Update to Parish -- Fr Dennis will have to Self-Isolate for at least One Week (until Friday, Nov 20)

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Dear Parishioners.

To update you here.  A couple of weeks ago, I came down with a cold as I often do in the fall.  I got checked out at St. Jude Urgent Care, the doctor agreed, "Yup, you have a cold."  That weekend I stayed at home, to get myself out of the cold, and mostly did.

However, as would often happen to me with colds of years past, the cold having mostly gone away, dropped further down my throat, turning eventually into a cough.  And as in other years, on Thursday, I went to St. Jude's Urgent Care to get some antibiotics to deal with the cough.  They gave them to me. 

BUT then since cough and some shortness of breath are classic symptoms of COVID-19, they asked me to take a COVID test, which given that COVID cases are again rising, and lots of people are in need of the test will now take 5-7 days for results to return.  What good is a test like that?  But of course I took it.

Well, the disease takes its time to develop AND as such the current protocols are that EVEN IF THE TEST COMES BACK NEGATIVE, a symptomatic person is to SELF-ISOLATE for as much as 10 days since symptoms appeared and that they diminish during that time.  So it doesn't really matter if the test takes 5-7 days to come back.  

So yes, I'm taking my antibiotics (C-pack...) hoping that symptoms will go away within a day or two as in years past they would normally do.  However, told by doctors to self-isolate / stay home, because at this point, it's not possible to safely distinguish between COVID and not, I am doing so.  Fortunately the layout of our house makes that quite simple.  

I am also very cognizant of the importance of trying to give good example.  Each week we pray for new parishioners who've contracted COVID-19 and we've buried parishioners and loved ones with COVID-19.  So please take the disease seriously.

We are also blessed with a fairly large clergy staff.  Fr. Sebastian will be taking the English Masses.  Deacons Richard and Roger have offered help as needed.  For the Spanish Masses, this week, we will lean again on our Deacon Tony Luna and Deacon Jose Manuel Chavez from our parish to perform Communion Services.  Fr. David, at 82 years of age, will continue to GIVE GOOD EXAMPLE to our older parishioners, by staying at home, and praying for us (and talking to parishioners on the phone). 

Right now we need to simply plan out the coming weekend / week.  As the coming week unfolds, we'll respond accordingly.  We do have options.  We just want to respond in a thoughtful and hopefully wise manner.

In the meantime, I will certainly accept your prayers!  But honestly let's pray _for everyone_ and _every family_ that has been impacted by this virus, especially those who've suffered the loss of loved ones.  They are the ones who need our prayers / support. 

But above all, may God bless and accompany us all,

Fr. Dennis