As of early this afternoon, 36 states have issued “Shelter
in Place” orders in some counties, and in some cases statewide. Utah’s Summit County is among them, and according
to stories that ran on the local news on Tuesday, Governor Herbert hasn’t ruled
out a statewide order. As a former
teacher who was in the classroom in this post-Columbine era of school
shootings, Shelter in Place sounds very familiar to me. It’s what we called a soft lockdown. Continue with activities in the classroom,
just don’t let anyone leave or go outside.
These statewide orders are similar. It comes down to staying home unless it is
absolutely necessary for you to go out.
What would this mean for us as Catholics? Public celebrations of the Mass are already
suspended. It would mean, if enforced,
that we might not be able to go to our churches, even individually, for private
prayer, as is the case in Summit County.
It means that our Domestic Church – our churches in our own
homes consisting of us, the people of God – would need to be stronger than
ever. One can engage in private prayer
anywhere at any time. Don’t be discouraged. Take heart, and pray for God to be our
shelter during this time of uncertainty.
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