St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

This past week, my family celebrated the birthdays of my mother and my youngest sister.  Though I could not be with them physically on those special days, I did call them on the telephone, to offer my love. And by God’s grace, I did remember to pray for them. Family and gratitude and prayer. Our families are of all types and all sizes. Some seem almost perfect, while others seem to rock and roll, between joy and all out destruction. Some seem to run like clockwork while others have to work very hard to “work” at all. The word dysfunction might now be the norm, so they say. Most of us seem to shake our heads these days, wondering about “the family”.

But here’s the thing: we need one another. We need the family. The family is a gift for every son and daughter, for every mother and father. My family might well be defined as dysfunctional. We’ve had our share of difficulties. Those difficulties persist. But the Lord knows that we love each other and that we try and support each other... imperfectly, yes... but with gusto. This summer, take a look again at your family. Take a look at your family with both mind and heart. Then, try and take a look at your family through the eyes of the Lord Jesus, in prayer. How did he live as a member of his family? Heart-felt gratitude will come our way as we begin to see things clearly, through a new set of eyes... through the eyes of one that has overcome dysfunction and destruction and despair... overcome all through the power of his obedient love. In your prayer this summer, please try and remember that our parish is a family, needing support and strength, patience and perseverance, generosity and joy. Family and gratitude and prayer: a nice triple-play for the summer months.

Here’s some important news: (1) With the work of taking the survey of our “building project” opinions having been completed a few days ago, we will soon offer the results of the survey to the parish. I’ll announce the dates and times of these presentations through the bulletin and on our web page. (2) After seeing the long lines on Saturday afternoon, of those of our parish family wanting to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I have decided to offer an additional scheduled time for the Sacrament. So, beginning on Saturday, the 21st of July, the parish will offer another scheduled time for the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated every Saturday morning (from 8 to 9 A.M.), in the reconciliation room nearest the choir and every Saturday afternoon (as currently scheduled, from 3:30 to 5:00 P.M.) in both of our reconciliation rooms.

As we embrace the invitation of faith, the Spirit allows us (slowly) to see ourselves as we are. As individuals and as members of a family and as members of this parish, each of us begins to see ourselves openly, truthfully... as broken by sin... yet redeemed by love. True gratitude comes when each of us recognizes the truth: God has loved us into existence. God has loved us first. God has loved us even while we ran away from any mention of the Divine. This is the message of Jesus... and of his Prodigal Father. Family and gratitude and prayer. What kind of (parish) family would we be if we sought to be reconciled to God and to one another... fully, daily and with gusto? Blessings in the work of love.

Msgr. David

< Prev		Next >