From the Pastor

Dear friends in the Lord,
 
     As you know, the celebration of daily and Sunday Mass has now been suspended throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta for an indeterminate period. Our Bishops did not take this decision lightly. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives as Catholics. But public health professionals have made it clear that this measure of social distancing is necessary to protect the most vulnerable and to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the wider community—that is, to save lives.
 
     During this time, the celebration of Sunday Mass at IHM will be available on our parish website, www.ihmatlanta.org, beginning each week on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
 
     Stations of the Cross and Evening Prayer are cancelled for the rest of Lent. Although the parish office is closed and our staff are working from home, IHM Church will remain open 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. daily for individuals who would like to come pray or visit the Blessed Sacrament. However seniors and those with chronic illnesses should receive advice from their physician before doing so, and no one who feels ill should visit the church at any time for any reason.
 
     Through all of this, Father Carlos and I will do whatever we can to respond to your spiritual needs. Confession and Anointing of the Sick, in particular, will be available by appointment.
 
     I will continue to pray for each member of the IHM family, as I pray also for the health and well-being of the communities in which we live. Please join me in asking the intercession of the Blessed Mother in this hour of great need:
 

O Mary, Health of the Sick,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you.
You know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide,
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
 
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows,
leading us through the cross
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
 
Pope Francis, March 2020 (Adapted)