Catholic

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Doors are open

Welcome to 2025, the year of being pilgrims of hope! This is a special opportunity for all Catholics to commit to improving their spiritual life by participating in the jubilee year.

Although Pope Francis announced the intention of a jubilee year way back in 2022, the official proclamation was through a papal bull — that is an edict by the pope — on the feast of the Ascension, May 9, 2024 along with the theme: Pilgrims of Hope. A jubilee year is a year set aside for the faith; it is a holy year. The roots of the jubilee lay in Leviticus, “You shall treat this fiftieth year as sacred. You shall proclaim liberty in the land for all its inhabitants.” (Lev 25:10) The first recorded jubilee year was 1300, although there is speculation/assumption that previous jubilee years were held but documentation has not survived for it. Subsequent popes called for various jubilee years and the formula, including the option to proclaim a holy year every 25 years instead of 50, developed over the centuries.

While Catholics are called to deepen their faith in the yearly celebrations of Advent through Christmas and Lent through Easter, the focus is often on preparing for the holy day locally at the parish. A holy year encourages each Catholic to go beyond their daily lives, to step out in faith and become a pilgrim to the Vatican. Special doors of the basilica are opened and pilgrims enter through these doors as a sign and symbol of a renewed faith and reconciliation with God. For those who are unable to travel to Rome, dioceses and specific shrines throughout the world designate special doors for the same purpose. A holy year is meant for Catholics to identify where they need to grow in their faith, especially in conjunction with the jubilee theme, to practice charitable outreach, and for reconciliation. 

The liberty proclaimed in Leviticus translates to liberty from temporal consequences of sin for a Catholic who participates in the requirements of a jubilee year. This year’s decree calls for pilgrimage, pious visits to sacred places, and works of mercy and penance. These activities should be conducted after a person has been “purified through the sacrament of penance, refreshed by Holy Communion, and pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.” The activities and requirements of a holy year invite us all to reflect on our lives and use the opportunity of the sacrament of penance to come closer to God and experience His mercy. God does not want to punish us for our sins, but in His justice He allows for us to turn away from Him and to indulge in our desires. When we seek reconciliation, we acknowledge the actions we’ve taken against God’s will and ask for both His forgiveness and help to avoid sin in the future. Thus, when we have celebrated both sacraments of penance and Eucharist, we are more open to the opportunities of the jubilee year and the graces it brings.

Pilgrims of Hope, the theme for this Holy Year, is a reminder that we are to be the light of Christ to the world. We need to take the time to have a relationship with Him, which is encouraged through going on a pilgrimage and piously visiting sacred places. These locations can remind us through their symbolism of how God loves and provides for us. By traveling to a holy place outside of our normal routine, we illustrate the importance of our faith in our lives and that we want a deeper relationship with the Lord. After soaking up and being rejuvenated by the spiritual, we will be able to look for opportunities to reach out within our community to practice the corporeal and spiritual works of mercy. While many may already participate in charitable acts, a holy year calls us to go deeper, to seek out new opportunities to bring the hope we have received in the strengthening of our faith. 

The website for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has a page dedicated to information for the jubilee year. It includes a prayer for the holy year, a special hymn, and information on the shrines in the United States that Catholics can make a pilgrimage to satisfy a jubilee requirement. As the year progresses, dioceses and parishes may offer jubilee events. Our responsibility is to pay attention, be aware of these, and consider if God may be calling us to participate in these events.

The Church is giving us a special opportunity this year of 2025. How will you respond to the call to be a Pilgrim of Hope? 

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Christmas message

Merry Christmas! It’s finally here. The day we’ve been preparing weeks for has arrived. Now we celebrate by responding to the marvelous message God has given creation: His Son.

The past few weeks may have seemed overwhelming, not just in activities but all the directives that have come our way. It seems impossible not to be bombarded with announcements of the best gift to give loved ones, instructions on how to decorate, and setting expectations to party with family and friends. As enjoyable as gift-giving, decking the halls, and festive gatherings are, we can find ourselves feeling a bit “grinchy” this time of year. These messages, be it via television, social media, or even in movies and music, can feel like it’s too much noise for our brains to process. The remedy is some quiet reflection with God and His message at the birth of Jesus.

