Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Custer, Wisconsin shared a note from Bishop William Callahan. 

“The pandemic has turned our world upside down. Life as we know it is changed. Even our Catholic Church has been hit hard. Our Church has always been our rock in troubled times, our lighthouse guiding us safely home from stormy seas,” Bishop Callahan wrote. 

While this is true, 2020 was not what anyone thought it would be and the Church was limited in what is was able to do to minister to the faithful. 

“We may be tempted to ask ourselves, ‘Is the Church even still worth it?’ or ‘Is the Church even relevant?’ Hear me loud and clear: Yes! The Catholic Church is still important. The Catholic Church is still relevant. Our faith is strong. Our hope endures. Our love for Christ and his love for us has not been compromised,” Bishop Callahan wrote. 

Especially in times of challenge and heartache, we must cling all the more closely to Christ, Our Lord and the Church which he established for us. 

Our faith is what provides us with the inspiration and the strength to carry on, even when it seems as though it is too much to bear. 

“On Easter Sunday, in a nearly-empty St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis spoke of the worldwide impact of COVID-19. He asked the newly Risen Christ to grant hope to all the poor and to all who have been suffering because of the pandemic,” Bishop Callahan wrote. 

While we may be fearful of the pandemic, Pope Francis explained that we must be eager to spread another contagion, that of hope and the Good News of Christ. 

“Let us witness how it impacts the lives of so many of God’s people here in our beloved diocese as we continue to love thy neighbor through our many ministries. Thank you for keeping the faith. And thank you for remaining hopeful,” Bishop Callahan wrote.