Dear Parishioners of Our Lady Help of Christians,
To say this last month and a half has been difficult and trying for us all would truly be an understatement. The PPA board of directors would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through these rough waters. We are quickly finding out how much Monsignor Perez did for the parish. The board would like to apologize for any confusion from the last month, but there has been much that has changed from day to day. Our first plan was to stay unchanged as much as possible, but that did not work out like we had hoped. We felt that the most important thing for the parish is the Mass and the sacraments. We were blessed to get help from Father Alphonsus who said our Christmas and Sunday Mass this past week. He has again agreed to help us this upcoming weekend, as Father Wiest is still recovering from his illness.
The goal of the board continues to be the traditional Latin Mass and the sacraments. We feel it would be extremely difficult to find an independent priest who is without scandal and with proper orders, and also able to handle the many needs of our large parish, but we have not abandoned hope. For these reasons, the board is looking for temporary assistance from a traditional Catholic society. As one can imagine, extra priests are not easy to come by, but we have had very good discussions in getting the help we need.
We will continue to try to keep you updated through email and the OLHC website. Know that we are doing our best to carry on the wishes of Father Schell and Monsignor Perez. Keep the parish in your prayers and remember to practice charity always.
God Bless,
PPA Board of Directors