Those of us who were blessed to receive a Catholic School education learned at an early age about guilt that comes with sin.  We were probably not taught that there is such a thing as "healthy" productive guilt (if it leads us to repent of our sins and "unhealthy" or unproductive guilt that has nothing good to offer us).  A few weeks ago, I started having a case of unhealthy guilt when I left for a week of vacation and daily Mass was not celebrated at Sacred Heart Church on days that it is normally celebrated.  Now the same thing is about to happen, as I leave for the annual Priest retreat in Subiaco this week.  Firstly, I want you to know that having a Word and Communion Service is no longer an option on weekdays in the Diocese of Little Rock.  The Word and Communion Service was created for communities of faith that did not have a priest available for the obligatory Sunday Mass.  Over time, it started to be offered on weekdays on priest's day off and whenever he had to be gone for vacation or retreat.  Our bishop decided for various and good reasons to allow Word and Communion Services in our diocese ONLY for a Sunday when a priest is not available for Mass.

I pray that you will choose, on the days I am gone, to come together with your fellow parishioners to pray the rosary and morning prayer at the usual Mass time and know that you and your intentions are being offered up by me at the celebration of Mass wherever I happen to be.  I hope in time, I overcome this unhealthy guilt that I have and rejoice that I have always made sure that Mass is offered by some priest on the weekends I am gone.