To the shepherds, it was just another day on the job. These men were the lowest rank of society and probably didn’t enter villages and towns very often. Did they own the livestock they were watching or were they hired hands? Did they like their job? We don’t know because those details aren’t important. The important detail is their response to the angel’s message. Were they afraid? Possibly, but these men spent most of the time on guard, watching for predators and ready to intervene for the flock.They must have been rather hardy men, so it may have been more of shock and surprise that they would be the recipients of angelic tidings. They could have ignored the angels, or listened to their message and thought it was interesting but since it didn’t affect their flock that it was of no consequence to them. Instead, they sought out the new family. They had nothing to offer, except for one of the sheep or goats they were caring for. We also don’t know what happened afterwards, but there is no doubt they were changed because of the encounter. Because of the message, they became seekers of God and truth.

The magi are also known as wise men. Why are they considered wise? Because they were seekers. They studied the stars and other heavenly bodies, but they weren’t just satisfied with a general understanding of which stars were found where and at what time of year. When the natal star of Jesus arose, they recognized this one was different and sought out its meaning. The star was their message and they responded as well — to seek out the King of the Jews. They followed the light of this unusual celestial orb, not just to Jerusalem, where they expected to find a Jewish king, but further out to Bethlehem where the Holy Family was residing. Were they surprised at the humble abode of this princely son? Did they feel like they had been duped when they realized the simplicity of the family? Given the detail in Matthew’s Gospel that they returned home by a different route after being warned in a dream, these men were changed.(Mat 2:12) What they did and said when they returned to their homes is unknown. The importance of the magi is that all are called to seek and receive the message of Christmas, God-becoming-man to save us from ourselves and repair the fractured relationship with God, so that we too can be called sons and daughters of Him who created us.

My Christmas wish for you is that you are able to take the time to be seekers of truth and respond to the message God sent us so many years ago. May the coming of Jesus into your hearts change you to become the best version of yourself in alignment with God’s will. Christmas blessings to you all! Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all mankind.

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Prepare for peace

Just one week left… until it’s Christmas. One of the titles of Jesus is Prince of Peace. In these last days, let our final preparations make us ready to receive peace.

Christmas can be a very hectic time of year, especially for parents with young children. Peace may seem like a far away dream. Yet even a solo person can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of decorating, baking, visiting, and just trying to make the most of the events during this season. It may be early mornings or late nights as we try and squeeze in as much holiday fun as we can. As wonder-filled as these activities are, they can also leave us drained and lower our ability to find peace. 

What is peace? One of the five definitions, according to Merriam-Webster, is freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. While there were others that referred to societal or relational states, I thought that definition was the best one to fit what Jesus brings to us. Out of our personal peace can we then have relationships and a society that can be at peace. Perhaps the best definition is the one we heard in last Sunday’s second reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians, “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)

How can we prepare for peace? One of the best methods is reconciliation, not just the sacrament, but also to apologize to those whom we have wronged. Seeking forgiveness from others requires us to be humble, to be vulnerable to another while admitting our mistake. We can also choose to forgive those that we may be harboring hurt feelings against. Whether it’s an old hurt or a new, raw one, when we let go of the pain we are carrying, we can be open to the peace of God. We can’t seek or grant forgiveness completely by ourselves as it’s often a burden that is too hard for us to lift and we need to seek God’s assistance for the strength to do so. Passing judgements and holding grudges are both oppressive thoughts and disquieting emotions. Every time we think of whatever the wrong that was done is an opportunity to feed the negativity that builds up the burden and makes it harder to forgive or find forgiveness. 

Just like joy and needing a savior, peace is also something that we need to be open to receiving. We can say we want it, but if we build walls of resentment  towards others, peace is not something that can find a home in us. Taking time for quiet contemplation and prayer can help us identify where we need to address the hurt that we caused or that was directed towards us. In the quiet silence, yet another definition of peace, we can encounter the mercy of Jesus, allowing it to be both a balm for our hurts and the strength to seek forgiveness from others. 

