Bishop Jenky, Monsignor Halfacre go to new heights to give blessing ahead of Easter

From drive through confessions to live broadcasts of Masses and worship, pastors have gone to great lengths to keep their congregations engaged.

Friday afternoon, which is Good Friday during Holy Week, Monsignor Philip Halfacre, pastor of Streator's Catholic church and faculty at Marquette Academy, and Bishop Daniel Jenky rode in a helicopter thousands of feet in the air to bless the four corners of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria.

"Many are suffering because they are deprived of the opportunity to worship in the typical way — by going to church," Halfacre said in an email. "Our Bishop is keenly aware of this as are all of his priests."

Halfacre said he's been in daily contact with OSF HealthCare of how best the diocese can respond to the pandemic to take prudent steps to stop the chain of transmission of the virus.

"They are also our partners, of course, in terms of how best to respond to those who are sick and those who care for them," Halfacre said. "They came up with the idea that perhaps the Bishop could bless the people of Diocese from the air in one of their helicopters."

The weather was favorable and within an hour Halfacre's contact at OSF asked if they could be available to ride in one of OSF's LifeFlight helicopters.

"I was still in Peoria because I had celebrated the Holy Thursday Mass at the Cathedral," Halfacre said. "The Bishop agreed to the plan and I drove him to the airport. We both went up together. He blessed all the faithful of the Diocese and most especially those who are sick and those who are caring for them. He blessed the city of Peoria and then he blessed toward the north, the south, the east, and the west.

"The Bishop feels very close to the people of the Diocese, especially now. And it was a privilege for me to be able to accompany him."

The bishop's prayer

During the flight to downtown Peoria and back, Jenky offered a prayer composed by the
Vatican for a "Mass in Time of Pandemic." The prayer reads in part as follows:
"Almighty and eternal God, our refuge in every danger, to whom we turn in our distress; in faith we pray look with compassion on the afflicted, grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to
mourners, healing to the sick, peace to the dying, strength to healthcare workers, wisdom to
our leaders and the courage to reach out to all in love, so that together we may give glory to
your holy name."
Once downtown and over OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and nearby St. Mary's Cathedral, Halfacre asked the pilot to turn to the north, east, south, and west. The
bishop then offered a blessing out the helicopter window in each direction.