From the Pastor’s desk— February 23, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

Charity begins at home. Some of you may have been reminded of the need for charity at home while couped up together while schools were closed. Someone is always leaving a mess, or bothering someone, or lashing out, or asking for too much. The list goes on. It’s to be bothered or annoyed and to push people away, whether it’s husband, wife, children or brother sister. We constantly have to choose to be kind, to forgive and to ask forgiveness, to be patient. Children must be obedient to their parents and parents must be obedient to God for a home to be truly happy.

It’s dangerous to think that “If I’m successful outside the home, then I’ll be happy.” Even our efforts to make the world better by caring for the least ones is secondary to family life. For the married person and parent, acts of charity outside the home should be done with home in mind. An unmarried person may dedicate many hours to service of others in their community and they are a gift from God – religious and priests choose this life in part for that very reason. The married person has a responsibility to work together with their spouse and to be role models for their children on how to live the commandment of love outside the home as well as inside.

True peace does not begin “outside the home.” The place to start is with God first and making every decision with His commandments in mind. Secondly is to fulfill our commitments, guided by His goodwill. That means the married person is concerned for their spouse and children. For the celibate or single person, it means being open to being in communion with others and being of service. We all must choose from our hearts to like God in love and faithfulness. I hope during the days stuck at home during the snow that everyone had a chance to practice love at home. If not, it’s never too late to try again.

Fr. Joseph