June 16, 2002
Father's Day
Celebrating
Gifts
As
different staff members move on to new ministries, we take the time
to celebrate their lives among us.
Today we celebrate Father Rolando at the 11:30 Spanish mass; next Sunday
we celebrate Stephanie Clagnaz at the 10am Mass, Mary Jane Witte at
the 11:30 mass and Jennifer Gallagher at the 6pm Rock mass. Each mass
will be followed by a time of fellowship so that we can spend time with
those who have given so much to the life of St. Brigid’s parish
family.
Cool Way to Pray
If you’d like to try out a new interactive prayer site online,
go to the St. Brigid’s home page and click on the “Church
Interactive” link.
Away
at College?
If you know of a St. Brigid parishioner who
is away at college, you can help us stay in touch through our parish’s
weekly “letter from home”. Send in their name and e-mail address
just click here.
Today’s Bible Quote
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
--Matthew 9
Technology Ministry
If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us
know by filling in our
online form
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
June 9: Fall Mass
Schedule
June 2: Summer Plans
May 26: Spreading
the Faith
May 19: Passing Grace
May 12: Changing
Times
May 5: Reason for Hope
April 28: Changing
Ministry
April 21: The Poor Are Hurt
Again
April 14: Celebrating
50 Days
April 7: Where have
they put him?
March 31: Alleluia!
Alleluia!
March 24: Hardly
Hosanna
March 17: Roll The
Stone Back
March 10: Here's
Mud In Your Eye
March 3: Our Local
Drought
Feb 24: Welcoming
Bishop Murphy
Feb 17: We Will Rise
Again
Feb 10: Very
Good Now
Feb 3: The Multi
Cultural Church
Jan 27: Appealing
Words
Jan 20:Our
Wonderful School
Jan 13: Changing
Times
Jan 6: Farewell Father
Augustine
Jesus tells his dicisples to call God “Abba”,
the Aramaic equivalent of “Dad” or “Daddy” or “Pops”
( or whatever endearing name you call your father). So on this Father’s
Day, we ought to pause and remember not only our own fathers, but the
“Father of us all”.
Try this little exercise: Take a piece of
paper and write down the good qualities you see in different fathers you
know. Then on another sheet of paper, write down the quailites you see
in God. Then compare the two lists.
Of course we have an insight into God our
Father because of our relationship with our own father. So often we see
the goodness in our own Dads and then imagine that goodness multiplied
and amplified in God. (Sometimes people also project their fathers’
weaknesses on God too and this can be a reason that some people struggle
with their relationship with God.)
This little exercise can help in two ways:
We can appreciate how our fathers have helped us to grow closer to God
through their supporting love, care, forgiveness and generosity. And those
who are fathers can look to see what God-like qualities they already show
and which they’ll want to grow in.
When you see or call your Dad this weekend,
why not take the time to share with him some of the things you’ve
noticed about how he has shown you the qualities of God? Take the time
to thank him for those good qualities. And be sure to thank God our Father
for blessing your Dad with those strengths.
For people who struggle with their relationship
with their fathers or with God, Father’s Day could be an opportunity
to let go of some of the past hurts and to be open to a new year of openness
and growth.
To all the Fathers in our parish, I ask God to bless you with wisdom and
understanding, strength and courage, gentleness and compassion, and much
love.
