(The following is the Faith in Action column for the April 2, 2020 Catholic Standard by Msgr. John Enzler, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.)
Holy Week has always been very special to me, and my appreciation of it has deepened through the years. I do my best to make it a week of prayer, reflection, and the celebration of beautiful liturgies. Like you, I have had some wonderful holy weeks that deepened my love for the Lord and my appreciation of the Lord’s love for me. I’ve also had Holy Weeks that weren’t as reflective and prayerful as I had planned.
As we head into Holy Week 2020, we already know it will be unlike any other.
We come limping into Holy Week without public liturgies, but also with a whole new perspective about life itself and how fragile it is for so many people. We live with heightened anxiety and concern for ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors. We live with uncertainty over when life can return to normal as we do our part to minimize the spread of the coronavirus in our community, our nation and our world. We are separated physically, but together in our efforts for the common good.
We will miss the Palm Sunday processions and waving of palms, the Holy Thursday experience of the Last Supper with the washing of feet, the reading of the Passion and the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday, and the welcoming of new members to our Church during the Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday is usually the culmination of all those liturgies as so many people come to church, even those who don’t regularly attend. I’ve always been inspired by the Easter outfits, the blossoming of spring and the beautiful weather, and the resounding Hallelujah! sung by all.
This year, none of that will take place in person. Following the regulations of our local governments and limitations on gatherings of more than 10 people, we will have to celebrate from home. With the help of modern technology, we can still come together as a Church, even if not in a church building. Archbishop Gregory will preside at the Holy Week liturgies (with no congregation in attendance), which will be live streamed over the internet from St. Matthew’s Cathedral (for schedule details go to: https://www.stmatthewscathedral.org).
In addition, the Archdiocese of Washington recommends some beautiful ways for us to share more fully in these liturgies. On Holy Thursday, there will be a Virtual Food Drive with the hope that many will make financial donations to provide ready access for food at various Catholic Charities locations throughout the archdiocese. (At the bottom of this column, I’ll show you how you can contribute.) Just as the Eucharist is our food for the soul, many today are hungry and seek food for their bodies.
On Good Friday, which normally includes Adoration of the Cross in churches throughout our community, the archdiocese suggests that you find a crucifix in your home, hopefully already hanging in an appropriate place, and spend some time in reverence and adoration of our Lord, who gave His life for us. Might I recommend that you take out your Bible and slowly read and reflect on the Passion in John’s Gospel (John 18:1-19:42). The Passion is a homily in itself. It reminds us of God’s infinite love for us. As Jesus said in John 15:13, “No greater love does one have than to lay down one’s life for one's friends.”
On Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, the Archdiocese recommends that you might light a candle and place it safely in view out your window as a reminder of the light of Christ coming into our midst. In a sense, we will have our own Easter candles lit throughout our community. This year more than ever, may we also remember that the darkness has never put out the light of Christ.
As we all work through this crisis, I would also like to mention the impact it has had on the work we do at Catholic Charities and how our amazing staff, volunteers and donors are finding ways to keep serving those in need. First, let me share some good news: Our homeless shelters are even more active than ever. With the help of the city, they are now open 24/7, and our staff is working continuously to maintain a healthy environment. Our medical clinics continue to function and, as you might imagine, are busier than ever – particularly at the Catholic Charities Center in Wheaton, Maryland. Our food programs are also adapting their distribution methods to meet the everyday need. We’ve received some fabulous donations so far to help us feed the hungry.
Unfortunately, we have needed to temporarily close or reduce some other services: Our dental clinics are closed at the moment on the advice of the American Dental Society. Following the guidelines for all D.C. schools, our Kennedy School is closed, as is our Early Childhood Development Center. Our Gaithersburg sites are physically closed, but we do have employees telecommuting, so services continue for immigration and family outreach.
Other programs are functioning with diminished services: our Pro-Bono Legal Network, Immigration Legal Network, Workforce Development programs (by Zoom), Behavioral Health, Casework and Social Work, and many others. In cases where programs continue through telecommuting, we are functioning at about a 60%–70% level. We continue to have open doors for any who come our way – both literally and figuratively.
So, this week, I’m praying very hard for our clients – almost 143,000 a year – who look to us for direct assistance. I’m praying for our employees – almost 900 strong – whose lives have also been disrupted in unimaginable ways. They are trying to balance childcare, schoolwork for their children, and family obligations with their everyday work to serve. It sounds almost impossible, and I’m so inspired by what our staff does each and every day.
I also pray for all of us during Holy Week and the Easter season. Our circumstances may be different, but God’s love for us is eternal and unchanging. May we find God’s love in our hearts, our loved ones, and in service to our neighbor.
If you’d like to help us continue to reach out, join us for our Virtual Food Drive on Holy Thursday. Your gift will support our essential food and meal programs and help to meet immediate hunger needs in our community. You can do that by making a financial donation directly to Catholic Charities using the following link: https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/covid19-urgent-need/. We also are accepting grocery gift cards in values up to $50. Gift cards can be mailed to Catholic Charities, Attn: Development, 924 G St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 or emailed to giving@cc-dc.org. God bless you. And thank you!
