Monday Message, February 7, 2022
KNOW
Yes, the Christmas wreath still hangs on the front door of our house, but guess what? The Lenten Posters are here and ready for pick up. We printed plenty and are not taking orders online. If you want them, come to the office between 8:30 and 4:30 and pick them up. Why the change? In the last two seasons of posters, we have counted, sorted, and put aside piles of posters that never get picked up. Unfortunately, we have even told folks we are out when there are piles waiting to be picked up. To make all that nonsense go away, we just printed about what we usually give away and put them in piles of 50. If you want to call ahead, let Carmela know (203-416-1657) or send her an email and let her know how many piles of fifty you will be getting. That way, she can leave them with Fran at the front desk. In the meantime, check out the Lenten Resource page.
And yes, we will bring loads of posters to the Gender Identity workshop on 2/23 if you would rather pick them up then.
Speaking of Gender Identity, be sure to join us at St. Catherine of Siena (Trumbull) McGlinch Family Hall for the following workshops:
- Wednesday, February 23 at 1:00 pm
- Wednesday, April 6 at 10:00 am
- Wednesday May 11 at 10:00 am
We still have copies of Everyone Leads by Chris Lowney if your parish would like to put a reading group together. A study guide is included. We will host Chris for lunch at St. Elizabeth Seton in Ridgefield at 11 am on March 10th. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Carmela Williams.
We will host a workshop for adults who are practicing Catholics and lack only Confirmation. As you know, these individuals will be confirmed on Pentecost Sunday (not the Easter Vigil). If you have a plan to offer formation for adult Catholics who lack only Confirmation, please proceed. If you do not or wish to offer the Institute workshop as an alternative, please invite them to the diocesan workshop on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at St. Thomas the Apostle in Norwalk. Registration is online.
REFLECT
This week, we hear throughout the Gospel readings the need to let God be in control and to avoid the temptation to be the one who always makes the rules. Oftentimes, it is the man-made rules that we cling to – either because of the control it gives us or the illusion that we are in charge. The reality is that God’s commands for us are simple: Love one another. We are challenged to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, bury the dead…. you know the drill.
And yet, we seem to work in an environment that sometimes values policies and guidelines above a reasonable response. When we meet a family whose eight year old is in need of Baptism, do we recite a list of rules and shame the family for having waited so long, or do have a conversation, inquire about the family’s needs, and then do what is necessary to make sure the child – and his parents – are welcomed into our community. When a child wanders away from faith formation, do we rigidly ask that they go back and do everything they’ve missed or do we get creative in our response?
God is in charge. It is God who welcomes. It is God who heals. It is God who teaches. We are missionaries, not messiahs.
It helps to keep that in mind.
LAUGH
Photo by Kevin Oetiker on Unsplash