Dear family of St. Raphael,
 
First of all, I want to thank you for your prayers for my dad during this time, and for me, and for the many messages of support and encouragement. All of this means more than you know.
 
My dad continues to make progress with the cancer treatment; some days are better than others, as any of you who have gone through or cared for someone with chronic illness know.
 
I’ve reflected a lot in these weeks on the radically different daily life and way of living that God’s called me to for a season here. From working daily as the pastor and leader of a big, active parish… to focusing my attention on the work of in-home care. Both types of living have their joys, and their struggles.
 
I’ve thought very often of how I’m learning, albeit in a limited way, a little more about the challenges so many of you face - not just for weeks, but for years, in caring for older or sick family members, and also as parents caring for children. 
 
For example, you’ve often heard me preach and write about the importance of daily prayer for all of us as disciples of Jesus. And I’ve also talked about how it’s important to be flexible and adjust the time and duration of daily prayer to fit the demands of one’s vocation and season in life. Well, it’s one thing for me as a religious and priest to say that – someone who (if I discipline myself enough!) can have quite an extended time of uninterrupted quiet prayer each morning. But it’s another for me now to have the experience of doing my best to fit in just a few minutes of reading Scripture while I also eat breakfast on the back porch, and all the while listening out to see if my dad needs me to come help with anything.
 
And although, thankfully for his recovery, my dad has steadily been able to sleep more and do more for himself, the times in which I went to bed knowing I’d need to listen for him calling in the middle of the night, and getting up out of a deep sleep to help with what he needed, have been a new kind of experience. They’ve made me appreciate so much more what parents (including my dad years ago!) do for their children. Again, not just for a few weeks but for months and years.
 
And finally, for now, I want to share this: I’ve often sat with many of you in spiritual conversation or Confession as you repent of your short temper, irritability, and overall less-than-perfect love as you care for sick family members or for your children. And all I can say is… I’m right there with you! I went to a fellow Jesuit for Confession here in Maryland recently and it was remarkable to be “sitting in the other chair” as it were. I have often given the counsel to others to, yes, repent of any sins and let the mercy of God heal and strengthen; but also to know that Jesus realizes how challenging it is to provide daily home care for another, that he sees your decision to make that sacrifice, and even though you’re going to do it imperfectly, Jesus looks at you with great love. He says to you, “Thank you,” for the care you’re giving your loved one. It’s one thing to say all that to someone else. It’s another to need to hear it myself from another person, as I have needed to during these weeks.
 
Again, please know of my great gratitude to all of you for your prayers and support, your understanding as I take this time away from the parish, and especially to my brother Jesuits, and the staff and volunteer leaders working extra hard to lead St. Raphael in our mission toward our parish vision while I’m away. 
 
Those who saw the way the members of the early Church cared for one another and for those in need would say in wonder, “See how these Christians love one another!” Thank you for putting that wonder in my heart as my dad and I receive so much love from you, my parish community, now.
 
In mutual prayer,

Fr. Phil 

As we continue to gradually reopen for in-person activities, one of our goals is to do so in a way that is most helpful by being available to assist you on the weekend, when you’re already here. Beginning this month you will see members of the parish staff on site in the atrium on Sundays. They will be there to assist you with many of the things that, in the past, required you to make a special trip to the parish office during the week. You will find opportunities to engage with our staff to ask questions and get information, request Mass Intentions, register for events and programs, and more. You will also have the opportunity to pay for programs or give an electronic offertory donation or one time gift.  

We’re going to try this new way of engaging and assisting our community over the summer months with the intention of it becoming our new normal: a more convenient way to tend to your parish business with the added bonus of getting to know members of the staff you may have never had the chance to meet in person. 

We’re also  continuing to respond to the new guidelines and suggestions from our national and local leaders, and would like to share some information regarding preliminary steps we are taking in the process of reopening the larger campus. 

Our first pilot event to minister in a hybrid digital and in-person way is already in progress. The Spring Alpha Series started last month and runs through July 20. A small number of Alpha table groups are being hosted in person at the parish, while the  remainder of the table groups are meeting off campus and virtually. This gives us a great opportunity to work through some of the kinks of managing the safety of our visitors, and evaluate the impact of in-person events on our space capacity, building systems, maintenance, and cleaning. We’re also hosting a Father-Kid Fun Day that will be held on the Plaza on Saturday June 19 from 9:30 - 11:30 am. This is an outdoor event that will bring members of our community together for fun activities, and offers us a way to evaluate how we can accommodate larger groups in a different way.

For Masses this weekend, we will continue to have some seating sections in the church designated as face covering optional at the 5pm Mass on Saturdays only. Face coverings will continue to be required for all other Masses this weekend.

As we reopen, we’re committed to doing so in a thoughtful way that’s responsive to change. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to care for one another in soul, mind, and body. 

Visit our preschool and see for yourself why students love our faith-based, hands on learning program! We look forward to seeing you soon!

To schedule a tour, email kmistele@saintraphael.org or call 919-865-5725. Spaces still available in our 2s and 3s classes.

To request prayers, please visit saintraphael.org/virtualprayerbook. You will have the option to share your prayer in the e-news and on the website or keep it private. All requests are prayed over by our priests. 

A medida que continuamos reabriendo gradualmente para actividades en persona, uno de nuestros objetivos es hacerlo de la manera que sea más útil al estar disponible para ayudarlo el fin de semana, cuando ya esté aquí. A partir de este mes, verá a miembros del personal de la parroquia en el atrio los domingos. Estarán allí para ayudarlo con muchas de las cosas que, en el pasado, requerían que hiciera un viaje especial a la oficina parroquial durante la semana. Encontrará oportunidades para interactuar con nuestro personal para hacer preguntas y obtener información, solicitar intenciones masivas, registrarse para eventos y programas, y más.También tendrá la oportunidad de pagar programas o hacer una donación electrónica de ofrenda o un obsequio único.  

Vamos a probar esta nueva forma de involucrar y ayudar a nuestra comunidad durante los meses de verano con la intención de que se convierta en nuestra nueva normalidad: una forma más conveniente de atender los asuntos de su parroquia con la ventaja adicional de conocer a los miembros de la personal que quizás nunca haya tenido la oportunidad de conocer en persona. 

También continuamos respondiendo a las nuevas pautas y sugerencias de nuestros líderes nacionales y locales, y nos gustaría compartir información sobre los pasos preliminares que estamos tomando en el proceso de reapertura del campus más grande. 

Nuestro primer evento piloto para servir en adoración de una manera híbrida digital y en persona ya está en progreso. La Serie Alpha de Primavera comenzó el mes pasado y se extiende hasta el 20 de julio. Un pequeño número de grupos de mesa Alpha se están alojando en persona en la parroquia, mientras que el resto de los grupos de mesa se reúnen fuera del campus y virtualmente. Esto nos brinda una gran oportunidad para resolver algunos de los problemas de administrar la seguridad de nuestros visitantes y evaluar el impacto de los eventos en persona en nuestra capacidad de espacio, sistemas de construcción, mantenimiento y limpieza; También estamos organizando un Día de diversión del padre y niño que se llevará a cabo en la Plaza el día sábado 19 de junio de 9:30 a 11:30 am. Este es un evento al aire libre que reunirá a los miembros de nuestra comunidad para realizar actividades divertidas y nos ofrece una manera de evaluar cómo podemos acomodar a grupos más grandes de una manera diferente.

A medida que reabrimos, nos comprometemos a hacerlo de una manera reflexiva que responda al cambio. Agradecemos su paciencia y comprensión mientras continuamos cuidándonos unos a otros en alma, mente y cuerpo.