Prayer – Our Foundation

1.      In the Diocese of La Crosse, with the temporary cancellation of public Masses, daily and Sunday Masses in both English and Spanish can be seen at  www.diolc.org/live.  A number of parishes are also livestreaming and recording their Sunday Mass.  Check your parish website.  And please remember to continue to support your parish as you are able, since it will be without the usual Sunday collection. Your parish website may have an online donation option, or you can mail it to the parish office.

2.      Pope Francis has asked Christians around the world to join him in praying the Lord’s Prayer on March 25, asking God for deliverance from the pandemic.  He also invited spiritual participation in a prayer service over which he will preside at 6:00 pm Rome time (Noon CDT) on March 27 from the front of St. Peter’s Basilica. At its conclusion, he will offer a blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city of Rome and to the world”), with the Blessed Sacrament.

3.      A priest has called for spiritual adoption, through praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, of COVID-19 victims dying alone. This heartbreaking reality has been seen often in northern Italy, as desperately ill, quarantined patients have been dying without family to comfort them. Learn more here.

4.      The US Bishops’ website has a page of resources for Catholics at home during this time, including links for Online Masses, prayers and readings.

5.      Fr. Rocky of Relevant Radio has extended an invitation to join a “Prayer vs. Pandemic” initiative, through which you pledge to pray daily for God’s intervention.  Relevant Radio’s website displays a map showing the locations of all those praying. To join, Click here or on the image above.

1.   Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse had to act quickly in light of social distancing requirements and the reality of their three large warming centers for the homeless.  In La Crosse and Wausau, Catholic Charities has been able to move its warming centers temporarily to other locations large enough to ensure that no homeless person need spend the night out in the cold. Of course, in addition to this sudden huge challenge, Catholic Charities has had to carry on – and intensify – the rest of its vital work for the poor and the vulnerable.  If you are considering donating to a charity in this hour of need, please put Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse at the top of your list. Visit https://cclse.org/donatecc.  There is also a great need for volunteers of all kinds – visit https://cclse.org/volunteer-opportunities/.

2.      Support local businesses
Restaurants, café’s, coffee shops, etc. are in economic distress because they cannot offer dine-in services, only take-out.  Now is the time to patronize them through take-out orders and the purchase of gift certificates.

One business in Tennessee, a food truck, started feeding senior citizens isolated as a result of coronavirus.  You can read about it here.

3.   Sew Face Masks for healthcare facilities.
On March 22 an email was circulating that explained how to make face masks
to donate to healthcare facilities, nursing homes or other institutions experiencing a shortage and linking to this PDF. Before beginning this project, you are encouraged to verify the need at facilities near you, since the government and industry leaders have stepped up to increase the supply of these vital face masks.

4.      Contribute to food drives for your local food pantries. If there ever was a need to keep the pantries stocked, it is now. Do an Internet search to find out where to give near you. Sometimes the opportunity comes right to your doorstep, as in this “Scouting for Food” initiative.

5.      Help elderly neighbors pick up groceries, medicine.  The Nextdoor app, which connects people with others in their neighborhoods, is full of folks offering to help higher-risk individuals with whatever they need as they self-isolate. Whether it’s picking up food, groceries, or medicine. 

6.    Make video calls with family, especially those who are more isolated. Many platforms exist for this, including Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc.   As we stay at home, we can build up our communion with family and friends.  Don’t forget to end by praying together.

7.   Read and share with others, “Seven ways to manage ‘COVID Stress Syndrome,'” an excellent article by Dr. Greg Popcak.

8.  Petition Governor Tony Evers to shut down Wisconsin’s abortion facilities Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has issued the Emergency “Safer at Home Order,” which states that “the number of people needing medical care due to COVID-19 will significantly exceed the amount of available healthcare resources…” And, yet, abortionists continue to operate – taking innocent human lives and depriving COVID-19 victims of necessary supplies and personnel. This joint petition, between LifeSite and Pro-Life Wisconsin, calls on Governor Evers to immediately shut down Wisconsin’s abortion facilities for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency order. Abortion is not healthcare, and it certainly is not “essential” healthcare.

Contact Information

Office for Ministries and Social Concerns
Phone: 608.791.0161
Fax: 608.791.2675

Christopher J. Ruff, S.T.L., Director

Jen Mickschl, Secretary