St. Agnes Family,

The greatest weapon that God has given us is Prayer. Christians overcame every suffering with the power of prayer. The church has always faced persecution and suffering. The first 4 centuries the church faced political persecutions. The church also had to face famine, pandemics, natural calamities, wars, scandals and schisms through the centuries.  And the church overcame all of those with prayer and faithfulness to God. 

Now we face this pandemic - Covid-19. It has caused much suffering to individuals, families, communities and nations. How are we handling it as Christians?

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” As wise people we know we have very little control over this situation. So instead of becoming upset and angry, how can we, Christians, make it an opportunity to grow?

In the face of this pandemic, our churches are closed, we can no longer easily gather as a community to worship, celebrate sacraments, share our ministries and reach out to one another. Even though our churches are closed, God is close to us in our hearts and homes. I noticed that many more people participate in the Holy Mass from home; thanks to the internet and TV stations.


St. Paul reminds us: “Do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal”. 2.Cor.  4:16-18.

For us Christians, this moment of suffering can be a golden opportunity. We have learned many important lessons: even when churches are locked, priests are not available, sacraments can not be celebrated... still we can keep our faith in our hearts and homes!

These days of being locked down need to be seen as a time of testing for our faith, much like the people of Israel experienced in the desert. It is a time of pruning so a greater harvest can be realized. God is preparing us for a new springtime of spiritual growth as individuals and as a parish family. Can we look past our pain and see God lovingly holding our hand and leading us toward heaven? Can we conquer our fear and reach out to others who need to hear this precious message?


“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. .. Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.” (1Pet.4:12-19)

God is giving us an opportunity to grow in holiness. We may not get another opportunity like this in our lifetime. So let us make maximum use of it! Let’s devote ourselves to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Let us become a solid rock of faith for our family and community. We are the light of the world...  it is time for us Christians to shine! 

I am sure we will overcome this virus sooner or later. The church has survived and has been renewed again and again. We will return to normal life and prosperity because we believe that our God is in charge and He desires our best. But we should look back to these days as days of blessings when we had spiritual growth. All our suffering now will be glorified by the Love of God then. 

We should be able to say with St.Paul “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”  2 Cor. 4:8-10.
“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.”  (Rom  8: 35, 37-39). 

Not even Covid-19 can separate us from the love of God. 

So let us live in Hope and continue to believe in God’s providential Love !!!!

Fr.Johnson