Father J. D. Jaffe and Father Mark Moretti | Christ the Redeemer, Sterling, VA

Submitted by: Lisa Orosa

I am a parishioner at a nearby parish but I was thoroughly impressed with the response of the priests at Christ the Redeemer during the pandemic. While other parishes immediately cut back on services and closed their doors, especially during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic, Fr. Jaffe and Fr. Moretti recognized the need for more access to the sacraments and to Jesus, in a way that was safe and in compliance with the guidelines of the CDC. With no access to the Eucharist, they allowed access to the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the main church, practically the entire day (7 a.m. - 8 p.m.). With the size of the Church, the faithful were able to pray and keep social distancing. In addition, Fr. Jaffe and Fr. Moretti also offered Confession during most of those hours by setting up Confession stations in the main Church with Gregorian chant music playing in the background. This allowed penitents to go to the sacrament in a safe and open environment, while maintaining the privacy and secrecy of the confessional.

Their commitment to the poor, especially during this crisis, is inspiring. Since April 11, 2020, Christ the Redeemer has given out over $330,000 in financial assistance to 189 families, which is an average of $1750 per household.

I am sure that there are many more people who can add to the blessings they received through the faithful ministry of these two priests. Considering all they have done to serve their parishioners, given that these two priests have only been with the parish for the last two years is a testament to their love for Christ and His people. We are grateful to God for the blessing of these hero priests.

These priests have filled me with hope at the time of the pandemic. Given that I am not a parishioner here, I feel blessed that I was able to pray before the Blessed Sacrament and be close to Jesus. I am grateful that me and my family were able to go to Confession and inspired even those who have been away from the Church to go to Confession for the first time in a long time. Through their ministry, I was able to help in sharing my blessings with the needy families in our local community. My faith in God and in His Church has deepened due to the faithfulness of these priests.

Fr. Jaffe & Fr. Moretti have done countless more service to their parishioners and neighbors, even pre-pandemic. They offered daily Confession, opened their facilities to homeschooling families, provided for needy families, and inspired all to grow in our devotion to God and compassion toward our neighbor. I praise God for these wonderful priests!

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church Website | National Catholic Register: Here’s the Secret to Long Confession Lines