The generous volunteers who clean the shrine church every Monday morning reported finding candy, gum and cough drop wrappers around the church.

This leads to the inescapable conclusion that people are eating and chewing gum during Mass, which I have witnessed on several occasions.

This is inappropriate and disrespectful, to say the least.

It is similar to what I have written about dressing properly for Mass. To a large degree many have lost their sense of the sacred. God’s house is holy and He is present there in a unique way.

Let us all strive to dress and act accordingly.

Thank you.

-Fr. Peter