From the Pastor’s desk—May 8, 2022

Dear Sacred Heart Family

Today as our country celebrates Mother’s Day, our Church celebrates National Day of Prayer for Vocations.  In many ways these two celebrations share much in common, as motherhood is one of the first and most common vocations.   Without the vocation of motherhood, no others can exist.

This day is more than a chance to give her flowers or a day off from cooking, it is a day to honor our mother.  To honor our mother is to learn from the lessons she taught us, especially the spiritual ones. When we do the good that she taught us, we bring her honor.  

We like to think of ourselves as independent individuals, but none of us could have gotten to this point without her.   Even our faith reminds us we are inter-connected by more than just 23 pairs of chromosomes.   Our actions are a distinct reflection of those who raised us, for better or worse. 

As mothers live their vocation to nurture and educate their children, they also are called to build up the life of the Church in the vocations of their children. It is the responsibility of every Christian Catholic mother to encourage their children to be open to God’s will for their lives, to ask, “What do you want me to be Lord?” not “What do I want to be when I grow up?

This simple question is the start of every vocation.   It is helpful for mothers to give their children/ grandchildren opportunities to expose them to all the vocations of marriage, priesthood, and religious life as well as the dedicated single-life to God.     A good start is to encourage them to grow in their faith.  This could mean taking up a ministry in church as an altar server, a PSR assistant or formator or to enable them to go on a pilgrimage, make a mission trip, or serve in a soup kitchen.  Vocations are always born of service.

What gives a mother her identity is that she is one who gives birth.  But as Jesus reminded Zacchaeus, we must be born from above as well.  Mothers have a crucial role in our second birth, the birth to serve God.  Without the second birth, the first has no meaning. 

Although much of what our world thinks of Mother’s Day is directed by Hallmark, it is more important for us to take the time to thank and pray for our mothers, as so we pray:

Dear God, we ask you to bless our mothers that they may live up to the fulness of their call to bring life into our world and into our Church.   May they always follow the example of our Blessed Mother, who gave her “yes” to her vocation and may they never stop helping their children to be your true children even when it leads them to a cross.  May they have great courage before the crosses of their lives to know your cross is what brings us true life.  Amen

With a heart for Mission,
Fr. Ray