The Daily Word with Father Mike
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Notes from Fr. Mike
Monday, March 23, 2020
JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY?
This past weekend was rather surreal for me as I am sure it was somewhat for you. I missed "communion." We often refer to communion as the Eucharist, namely the Body and the Blood of Jesus. The Eucharist is absolutely everything for us as Catholic Christians, for we are united with our Lord in a most intimate way as well as given the strength to live the Gospel call. Communion, however, can likewise refer to our life together here at St. Patrick's and at St. Joseph's. In other words, Christ is not only present to us in the Eucharist, but also in community.
Very early in the Acts of the Apostles we hear of the early apostles and disciples who came together to hear the Word proclaimed and to share the Eucharist. Again, they came together. Jesus called those early apostles and disciples to be present to one another. In doing so, they were to manifest the church which would ultimately be a sign of Christ's presence in the world. Church would then be a sign of the resurrected life of the Lord and a sign of hope, especially hope for the downtrodden and the poor.
This is exactly what happens with all of us who come to pray each Sunday at St. Patrick's and at St. Joseph's. We come together to hear the Word proclaimed and to share in the Eucharist. But, we too come together as Church to be with one another. Our presence to each other both directly and indirectly tells us we are never alone. We are with one another and, therefore, in ways we will never fully imagine, minister to one another's needs. If nothing else, our presence affirms Christ is alive in community regardless as to what is happening in our lives. God is with us and we are with each other. It is not surprising then why so many are uplifted on Sunday and throughout the coming week. God gives us what we need as "communion."
Essentially, this is what I missed this past Sunday. I definitely noticed something was missing. Yes, I celebrated a private Mass, but still something was missing, in particular, my community of St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's. As meaningful as the Eucharist is, it is community which too serves a similar purpose and meaning. What I many times take for granted I miss the most. This, I believe, awakens in me, and I pray for all of you, a desire to be with one another as we move and as we travel through this global health crisis.
The absence of community is a breeding ground for anxiety and fear, loneliness and sadness. we can do much to take care of each other throughout this crisis and so live communion.
First of all, reach out to each other. We certainly can text a message or send an email, but a telephone call is so much more powerful. I am sure we prize those times we heard the voice of a parent or a friend. Whatever was troubling us was diminished, maybe not a lot, but some. We heard of another's presence, encouragement and support. What exactly was the feeling you experienced? Whatever the feeling, we just knew everything was going to be okay, even though we were not sure as to how. But, here is the challenge: call somebody you do not know very well here at St. Patrick's or at St. Joseph's. We all must expand our network of relationships and so solidify our life as community in ways which share the very presence of Christ. Out of this crisis, we become stronger as community all the more.
Second, be grateful. It is our gratitude which informs us as to what God has done for us and as to what we can do for each other. Each and every day we have before us the many and varied opportunities to serve our neighbor, whoever our neighbor may be. Our gratitude tells us what we have and what we can do rather than what we do not have and what we cannot do. All of a sudden, community emerges for us and for the world. We, in fact, become Eucharist as we are united with Christ and with our parish and our global community.
God is here. God is ever present. Let us rejoice in that awareness and let us live anew with each other. As God takes care of us, let us again take care of one another.
Let us receive and let us be communion.
JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY?
This past weekend was rather surreal for me as I am sure it was somewhat for you. I missed "communion." We often refer to communion as the Eucharist, namely the Body and the Blood of Jesus. The Eucharist is absolutely everything for us as Catholic Christians, for we are united with our Lord in a most intimate way as well as given the strength to live the Gospel call. Communion, however, can likewise refer to our life together here at St. Patrick's and at St. Joseph's. In other words, Christ is not only present to us in the Eucharist, but also in community.
Very early in the Acts of the Apostles we hear of the early apostles and disciples who came together to hear the Word proclaimed and to share the Eucharist. Again, they came together. Jesus called those early apostles and disciples to be present to one another. In doing so, they were to manifest the church which would ultimately be a sign of Christ's presence in the world. Church would then be a sign of the resurrected life of the Lord and a sign of hope, especially hope for the downtrodden and the poor.
This is exactly what happens with all of us who come to pray each Sunday at St. Patrick's and at St. Joseph's. We come together to hear the Word proclaimed and to share in the Eucharist. But, we too come together as Church to be with one another. Our presence to each other both directly and indirectly tells us we are never alone. We are with one another and, therefore, in ways we will never fully imagine, minister to one another's needs. If nothing else, our presence affirms Christ is alive in community regardless as to what is happening in our lives. God is with us and we are with each other. It is not surprising then why so many are uplifted on Sunday and throughout the coming week. God gives us what we need as "communion."
