May
13, 2006
Celebrating
Mothers
How Time Flies
Twenty three years ago this morning, I knelt in front of Bishop McGann
who ordained me to the priesthood. Over these years I rejoice that God
called me to this ministry. There have been joyful times and hard times,
but I have never once regretted this vocation. I mention this so you
can pray for me as I enter my 24th year, but also so you could talk
to young people about the vocation to the priesthood and religious life.
Perhaps it is unfashionable in today’s society to consider priesthood
as a way of life, but let’s not keep it a secret that this is
a rewarding and fulfilling vocation.
Changing
Staff
Our Business Manager, Tony Owen, is no longer at St. Brigid's for personal
reasons. We appreciate all the good things he did for our parish,
including leading the music at Sunday 7am masses. Please pray
for him and for our staff as we go through this transition time.
Census
Continues
Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve
received completed Census booklets from over 2,000. So we’ve got
a ways to go.
Is your booklet in?
CollegeStudents
If you know students who are away at college, let us know so we can
keep touch via e-mail.
Sign up here!
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past Columns:
May 6: Celebrating Priests
April30: Baked Fish
April 23: What we hear
April 16: Out of the Tomb
April 9: Jesus, Our Source
of Peace
April 2: NOW, Can you Hear
Me?
Mar 26: Can You Hear Me
Again?
Mar 19: Can You Hear Me
Now?
Mar 12: Now Take 4Steps
March 5: Take A Step
Feb 26:Coming Home
Feb19: Visiting Heros
Feb 12: Passing Pastor
Feb 4: Annual Appeal
Jan 22: Abandoned Nets
Jan 15: Everlasting Life
Jan 8: I'm not going to
jail..
Jan 1: Happy New Year
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns from
2003
Columns from 2002
Jesus
talks about how the word of God “prunes” us so that we’ll
bear much fruit. I think the word of mothers functions the same way. When
we’re little and our mother’s tell us “no” when
we’re attracted to the stove or the electrical outlet, when our
mothers tell us “You can do it!” when we’re trying to
walk or play an instrument or a sport -- these words “prune”
us to be fruitful.
As we celebrate Mother’s
Day during this Easter season we recognize God’s presence in the
act of motherhood. Over the years authors have shared insights into motherhood
that could also be quotes that describe God’s love. Here are acouple
of examples... Charlotte Gray once said, “Becoming a mother makes
you the mother of all children. From now on each wounded, abandoned, frightened
child is yours. You live in the suffering mothers of every race and creed
and weep with them. You long to comfort all who are desolate.” Washington
Irving wrote, “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials,
heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity;
when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles
thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind
precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace
to return to our hearts.”
See? These quotes remind us of
both God and mothers. Indeed much of our own spirituality comes from the
way our mothers loved us, challenged us, “pruned” us, nurtured
us.
So this day, let us not only honor
our mothers because it is the social convention to do so. Let us reflect
on how they helped us to come to know and believe in our life-giving God.
Jesus told his disciples that God wants them to bear “good fruit”
and I believe that’s what mothers have always wanted for their children
too -- that their children make a positive contribution to the world we
live in, that their lives and work are good fruit that feeds the world
with loving and joyful acts.