Peace is not something we can take, rather it is something we receive. If we can receive it, does that mean we can give it? Only when we are at peace ourselves can we share it with those around us and in turn welcome their peace into ourselves. Thus we can only welcome Jesus as Prince of Peace when we have prepared ourselves to receive and share peace. May we all be able to find a moment each day to prepare to receive the peace that only God can give us at Christmas. 

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Prepare for joy

As we approach the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, we are reminded that we are to rejoice, the translation of gaudete. How can we prepare to be full of joy?

There can be many reasons why it can be hard to be joyful, even during the Christmas season. Perhaps it’s the recent loss of a loved one or the anniversary of their passing. Perhaps it’s physical ailment that’s hampering your preparation. Sometimes it’s circumstances that we find ourselves in that make stress and worry seem to be more plentiful than joy. God knows all that we are going through, but He does not want us dwelling in what is holding us back from experiencing His love, peace, and joy. He knows that we each need a little joy in our life, not just at Christmas, but every day. At Christmas, however, we are called to be joyful through the hope-filled faith in the Baby Jesus. 

One breath. One heartbeat. Sometimes in order to find joy, we need to look at the smallest things. As overwhelming as life can get, we can find joy in the moment when we take in a deep breath, or listen to our heart beating. I may not be able to thank God for the struggle, but I can thank God for allowing me another second, another minute, another hour, or another day. Perhaps joy can be found in the presence of a loved one, in a smile on a child’s face, or just the beauty of nature in your community. If we look for things to rejoice about, we will find them. Instead of focusing our attention on what ails us, this season we are called to focus on the joy God has given us in this world. We can choose to be joyful, even if it is for a fleeting moment of the day. 

The Gospel reading for the third Sunday of Advent gives insight to ways that can lead us to be joyful (Lk 3:10-18). John the Baptist counsels the people to share the food and clothing they have, thinking of others’ needs rather than themselves. If we are having trouble finding joy in our lives, sometimes helping others, donating our time or money, can give us a boost to find joy this season. While John the Baptist tells the tax collectors not to take more than prescribed and the soldiers to be satisfied with their wages, we can interpret that for our age of being satisfied with what we have, rather than being jealous of others. This is a great reminder that when we receive a gift this season, that we appreciate whatever the giver has gifted us, rather than complaining or rejecting the gift. When we rejoice over what we have, and share with others who are in need — and share the joy of our plenty — we will find the peace of the Spirit in ourselves.

If we want to rejoice this Christmas season, we do need to prepare ourselves to receive the gift of joy that God wants to bestow on us. We need to be open to whatever manner that joy will come into our lives. Let us use this third week of Advent to pray each day to be a willing recipient to the joy of Christmas.  

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Preparing for a Savior

In our fallen world, we all need a savior, and that’s what Jesus is. But how do we prepare for being saved?

Before all the holiday festivities start, we take the time of Advent to prepare. As we approach the second Sunday in Advent, we are reminded of Jesus’ immediate forerunner, John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who called people to repentance through baptism. John was not baptizing to forgive the people’s sins, only a sacrament instituted by Jesus would be able to do that. The baptism John provided was a sign, a symbol, an acknowledgement that a person was taking accountability for the sins they committed. They were being baptized to turn a page in their book of life not to fall back into the same sins they had been committing. The waters of baptism were like a rebirth, a new starting point, and a new way to live. 

Like the people in the surrounding area of Jerusalem, we too are especially called in Advent to acknowledge our sins. Only instead of being submerged in water, we humbly seek God’s forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. In order to be saved, we need to identify what is keeping us from a close relationship with God. While God loves us at every moment of our lives, that does not mean He wants us to continue our sinful ways. When we choose our will over God’s will, we turn away from Him and prohibit His grace from having its fullest effect. When we see another, do we see the reflection of the Divine Image within or do we pass judgment based on looks and actions? Having a relationship with God is not only about loving Him and His will for us, but also those who He has placed in our path each day. 

