The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SAYING THANKS
Priest did ‘so much’: Sacred Heart Chapel parishioners organize parade Pastor’s reaction: ‘It’s great all the love they give back’
“It was hard not to shed a tear seeing how everyone came. These people want to come to church; it’s all about Jesus Christ, man.”
— A.J. “Nacho” Torres, Sacred Heart Chapel parishioner
Organizer points to Thaden’s efforts with food delivery program
Father Bill Thaden of Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain received a huge thankyou from his parishioners for what he has done during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The parishioners organized a car parade and celebration in the church’s parking lot, 4301 Pearl Ave., featuring some homemade signs and music, to thank Thaden for keeping things going amid limitations created by COVID-19.
One of the event’s organizers was A.J. “Nacho” Torres, a parishioner of Sacred Heart.
“We have been planning this for about two weeks, because he had done so much for the community,” Torres said. “He was one of the first ones to start live streaming services online, so we can watch during this time when folks are staying at home.”
Torres said the church also was a source for food delivery.
“On Wednesdays, we started, for the senior citizens in the parish and community members who can’t get to the store, having people donating food,” he said. “We have six women who cook the meals here and then we distribute them throughout the city.
“(Thaden) has really made sure this stuff continues, and he has really kept us going.”
Torres said he hopes to soon return to having Mass at the church.
“I hope we can return to normal,” he said. “I think I saw the date of May 25, so it would be the Sunday after that, so May 31 for our first big mass.”
Torres said he loved how the car parade turned out.
“This was outstanding,” he said. “It’s so emotional to be part of this community.
“It was hard not to shed a tear seeing how everyone came. These people want to come to church; it’s all about Jesus Christ, man.”
Thaden said he was surprised by all the people who showed up.
“I did not know what was going on at first,” he said.
“When I knew they were all gathering to see me ... it’s great all the love that they give back.
“It was great how well it all went. At first, they told me just a few people wanted to say ‘thank you’
The Diocese of Cleveland announces that the celebration of weekday Mass will resume on May 25 to prepare for the public celebration of Pentecost on the weekend of May 30-31.
This soft reopening of churches for weekday Mass on May 25reflects a desire to allow sufficient time for pastors and parish staffs to prepare to welcome the faithful back to church.
The diocese has developed guidelines which provide general instructions for parishes and the faithful for the resumption of public Mass. Find them at www.dioceseofcleveland.org/forward-inchrist/overview.
The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains in effect. The Easter duty obligation is extended for a period of one year from the end of the Easter season 2020.
and then it just kept growing. I don’t know how they got this going without me finding out.”