Dear friends and parishioners,
I am beginning to write this Easter letter to you on March 27 ^th. I just followed the Pope on TV, his special "holy hour", praying for those afflicted by the coronavirus and the front-line health workers who are alleviating the suffering of many. Pope Francis imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from an empty St. Peter's Square, delivered only on Christmas and Easter. He compared the COVID-19 virus to a storm, laying bare illusions that people can be self-sufficient. He said: "all of us are fragile and disoriented and in need of each other's help and comfort".
This striking scene will remain engrained in my mind: the solitude of the pope, alone, painfully striding toward the stage; the barren square; the rain, a frantic challenge to an invisible enemy. His message was that the disciples, too, felt fear, and the antidote lies in Christ and the promise of resurrection. His language gave voice to the global mood: "Thick darkness has covered ... our world; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence, a distressing void. We feel it in the air, we notice it in people's glances. We find ourselves afraid and lost."
We cannot come together physically in these challenging times to pray, not even for Holy Week and Easter. We can read the Scriptures, pray the rosary, pray more fervently in own homes. There are many resources on the internet. Many people watch Mass on TV or online, or follow other forms of prayer. Easter celebrates Christ's victory over the Cross, over sin and death: Easter is also our victory, our rising to newness of life. Easter, the Resurrection, is at the very heart of our faith: it is the source of our hope. These 40 days of Lent have been guiding us toward the renewal of our own Baptismal Promises at Easter.
Easter is also the source of our charity. These past few weeks have taught us that we are not self-sufficient, we do depend on one another and on a loving God. He has made Himself visible in and through us in the many acts of kindness and charity that we have performed, seen and heard about: neighbour helping neighbour, shopping for the elderly, looking out for family and friends, the tremendous risks taken by our health care workers and first responders. We are united in our humanity that Jesus took upon himself and came to save through His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
You know that we, your priests, celebrate the Mass every day for your intentions and we send out daily scripture reflections, too, by email and on Facebook. Many parishioners get in touch with us by phone and email. We are grateful for your trust in us. For Holy Week we hope to be able to do more. This is one way we stay united as a parish family.

Now... on to a different topic. With so many uncertainties, this is a difficult topic to address. We have been receiving inquiries about how parishioners might support our parish without being able to be physically present. Being unable to open our doors doesn't mean we are not present to one another. But it does mean we are not receiving regular contributions to help us pay our bills — utilities and monthly bills still have to be paid. Our needs continue even in the absence of the gathered assembly. Some in our parish may be facing financial difficulties and we know their first priority is taking care of the needs of the family and loved ones.
Supporting our parish is an act of generosity and an expression of faith. We ask you to keep our parish in mind during this current crisis. If you are able, I hope you will continue your financial support of the parish. Here are some suggestions from our parish leaders:

1. The Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG) or Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) is working well for about 50 parishioners. It is the easiest and safest method and our only source of income right now. If you would like to consider signing up, let us know. We will send you the information and the form.
2. Next to EFT, online giving is the best method. The diocese has set up a giving page: you can support our parish by going to this link and making gifts via credit card: hamiltondiocese.com/covid19parishfund/. Once you submit your gift you will be directed to a form to designate your gift to our parish. Identify St. Anne, Kitchener. The diocese will transfer these funds and donor information to our parish.
3. You may wish to send your contribution by mail. If you use Sunday Offertory Envelopes, let us know your envelope number or you can place offertory envelopes in another envelope and send them directly to the parish.

Any of the methods would be truly appreciated and would help our parish at this difficult time.
We are incredibly grateful for any contributions you may be able to make, maybe even a special Easter Offering? But more important at this time is your prayer for our community, for us your priests and parish leadership team, and your fellow parishioners. You and your family are in our daily Mass and prayers. When this Eucharistic fast is over, we look forward to celebrating again together the Eucharistic feast as a parish community.
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, we pray that God may give us all health and safety in this pandemic, as we pray also for the victims and all who are impacted by it.

Patrick Schnarr	Fr. Brian Quigley	Fernando De Sousa
Chairman, Parish Council	Pastor	Chairman, Finance Council