Jesus Interrupted

A Big Surprise
Last Saturday, our Coordinator for Liturgy and Stewardship , Estelle Peck, gave me the news that the Faith Formation office of the Diocese had offered her the position of the coordinator of Adult Faith Formation. Estelle accepted the position and will begin her work in the diocese at the end of the summer. I have such a mixed reaction to this development: First, I’m happy for Estelle and the diocese. Estelle will be able to bring so much of St. Brigid’s to the rest of the church on Long Island. This will be a needed “shot in the arm” for the church. However, I know we will feel the loss of Estelle here at St. Brigid’s. While she’ll remain a parishioner, her full-time work at St. Brigid’s will need to be done by others. I know I’ll miss her daily input into life here. We’ll soon schedule a celebration to send Estelle forth to her new ministry.

Sommer in the Summer
Each summer, I look for opportunities to get together with parish families for conversation (and dessert). It works like this -- give me a call (or e-mail me) with a possible date; invite friends and neighbors over (around 12 is a good number); think of questions or topics you’d like to discuss; make dessert.
This is a good way for me to hear what people are interested in or concerned about and to get to meet them outside the church setting. You can reach me via e-mail:
shepherd@saintbrigid.net

Welcome Home
Many of our college students are home for the summer and we’re happy to see them back at St. Brigid’s on the weekends. Congratulations to all who successfully completed another semester and especially to all who graduated Congratulations to all who are graduating from high school too.

Census Continues
Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve received completed Census booklets from over 4,000. So we’ve got a ways to go.
Is your booklet in?

e-mail Father Ralph:

Past Columns:
June 25: One Here, One to Come
June 18: A Father's Gift
June 11: Charity Begins At Home
June 4: Turning Silver
May 28: Eight Years • Eight Months
May 21: If Any
May14: Celebrating Mothers
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

Columns from 2001


			July 2, 2006 Jesus Interrupted
	A Big Surprise Last Saturday, our Coordinator for Liturgy and Stewardship , Estelle Peck, gave me the news that the Faith Formation office of the Diocese had offered her the position of the coordinator of Adult Faith Formation. Estelle accepted the position and will begin her work in the diocese at the end of the summer. I have such a mixed reaction to this development: First, I’m happy for Estelle and the diocese. Estelle will be able to bring so much of St. Brigid’s to the rest of the church on Long Island. This will be a needed “shot in the arm” for the church. However, I know we will feel the loss of Estelle here at St. Brigid’s. While she’ll remain a parishioner, her full-time work at St. Brigid’s will need to be done by others. I know I’ll miss her daily input into life here. We’ll soon schedule a celebration to send Estelle forth to her new ministry. Sommer in the Summer Each summer, I look for opportunities to get together with parish families for conversation (and dessert). It works like this -- give me a call (or e-mail me) with a possible date; invite friends and neighbors over (around 12 is a good number); think of questions or topics you’d like to discuss; make dessert. This is a good way for me to hear what people are interested in or concerned about and to get to meet them outside the church setting. You can reach me via e-mail: shepherd@saintbrigid.net Welcome Home Many of our college students are home for the summer and we’re happy to see them back at St. Brigid’s on the weekends. Congratulations to all who successfully completed another semester and especially to all who graduated Congratulations to all who are graduating from high school too. Census Continues Of the approximate 6,000 families we usually send mail to, we’ve received completed Census booklets from over 4,000. So we’ve got a ways to go. Is your booklet in? e-mail Father Ralph: Past Columns: June 25: One Here, One to Come June 18: A Father's Gift June 11: Charity Begins At Home June 4: Turning Silver May 28: Eight Years • Eight Months May 21: If Any May14: Celebrating Mothers 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 Columns from 2001	The gospel this weekend (Mark 5:21-43) reveals some pretty remarkable things -- not the least of which is Jesus’ power to raise the dead. But in the story of Jesus going to give life back to the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue official, he is interrupted by a woman who simply touches Jesus to obtain healing. What is remarkable to me is that Jesus stops and looks around to see who needed his healing. When the woman comes forward to admit that she touched him to be healed, Jesus spends some time with her and rewards her for her faith. It’s not that I’m impressed with Jesus’s willingness to heal -- I expect that. Rather it’s the context that makes me take notice: he’s on his way to an emergency. Jairus’ daughter is dying. Every minute counts. This woman has been sick for twelve years. An extra hour or so won’t make that much difference. But instead of telling the woman, “I can’t talk to you you now -- I’m doing some more important emergency work,” he stops and offers her complete healing right then and there. What challenges me about this gospel is that my life is often interrupted. I’ve got lots of “important” things to do. But then come the unexpected situations. I can either treat the unexpected as “interruptions” or “appointments” -- not MY, appointments of course, but GOD”S appointments. The more I reflect on life, the more I notice that many of the blessings and moments of grace have come when I haven’t planned for them. Rather God has sent people into my life at times and in ways that I could not have foretold. And my life is much richer for paying attention. This summer, we all have plans for what these months could bring. I suspect that even the best plans will be interrupted. Instead of finding this annoying, this time let’s look for the blessings God intends us to find in the unexpected.


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