Hi again,

As you know, this Sunday will be the end of the State of Emergency in Spain. The local Madrid authorities will inform us of the specific norms and guidelines on Friday or Saturday. On Sunday, we will probably still have a 250 person limit. It may however soon be increased to 75% which would be about 350 people.

I will make an observation. The Spanish parish of which I am also pastor has returned to around 35 – 40% occupancy already. (The limit is 50%). On Tuesday we had a funeral and 250 people came to church. The people were very responsible, all with face masks and the weather was pleasant so we opened the windows and had proper ventilation. Another 50 people stayed outside when they saw we reached the legal maximum limit. It was edifying to see such responsible behavior.

OLM had only about 15 % occupancy last Sunday, around 70 people. So it seems the English-speaking people are being more cautious. I want you to know that I RESPECT EVERYONE’S PREFERENCE. We can keep the livestreaming longer if you want it. Thanks again Alex and Janet for making sure this happens. Thanks for your donations, even if you cannot be physically present. Last Sunday there were MANY great food donations and we were able to really help many.  (Thanks Teresa and Albert!) The struggling families are thanking God for you!

Also, Alex is helping us get a projector installed so that we will not have have to use hymnals in the future.  Less germs. 🙂

I will also attach the Sunday worship aids, I know they help you. And I hope that you are hanging in there. Sometimes we just need to take each day as it comes, Right? Tough times never last but tough people do!

You probably heard the following joke, but it always makes me smile:

keep smiling and blessed,

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Ron

PS I am going to attach a form about Mass Intentions. There seems to be some confusion again. We have a special petition for your personal intentions, if you want a name to be specifically mentioned, you are asked to use the attached Mass Intention request form. This is true for every Catholic parish in the world. This Sunday we will offer the Mass for Edna Mamayson’s departed loved ones.

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One Sunday, sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Police Officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH.

He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!” So he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over.

Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old ladies – two in the front seat and three in the back – wide eyed and white as ghosts. The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit! I always go exactly the speed limit. What seems to be the problem?”

“Ma’am,” the officer replies, “you weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving significantly slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.”

“Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly! Twenty-two miles an hour!” the old woman says a bit proudly.

The State Police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that “22” was the route number, not the speed limit.

A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and thanked the officer for pointing out her error.

“But before I let you go, Ma’am, I have to ask . . . Is everyone in this car OK? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time,” the officer asks with concern.

“Oh, they’ll be all right in a minute officer. We just got off Route 119.”

older child