Struggling to find peace in Advent

[Rollen]

Hello everyone! Today is Gaudete Sunday and yet, my mind is overwhelmed with a situation I face. I went to confession yesterday to prepare for Advent but trials still come before me and I am unsure how to handle them.

My situation is this: There is a prohibition in my area due to Covid in which private gatherings are prohibited.

A friend that I have had a friendship with for a very long time is having a birthday and has invited my family to join. I don’t want to go, however, my parents plan on going.

Despite this, I feel like a hypocrite because I go to mass during the weekdays and weekend and many people are gathering there, so how could I say that I don’t want to go to my friend’s birthday party? And If I don’t plan on going, I would feel bad for disobeying my parent’s desire for me to come I believe, as well as potentially hurting this friendship I cherish. It would be awkward if my parents go and I don’t go with them…

Any advice/comments on the situation would be appreciated, and as an FYI I struggle with scrupulosity.

 

[puer.dei]

I go to mass during the weekdays and weekend and many people are gathering there, so how could I say that I don’t want to go to my friend’s birthday party?

Is your church enforcing the local guidelines on masking and social distancing? Is your friend’s birthday party allowed under the local rules? Will they be requiring masking and social distancing?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Is your church enforcing the local guidelines on masking and social distancing? Is your friend’s birthday party allowed under the local rules? Will they be requiring masking and social distancing?

Yeah, the issue with parties and private gatherings is that unlike Catholic Mass (or at least the Masses around here), people at parties usually aren’t wearing masks all night, staying 6 feet apart at all times, sanitizing their hands on the way in and out and before eating, and limiting their time in the group space to between 1/2 and 1 hour.

Also, if your friend has been your friend for “a very long time”, he should be understanding if you are worried about catching COVID and don’t want to attend his party. You can always tell him you will make it up to him by taking him to lunch after the pandemic is over.