I don’t want to be saved, I need to be saved. We may be able to bumble our way through life with a mediocre relationship with God, and if that’s all there was, that may be acceptable. But our lives do not end with the completion of our earthly life, our souls live on. If we want to be in the presence of God for all eternity, just wanting to be saved is not enough. We should consider our savior as  equivalent to air to those choking or nourishment to those starving. We raise our hands and cry out from the depth of our souls to be rescued. Advent preparation is our time to stop what we are doing, turn to God, and seek His forgiveness and assistance. Like a person who needs to be rescued, we don’t continue in our daily routine, but interrupt it and focus on who and where our help is coming from. 

In order for Jesus to be our Savior, we need to desire to change our sinful habits, take responsibility for our sins, and sincerely commit to improve our behavior. While celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation is an important part of our preparation, equally important is taking extra time for God; by praying, reading the scriptures, and meditating on His words and blessings. By seeing Jesus in all the people we meet and offering to God all that we do each day, we will spread God’s love throughout the Advent season.

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Saving Promise

The season of Advent begins on Sunday, and it is synonymous with waiting. Yet it is also a time of fulfillment. Can both be possible at the same time?

God’s promise of a savior was made to Adam and Eve at their fall. They had disrupted their relationship with God, contaminating it for all their offspring. God then spends the generations documented in the Old Testament as preparation for the Savior, His Son. While some may view this time as God withholding His promise, He wasn’t causing the delay for no reason. The people needed to learn how to be a people of God, albeit very imperfectly. This is the first sense of Advent, waiting for a promise, yet being prepared for the same. It is an active waiting, and to some degree, it is the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise.

Many people may equate Advent with the gestation of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Thankfully we only have to wait for four Sundays and a few days rather than the normal nine months that Mary did. Yet here again is both waiting and fulfillment. No longer was there preparation of the Israelites, the Savior was conceived and growing in Mary. The angel’s announcement and Mary’s consent put the promise into action. But there was still waiting needed: waiting for a child to be born and waiting for a child to grow to maturity. 

When Jesus started his mission work, it too was both a time of waiting and a time of fulfillment. People were being healed, their souls were being saved one by one. Yet the Savior would need to die for all, and not just die, but resurrect as well. That would be the complete fulfillment and that would be after three years of traveling around the Judean countryside preaching and teaching. 

The Advent season commemorates the seasons of waiting and fulfillment in the past, as well as preparing for the current Christmas season, and the return of Jesus at the end of time. Our activities should be a healthy mix of pondering and preparing for all three. It is comforting to consider that God does not leave us up to our own devices during our waiting. As God gave the most excellent Gift of His only Son in order that we can have a relationship with Him, we are called to put into practice the love God has for all His children, by sacrificing a bit of our time, talent, or treasure with those in need of our help. We don’t just stand idly by waiting for December 25, instead we seek to grow our relationship with God by seeking out quiet time with Him, celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, and correcting bad habits that continue to keep us from doing God’s will.

As we focus our attention on the single, purple candle lit in the Advent wreath this weekend, let us open our hearts to both patience in waiting, and a quick response to the opportunities that will prepare our souls for Jesus’ coming.

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Heavenly mansion

We have just over a week left of this liturgical year and the readings are focused on the end of time. While the physical world may be tethered to time and space, our soul will continue to live in eternity. How we see eternal life in heaven may be more strongly influenced but what we rank as important.

In John’s Gospel during the Last Supper, Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” (Jn 14:1-3) At one point, instead of using the word dwelling place, it was translated as mansion. In the English language, there are so many different words one could use when describing a place where one lives, but a dwelling place does not ring very cozy vibes or a sense of belonging. Why isn’t the word home used in the translation? A quick look in Merriam-Webster for the definition of dwell and the definitions solidify the use of this word: 1 – to remain, 2 – to live/exist, 3 – to keep the attention directed. 

Heaven is a place where, provided that we cooperated with God’s will for our life, we will remain forever with God. It is also a place where our immortal souls will continue living until the end of time when they will be reunited with our bodies, so that both soul and body will be living in heaven. And most fundamentally, heaven is the place where we will be in the presence of God, with all our attention on Him. Heaven is, literally, a place to dwell with God, in the fullest possible meaning of the word. 

