Monday Message, October 13, 2025

KNOW

Nexus – Ministry Day 2025 – has been postponed until March 21, 2026. Stay tuned.

Administrative Professionals will gather on Friday. Has anyone from your parish signed up? Register here.

We still have space for teens at NCYC. See this page for more information.

Chris Otis is inviting all youth ministry leaders to an evening of food and prayer. See this invite for more information.

Catechist 2.0 notifications will go out this week asking folks to complete their initial formation if they have not already done so. We noticed that 23 people listed as PCLs were not in the Catechist 2.0 group – and should be – so we will be adding you. The next time you log in, you may notice that change.

Speaking of LEAD, there is a Lunch and Learn this week in Stamford. Details here.

Check out the new series from Loyola Press in LEAD for catechist formation – and for PCLs.

We have a few spaces left for the diocesan delegation to Exchange 2026. Check it out here and let Bill know if you want to go.

The Carlo Project meets on Saturday. Are your teens included? If not, email Bill.

REFLECT

I think the first time my son, now 17, figured out that the interstate is littered with service stations that all look alike he was about 10. We were driving somewhere and from the comfort of the back seat, I hear, “Are we lost, because we have passed that gas station about five times?”

To him, the service plazas all looked alike and he was concerned that his old man was circling the same one again and again.

Things do not always appear the way they seem.

Now that faith formation has begun in many of our parishes, we are inundated with calls from those who did not register, have not participated in years, are in need of sacraments, and are suddenly finding the need for God in their lives.

We mutter and we complain. We are inconvenienced and annoyed. “What is wrong with these people?” we ask. “Where were they when this stuff was in the bulletin for weeks on end?”

So this week, stop for a moment and remember that people carry things we cannot imagine: sickness, death of a loved one, being overwhelmed by the little things. Maybe the family has been so concerned about being unemployed that faith formation was not a priority. Maybe the elderly relative they have been caring for has taken all their energy.

And yes, maybe they are just lazy.

But, as my son will tell you, things are not always what they seem. Instead of frustration, welcome the lost and those who have forgotten. Your tone and your reaction will determine whether they stay or leave.

Invite. Don’t criticize.

The reasons don’t matter. Our reactions do.

Have a good week.

pjd

LAUGH