Pastor's Letter-- August 9, 2020

I am excited to be the sponsor for my niece's Confirmation this week. I will get to travel back to my home parish for the event, which is always a blessing. I have not made it home much the past six months because we are trying to let mom and dad stay in a good, low-risk quarantine. I am looking forward to seeing the family again. About three weeks ago we were together for a family vacation.

More and more I realize how much of a blessing my family has been in my life. It is truly a beautiful thing to have grown up with such a huge and messy gang, which we affectionately called the "Coonan clan." While we certainly had fights and struggles and scars to prove them, more importantly we had our faith and a deeper love to overcome the conflicts. The faith is a gift. Without it, our love would have never been enough. Without my parents and older siblings trying to live the faith, I do not think I would be your pastor today. Without my wider family of grandparents and aunts/uncles, I do not think I could have become a priest either. Also, and especially, without my parish family, my "extended faith-family," God would have had to do some pretty amazing things. These are the reflections of gratitude that fill my heart and mind as I prepare for my niece's Confirmation. She needs a similar support system to grow in her faith. "It takes a village..."

Our parish wants to be that "village" that helps to foster the faith of others. During this time of COVID precautions, it is especially difficult to feel attached to the parish family. However, the opportunity for more intentional family time is certainly present. How do we strengthen that connection between our home and our church? This is one of the "million dollar questions" that continues to pop into my mind. Keep praying to the Holy Spirit to guide our parish in its progress towards these plans for evangelization, parishioner enrichment, and relationship-building.

I was also able to witness something beautiful this week that I'd like to share. This was just one of the ways I saw God working this past week. One of our parishioners who has been on super-quarantine (for very good reasons) happened to make a visit to the parish office. This person has been watching the video for Mass online each Sunday and said that tears come to their eyes each week at Communion time, thinking "I should be there" (if not for COVID). When the parishioner found me in the office, they were emboldened to ask to receive Communion for the first time in five months, which was my great pleasure to oblige. We did a short ceremony of prayers before reception, and her tears and faith were a beautiful witness to me of the importance of both the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and of the parish in her life. Being a priest is a blessing because you get to witness some amazing moments of God working in people's lives. As long as I hang on tight and try to follow His lead, I just get to be along for the ride and see the amazing sights.

Hallelujah! Saint Thérèse, Little Flower, pray for us!