Dear Parish Family,
The Easter Season is a time of hope that fills us with joy even as there is so much darkness all around us. We celebrate to Resurrection of Jesus for 50 days after Easter. It continues to be a strange feeling to offer Mass in a nearly empty Church and Father Andrew and I look forward to the day when everyone returns to Mass. In the meantime, know that the Church is open between 12 and 3each day for prayer (please observe social distancing and no more than 10 at a time) and we clean daily.

Thank you to those who have signed up for Parish Giving and those who have sent contributions. We are grateful to those who keep this show on the road financially even in these difficult times. At this writing, the parish finance council has a meeting tonight and I am grateful for their guidance and for keeping a weather eye on our savings, investments, budgets and expenses. As with most Archdiocesan parishes, we have applied for an SBA loan offered through the recently passed Payroll Protection Program law. We have a small dedicated staff here and we want to make sure that we are able to provide for them.

Some of the parish groups, the Sodality, the Young Adult Bible Study, the Little Oratory and the 7:30pm Choir continue to meet via online platforms. If you are a member of one of the groups, you may want to check in with your leadership for meeting times and online venues.

Masses can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stthomasapostleparish/ and on YouTube at DC Oratorians. Masses are livestreamed daily at 8:00am, seven days a week, and also at 10:30am on Sunday. We are hoping to add a Spanish Mass soon.

If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Your servant in Christ,
Father Richard