After this exploration, why does seeing, and perhaps thinking about a heavenly mansion give a little thrill of wonder and excitement at the possibility, unlike the reference of a dwelling place? Is it in the preparation; that God is making it special just for us? Is it about being rewarded for the hardships we endure? If we just suffer through whatever issue is plaguing us, that will make our place in heaven bigger or grander? Or do we think that everyone will receive their own 5 million square foot mini palace? If God sits on a throne, why can’t we have a mini palace? 

As I was thinking about this post, instead of countless sprawling mansions, I pictured something that would have been used in monasteries and abbeys, where you would have a central church and communal gathering space, encircled by a small courtyard that itself would be surrounded by the individual cells of the religious community members living there. As God is infinite, those cells or rooms can be stacked vertically into infinity and everyone has a front-row seat to God’s presence, each from the place that is their own. We will never truly know until we get there, but I like the image. 

Perhaps as we close out the liturgical year and prepare to enter the Advent season, we think of our current home as a dwelling place, where God remains, lives with us each day, and is our primary focus for all that we do. If we begin to live this heavenly attitude now, it won’t matter if it is a shack or a castle, but as long as we belong in God’s presence, it will be all that we need for eternity.

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Known and named

A name is more than just a label or an identifier. Not only is it necessary in the secular world, but also in the spiritual realm.

Awhile ago, I was watching an old episode of Cesar Millan’s The Dog Whisperer in which he made a comment to the person he was assisting something to the effect of: dogs do not have names in the pack, they use the energy they present to identify themself to the pack members. While I’m not sure if that’s true across all other species outside of humans, it is certainly true that humans do have some sort of naming mechanism, which differs by culture, region, and time period. We learn to respond to our name at a very young age and it is reinforced as people repeatedly address us using that name. A name is also how we catalog what we know about a particular person, as we associate the information we know either first hand or have gathered from other sources. If we don’t know someone, it’s because we’ve either never met them or have never learned about them. Our name serves as our label when others are using us as a reference point. While the name Jesus may be spelled or pronounced differently in other languages, using that name in English, especially if we use one of His titles with it, like Christ or Messiah, we all know about whom is being spoken.

Most children are given a name either at their birth or shortly thereafter which becomes their identity on earth. While we are all members of God’s family since He created us, it is through the sacrament of baptism that we are called, by name, to have a special relationship with God. We are claimed to be members that will participate as the body of Jesus on earth, seeking to do His will. Through baptism, the doors of grace are opened wider and are more accessible to us. Most times our legal name we are given at birth is also the name given at baptism. While it is no longer a requirement that a child/person being baptized have the name of a saint or virtue, naming a child after a saint is a way not only to honor the work God has done through that saint, but also to have that saint be an intercessor for that person throughout their life. The same holds true for those who take a different name for the sacrament of confirmation.

Just like in the first book of Samuel, the Lord calls out to us by name (1 Sam 3:10). It may not be audibly heard as in Samuel’s case, but He is always seeking a closer relationship with us. In the book of Revelations, it says that those faithful to God, will receive a new name known only between the person and God. (Rev 2:17) This practice of receiving a new name is found throughout the Bible: Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, and Simon became Peter. It continues for those in religious life who may take or augment their name to include a saint or a title or attribute of Mary or Jesus. The first thing upon being chosen as pope is the question of how they will be addressed. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “To live in heaven is ‘to be with Christ.’ The elect live ‘in Christ,’ but they retain, or rather find, their true identity, their own name.” (CCC 1025) This statement from the CCC has plenty to ponder. Our infinite God will name us and provide us a truly unique identity. For those of us who have met other people with our same name, the thought of God creating a name just for us for all eternity is a rather thrilling prospect. God is so creative, and my brain is so limited, I can’t really fathom what kind of a name God would use for me. He’s not limited to naming me for my physical characteristics like being short or having a loud voice. Since He can see my soul and my true intentions for every action I take, would He use a name to describe me from that perspective? Or are there other spiritual characteristics that I may not be tuned into, since I’m still living in a physical world? It’s yet another reason to seek a relationship with God now, in order to rejoice in the name He bestows upon our arrival in heaven.

