Pastor's Letter

REMAINING IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST

 Every year we remember the amazing gift Jesus Christ gives us: the gift of his own life.  At the heart of every Catholic’s faith life is knowing that we can participate in the very life of Christ when we receive the Eucharist—which truly is his body, blood, soul and divinity. As Catholics, we know communion with God isn’t a desire or a wish, something to hope for, but is a reality. It’s a taste of eternal life.
 
But then, March 14 ^th changed everything for us.
 
All of a sudden, we heard we had to stay at home and refrain from coming to Mass—at least for a while. This meant not having the opportunity to enter into the line of faith, waiting to greet the King who comes to us in poverty—as bread and wine, which becomes his very essence.  We realized the need to stay away to protect all of us.  We had to fast from communion since the time of our very first.  We knew we were entering into a time of waiting.  The waiting began…and endures to this very day.
 
The waiting, though, hasn’t been in vain.  Waiting has always been a part of the spiritual life and the journey to God.  In fact, in the first reading, Moses reminds the Jewish people about to enter the Promised Land, that it wasn’t an easy passage.  In some way, he is telling them, “remember where we came from.”  Over 40 years there were struggles.  There were tests to faith.  There were doubts. 4o years is a long time.  For us, our 40 years has been 90 days.
 
But God didn’t abandon the Israelites during their passage of time, and he’s not abandoning us.  God strengthened the Israelites and prepared them by allowing them to see what they had. And he’s doing the same for us. God allowed them to see their goodness, their desire to follow the commandments, their desire to work together as opposed to competing with one another, and their desire one day to be at peace with God and each other. 
 
The Promised Land is a land of opportunity, wholeness, and the awareness that being with God is the place we always want to be.  The Israelites entered the Promised Land and so will we.  Our journey in the desert, fortunately, isn’t going to take 40 years.  But it’s been long enough.
 
Our dedicated leadership team—led by Emilee Baldwin, Karyn Baldwin and Jim Elder—are working very hard to help us resume Masses again so that we can receive the Eucharist, which for us is the gift of life. They are helping us resume our Sacramental life, which is everything to us—it’s our touch with God; the reality we know that God is with us.
 
We will be together very soon…for those who are ready for it.  We know that not everyone is ready to be back in a public place where there continues to be risks. But know we’ll be ready when you’re ready.
 
Your parish is here for you, because for over 6o years you’ve been here for all of us. We’re taking it slow—because your lives are of ultimate concern.  But we’re moving forward to the very moment of communion: the moment we are able to receive Christ who is longing to receive us.  In other words, we’re getting ready to enter into the Promised Land once again. It’s not that far away.  It will be here very soon.
 
Longing for the day, 
        
           Fr. Mike