People from around the diocese who have lost family members or friends to the coronavirus gathered at St. Francis Xavier in Sartell Aug. 25 for a Mass of Remembrance with Bishop Donald Kettler.
“The greatest commandment is to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves,” Bishop Kettler said during his homily. “Keeping this great commandment has challenged us and aided us as we lived with the coronavirus, and it calls us tonight to pray for all those we remember and pray for here tonight.”
Before the Mass people were invited to submit the names of loved ones who have died. The names were entered in the Book of Remembrance, which was located near the altar during the Mass. As of Aug. 27, 644,190 COVID-19 cases had been reported in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. There were some 7,800 virus-related deaths in the state.
