July
23, 2006
Come
away!
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
Father
Wismick Farewell
Don’t
forget our farewell to Father Wismick will be next Sunday, July 30th
at the 2:30pm Kreyol Mass and a reception at 4pm on St. Brigid’s
Green.
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:
July 16: Got a Mission?
July 9:Missing God
July 2: Jesus Interrupted
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
“Come
away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” This is
what Jesus told his apostles (today’s gospel Mark 6:30-34) after
they had returned from a mission trip to various villages. The gospel
explains, “ People were coming and going in great numbers,and they
had no opportunity even to eat.”
I took Jesus’ advice in anticipation
of this week’s gospel and I’m sitting in my vacation hammock
(yes I brought my laptop on vacation -- but who doesn’t nowadays?)
enjoying my out of the way place. But “no opportunity to eat?”
Perish the thought. I’ve been with my folks all week -- today a
slew of aunt and uncles arrive too -- and there’s lots of delicious
food. We count our blessings to be living in a land where food is bountiful
(and inexpensive -- though some of that is due to the migrant workers
who have spent these hot days in the fields); war is half a world a way
-- the only “bombs bursting in air” are the occasional fire
crackers someone lights up the block. We’re enjoying each other’s
company.
Sure, gas is more expensive, but
the sunset over Long Island Sound is free (I wouldn’t know about
the sunrises.)-- as are the lightning storms.
Getting away gives us the chance to pause and appreciate our blessings.
What blessings are YOU thankful for this summer?
It’s good to take some time
away from the usual routine -- whether it involves going away or just
going over to Eisenhower Park for an evening concert, or heading for an
evening walk on the beach.
The striking thing about the gospel
is that the crowds figured out where Jesus was going before he got there.
And when he arrived his plans for a quiet gathering with his apostles
were ruined. Yet he didn’t get angry -- he just realized that this
was a new opportunity to reach folks. And as we’ll see in the coming
weeks, he certainly reached folks. Perhaps there’s a lesson in that
for all of us when OUR vacation plans don’t go exactly as desired.
Something more wondrous might be about to happen.
