To Live the Great Commandment: Love of God and Love of Neighbor
Beginning this weekend, February 8th and 9th, and until Easter, Holy Communion will be offered in one species.
From the Desk of Father John
Community Building and Care: Part one
A question that reverberates or echoes constantly in my thought is: What is the measure of a caring, loving, viable and vibrant parish? Every Advent and Lent we experience memorable events which reflect the nature and identity of our faith community here at Holy Family Parish—loving, caring and compassionate family. First, Deacon Paul and l spent time visiting our sick and aged in nursing institutions and the home bound—it is such a fulfilling and comforting spiritual and religious experience. You can feel the joy and warmth springing from their hearts that we still remember them as full members of our Church. They all remembered with joy and gratitude the Eucharistic ministers who regularly visit them as a reminders the we hold them dear in our thoughts and prayer; who bring Holy Communion to them as reminder that Jesus Christ is the food for our pilgrimage so as to nurture our spiritual life instilling and renewing our hope in eternal life; they also bring the bulletin allowing them to be in touch with the daily joys and challenges of our parish community. It was a pleasure and encouragement to note that they read the bulletin from cover to cover and especially their readiness to help our church where they can. They are not obligated but they consider Holy Family Community as their SPIRITUAL HOME, and above all the story of their lives and families is incomplete without the church of Holy Family.
A vibrant parish faces the world with all the agonies, inequities and challenges found among its parishioners and responds with care, love and justice. People who find themselves in need, lost, marginalized, vulnerable or sick are fed, clothed, nourished and welcomed. Members who are absent or separated from the Community by age or illness are still connected and given loving attention and compassion. I take pride to be your pastor that you have found unique and unmistakable ways to reach and respond to the needs of our parishioners and our neighborhood. The list of concerns and outreach here at Holy Family is extensive, but a vibrant parish, like us, reaches out and serves as disciples have been commanded.
The second rich Advent experience was stepping out of our comfort zone with the Liturgy Committee and the Pastoral Parish Council and gathering the courage to invite, listen and encourage those parishioners who drifted away from the life of our worshipping community and faith, promising that we will support them should they decide to COME BACK HOME to our faith community. And we do miss them! How many of you did their Advent homework or outreach—inviting those who belongs to our faith community, but we miss them every Sunday for the Eucharistic celebration! All those who gave me the opportunity to sincerely listen and share with them were indeed the best Christmas gift—sharing with honesty their hurts and wounds, resentment to the church authority, their broken circle of trust, the effect of the Covid pandemic etc. All concluded with a remark of hope and a surety that when ready they will COME BACK HOME to Holy Family. Sometimes we hold on to anger and resentment toward individuals who have hurt us deeply. Maybe it was a family member or friend. Perhaps it was someone, (a sister or a priest), or something in the Church. “Will God ever forgive me?” Our modern culture condones and encourages anger and revenge. But hatred and bitterness are spiritual cancers that eat at the heart of a person. The Catholic Church provides the opportunity to seek God's help in forgiving others, even when the other person does not ask for forgiveness or does not deserve it. The ability to forgive is a gift that opens a person's heart more fully to God's love and peace. Some of us carry deep spiritual wounds. We struggle with anger at God and the Church over bad things that happen, like for our case, a forced broken relationship with our former pastor, leading us to a deep and disturbing experience of disappointment. This is a situation that the Church of Holy Family cannot change or explain why it did happen. But there are people in the Church who can assist in the process of spiritual healing and help you get on with your life. Believe it or not, ASH WEDNESDAY is just around the corner: March 5th, just about a month from this weekend! Ash Wednesday and Lent have always been moments when those who’ve been absent from church life make a special effort to return. I’m encouraging you to contribute to the life of Holy Family by looking for ways to welcome back those who have been away from our parish life and prayer. Our task is to give the invitation and open the door for them. We need then to rely on God’s grace and the willingness of those invited for their return. It is my prayer our faith community will provide a welcoming home for those who would like to come back home to the Catholic Church. We plan to have an annual festival pledged with either potluck lunch or dinner as an opportunity for all members of the parish to come together including welcoming our new parishioners. It is an opportunity to meet new people, work for the good of the parish, and have a good time.
God bless and l love you all, Fr. John
Mission Statement
To live the Great Commandment
Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.' And
'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22: 37-38