Dear Parish Family,
Greetings to our “stay at home” families! I hope you are doing well and staying safe in these challenging times. On a positive note, at least you have come to the awareness that God hasn’t called you to the cloistered life in a monastery!!! Whew! I know it’s been difficult, but you continue to inspire me with your faithfulness, compassion and generosity in this time of adversity.
As we journey through this month of May, we can reflect on how it’s usually a month filled with gatherings, celebrations, First Communions, weddings, ordinations, school award assemblies, concerts, plays, and sporting events. What a different May we will experience this year. I feel especially bad for our young people. But as Christians, we’ve certainly learned a lot about how to carry a cross from our Lord who stands beside us through this journey. Christ is our greatest source of strength and peace in times of uncertainty. Eventually this challenge will be overcome, and we’ll get back to a more normal way of life. The many things that have had to be cancelled will somehow be rescheduled. We need to persevere in faith and patience and hope. We’ll be ok.
May is also a month dedicated to Our Lady. She has always watched over humanity as a mother watches over her children. We pray that she continues to intercede for us and guide us through this challenging journey.
Saint John Paul II wrote this about Mary.
“Mary has gone before us on the way of faith; believing the angel’s message, she was the first to welcome the mystery of the Incarnation and did so perfectly….. Hers was a daring faith. At the Annunciation she believed what was humanly impossible, and at Cana she urged Jesus to work his first miracle, pressing him to manifest his messianic powers. Mary teaches Christians to live their faith as a demanding and engaging journey, which, in every age and situation of life, requires courage and constant perseverance.”
God bless you all and a special shout out to all MOTHERS – we love you!!!
Fr. Rick