Dear Sunday Mass Friends in Faith,

I am writing this Summer Letter in the middle of May so that it will get to you by July or August. The weather here in New York is finally getting warmer, and all signs point to summer, however I am hoping the heat of summer does not come too quickly. I want to enjoy the gift of spring!

I have a couple of reason for writing to you today. First, here at The Sunday Mass, we are still not back to what you might call “normal.” We have not had the full music ministry together for The Sunday Mass in over two years and except for the Christmas Mass we have not had a congregation.

Some of you have commented that other TV masses have brought back their full choirs and congregations so why hasn’t The Sunday Mass? Well, the other masses referred to do not tape their masses in New York City. We have been following the rules set down by the city and state of New York. We have also been cautious because some in The Sunday Mass ministry and production teams have been pregnant and/or have family members who are at risk because of their compromised immune systems. So, we have been extra cautious in our approach to getting back to full strength. We hope to have everyone back come October!

My second reason for writing is to extend to you the opportunity to help support The Sunday Mass ministry. I am proud of what we do here at The Sunday Mass. We try to keep the costs of The Sunday Mass production to a minimum, however, producing The Sunday Mass certainly has its costs. I have never asked and will never ask for donations during The Sunday Mass. So, I am using this Summer Letter to extend the invitation to you to help us continue the tradition of The Sunday Mass.

From time to time many of you remind me that you are on fixed incomes and do not have the resources to donate. So, I am presenting you with two options for donating to The Sunday Mass.

Option One: A Prayer Donation. You might not have the resources to make a monetary donation, but you might have the time to donate your prayers. So, why not make a “Prayer Donation” in support of The Sunday Mass. A “Prayer Donation” only costs the time it takes to say a prayer, so I am asking you to offer a simple prayer each day for all of us here at The Sunday Mass. Pray that we will be blessed with the faith and energy to celebrate The Sunday Mass each Sunday so that the Word of God can be proclaimed, and all can gather around the table of the Eucharist. Saying a Prayer for The Sunday Mass can be a wonderful donation and we here at The Sunday Mass would be most grateful and honored to be held in your prayers!

Option Two: A Monetary Donation. I know many of you are and have been faithful supports of The Sunday Mass for a long time. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated! I know that times are tough, especially with what we have gone through these past two years and now because of raising prices, inflation, the war in the Ukraine and many other factors. However, if you would like to help us to be good stewards of The Sunday Mass, and you can afford to, I invite you to help us with a donation.

I have placed before you two options, chose the option that fits your situation best. Help us to continue The Sunday Mass tradition that has been ongoing now for 51 years!

I want you to know that each day I pray Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church which is my responsibility as a religious and a priest. My first petition at each hour of prayer is for the intentions and needs of The Sunday Mass faith community. Thus, each day you are remembered twice in my prayers.

I pray that you will continue to have a blessed, holy, safe, and healthy journey through life and may the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in your heart!

Peace in Christ’s Passion,

Fr. Paul R. Fagan, C.P.
Shepherd of The Sunday Mass