The bishop travels to the diocese with the monstrance to share the hope of the Blessed Sacrament

The Catholic bishop of New Hampshire has arrived today in every part of his diocese throughout the state - south, east, west, north and center - brought the Blessed Sacrament and the "light of Christ" to the communities to console and courage them a reason to have hope during this pandemic.

"People are finding in the faith there is a reason to have hope," Bishop Peter A. Libasci of Manchester told Catholic News Service on April 20.

By guiding himself, the bishop has made day trips to various parts of the diocese across the state in the past few weeks. He treated the front passenger seat, he kept the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament, "almost as if it were a tabernacle," he explained, including draping the seat with a corporal, who is a square white linen cloth on which the monstrance place.

He also brought with him the intended vestments that are worn for the Blessed Sacrament, including the humeral veil, a liturgical vestment that covers the shoulders and hands of the bishop or priest while carrying the monstrance.

Libasci held the monstrance and offered a blessing as he walked around various buildings outside, such as a nursing home, a fire station, a church or a medical center. Sometimes he was accompanied by a chaplain or a local pastor, always observing the necessary 6-foot social estrangement.

People looked out the windows and made the sign of the cross, as they would do during Eucharistic adoration, and "they were all very moved," Libasci said.

At the St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Laconia, New Hampshire, when he was told of a resident in a ground floor room "that he was actively dying", and stopped right outside the resident's window.

"The bishop must go out and encourage people," said the bishop when asked why he traveled to the diocese with the Blessed Sacrament. He observed that Pope Francis said that "the doors of the sacristy must open in both directions", and therefore bishops and priests must "go out among the people".

"Even if I could not reach every area" of the diocese, he said, he wanted to do his part to say to the faithful: "So you cannot go to Mass or receive Communion, but we always have at least adoration. ... So you cannot receive, but I must be sure that you can adore the Blessed Sacrament. "

Libasci, 68, said to remember "in the times when people could not receive communion" a cause of their particular circumstances, but "they still came to church and sought that moment of spiritual communion. WE HAD IT In our family “.

He described many touching moments, especially in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, which he believes is the economically depressed area. He stopped without warning while the parish priest of the church of San Patrizio was finishing a private mass in his chapel. "It was a great time," said Libasci, who blessed the parish grounds and blessed the city.

In addition to narrating his journey around the diocese, Libasci also paid tribute to the priests of the diocese. "They are doing so many things they have never done before" because of this pandemic, he told CNS. "They really lengthened by making confessions with all the security measures in place, the livestreamed (masses)" and all sorts of awareness to help their people and communities.

He is also encouraged and appreciated by the "great commitment" of Catholics during this pandemic "through the vision of masses and devotions" online in the diocese. And the priests are "baffled, amazed and so grateful" that the donations of Catholics at this limited time "constant and generous", he said.

As everywhere else in the country, the New Hampshire home stay directive requires the bishop to work at home but in regular contract with other cancellation officials regarding diocesan affairs. He is also spending time, he said, repurposing the "General Instructions of the Roman Missal". He and the priests of the diocese, all in their respective residences, are taking it "small portion for small portion".

The libasci did not want to speculate on when it will reopen its state and when the public masses in the churches must be celebrated again, in order not to "give false hopes".

But for now he is confident that the Lord is at work in the hearts of the people of the diocese, and they feel his "healing presence" and know that Christ is always the way, the truth and the light, even "in the darkest moment . "