Essentially, this is what I missed this past Sunday. I definitely noticed something was missing. Yes, I celebrated a private Mass, but still something was missing, in particular, my community of St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's. As meaningful as the Eucharist is, it is community which too serves a similar purpose and meaning. What I many times take for granted I miss the most. This, I believe, awakens in me, and I pray for all of you, a desire to be with one another as we move and as we travel through this global health crisis.
The absence of community is a breeding ground for anxiety and fear, loneliness and sadness. we can do much to take care of each other throughout this crisis and so live communion.
First of all, reach out to each other. We certainly can text a message or send an email, but a telephone call is so much more powerful. I am sure we prize those times we heard the voice of a parent or a friend. Whatever was troubling us was diminished, maybe not a lot, but some. We heard of another's presence, encouragement and support. What exactly was the feeling you experienced? Whatever the feeling, we just knew everything was going to be okay, even though we were not sure as to how. But, here is the challenge: call somebody you do not know very well here at St. Patrick's or at St. Joseph's. We all must expand our network of relationships and so solidify our life as community in ways which share the very presence of Christ. Out of this crisis, we become stronger as community all the more.
Second, be grateful. It is our gratitude which informs us as to what God has done for us and as to what we can do for each other. Each and every day we have before us the many and varied opportunities to serve our neighbor, whoever our neighbor may be. Our gratitude tells us what we have and what we can do rather than what we do not have and what we cannot do. All of a sudden, community emerges for us and for the world. We, in fact, become Eucharist as we are united with Christ and with our parish and our global community.
God is here. God is ever present. Let us rejoice in that awareness and let us live anew with each other. As God takes care of us, let us again take care of one another.
Let us receive and let us be communion.
March 22, 2020
The corornavirus with which we are confronted has obviously disrupted our lifestyles and our faith life. I would like to offer some notes which hopefully will enable you to manage this crisis in a responsible and faith-filled way:
until further notice, all Masses here at St. Patrick's and other liturgical celebrations are suspended
in the effort to limit social contact, office hours will be held from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m., Monday - Friday
please visit the office with matters of only absolute necessity
food pantry is available during parish office hours
Eucharistic adoration will continue to be held on the usual days and at the usual times
Holy Communion to the sick and to the homebound is suspended until further notice
please refer to the directive of our diocesan bishop, Joseph Hanefeldt, as offered on this website (see below) for other ways in which we can pray during this crisis as well as this season of Lent
Rummage House operations are presently suspended
all parish activities and programs are discontinued during this crisis
check this website for my weekly Sunday reflection
in case of emergency or death, please call myself at 308-750-2898 or Pat Mertz at 308-250-3412
I ask you to take this crisis with the utmost seriousness as directed by our civil authorities and our diocesan bishop. In addition, I suggest you limit your exposure to daily news and social media. The saturation we hear and we read only, I believe, intensifies our fear and our anxiety and so inhibits any real possibility for any of us to successfully manage our response both as citizens and as disciples. Finally, recognize the power of prayer and, in fact, pray that God will renew our hearts and our minds as we seek an end to this pandemic.
I will keep you abreast as to other matters of concern as well as changes or modifications to any of the notes above. In the meantime, if you have other questions, please feel free to call me.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. Let us pray for one another.
Fr. Mike McDermott
The corornavirus with which we are confronted has obviously disrupted our lifestyles and our faith life. I would like to offer some notes which hopefully will enable you to manage this crisis in a responsible and faith-filled way:
until further notice, all Masses here at St. Patrick's and other liturgical celebrations are suspended
in the effort to limit social contact, office hours will be held from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m., Monday - Friday
please visit the office with matters of only absolute necessity
food pantry is available during parish office hours
Eucharistic adoration will continue to be held on the usual days and at the usual times
Holy Communion to the sick and to the homebound is suspended until further notice
please refer to the directive of our diocesan bishop, Joseph Hanefeldt, as offered on this website (see below) for other ways in which we can pray during this crisis as well as this season of Lent
Rummage House operations are presently suspended
all parish activities and programs are discontinued during this crisis
check this website for my weekly Sunday reflection
in case of emergency or death, please call myself at 308-750-2898 or Pat Mertz at 308-250-3412
I ask you to take this crisis with the utmost seriousness as directed by our civil authorities and our diocesan bishop. In addition, I suggest you limit your exposure to daily news and social media. The saturation we hear and we read only, I believe, intensifies our fear and our anxiety and so inhibits any real possibility for any of us to successfully manage our response both as citizens and as disciples. Finally, recognize the power of prayer and, in fact, pray that God will renew our hearts and our minds as we seek an end to this pandemic.
I will keep you abreast as to other matters of concern as well as changes or modifications to any of the notes above. In the meantime, if you have other questions, please feel free to call me.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. Let us pray for one another.
Fr. Mike McDermott
