is to be held in Australia, followed by a fiftieth-anniversary celebration in our Solomon Islands Province. 

Meanwhile, we strive to remain alert to the Spirit, and we are confident God is calling us to serve in new ways (sometimes perhaps by sitting still) in these “interesting times.” Peace and all good! — Brother Damien Joseph SSF

The Calendar for March has been updated to reflect our current schedule.