Names matter. They are the way we interact within our world and with each other. They are also how we interact with God and those who have preceded us and how we will interact with those who come after us.   

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Saints and miracles

With the start of November, the Church focuses on the end of the liturgical year and the fulfillment of a life lived in a relationship with God. A hallmark of “making” a saint is two confirmed miracles. But what are miracles and why are they so important?

In a secular world the prevailing attitude is that Church and State (or even the everyday public life) must remain completely separate; a miracle crashes right through that thinking. Merriam-Webster’s first definition for the word miracle is “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.“ While there will always be people who scoff and disbelieve in a miraculous event, insisting that there must be a plausible explanation for it, the Catholic Church does thoroughly investigate any miraculous claims, especially when they are being attributed to a particular person whose cause for canonization is underway. The easiest way to prove a miracle, at least in this age, is that of a medical nature. For example, the first miracle attributed to Blessed Carlos Acutis is that of a Brazilian boy who was born with a defect of the pancreas that would not allow him to eat solid foods and kept him vomiting most days. After touching a relic provided by the mother of Carlos Acutis, the boy was healed and able to not only eat the food, but also not vomit. The boy’s healing is so incredible because even the physiology of the problematic organ changed, mystifying the physicians who examined the boy afterwards.

Another example is the miracle attributed to then Sr. Faustina that led to her beatification. According to The Divine Mercy website, a woman suffering from lymphedema as evidenced by a swollen leg, which was due to be amputated, had it return to its normal size after visiting Sr. Faustina’s resting place. The woman was examined by five independent doctors who came to the conclusion that she was completely healed. They had no medical explanation for the sudden healing of this incurable disease. This evidence was examined in consultation by five doctors appointed by the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Having passed this test, it was examined by a team of theologians, and finally by a team of cardinals and bishops. The cure was accepted by all as a miracle brought about by Sr. Faustina’s intercession.

Do we need to pray through a saint in order to receive a miracle? No, we can pray directly to God Himself for a miracle, especially since He is the source of every miraculous event. For those uncomfortable or unsure if God hears our prayers, praying through the saints can feel like a much more realistic option, since they were people just like us. There may be aspects of their upbringing, their personality, or their livelihoods that we can find a connection— a common bond — that develops into a relationship. Having a relationship with a saint can feel like a person has an extended family member, who just so happens to be recognized as being in heaven.

Catholics (myself included!) can be rather sloppy in our language when we talk about the intercession of saints. We say that we are praying “to” a particular blessed or saint for “their” help. In reality, the prayer is asking that person to intercede for us with God and for God to grant the miracle. God is the creator of the universe and everything in it. If He wants to modify some small detail within it, He is the only one that has full ability to do so no matter how impossible it may seem. As the universe does not need to exist, one can look at all of creation, from the mightiest mountain to the smallest of insects, and from the power of the oceans to a singular heart beat, and see it is all a continuous miracle for us to enjoy. 

In a fallen world, our ability to appreciate all God gives us is often veiled by our short-sightedness. We turn away from God to see ourselves in control of our surroundings. Miracles, medical or otherwise, give us the opportunity to recognize God’s sovereignty and give us hope that we can turn away from being prideful in our work and seek to do God’s work.

Catholic Girl Journey Logo

Community of faith

This past weekend my parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, celebrated its 80th anniversary. And this occasion reminded me of the importance of a faith community and participating within it. Each month this year we have been provided an opportunity to partly prepare for and partly to celebrate this magnificent achievement.  

The parish has sponsored monthly spiritual and social outreach options. Whether it was supporting the food pantry by bringing the ingredients for a spaghetti dinner for those less fortunate or consecrating ourselves to Eucharistic Adoration, each one focused our attention on the role the parish plays in the lives of both the parishioners as well as the surrounding community. 

Even though Adoration is usually offered weekly, by taking the time to study it and make a commitment to participating, it elevated it from just another item on the calendar to a joy-filled need. Adoration is a time of peace in a chaotic world. It’s a time when we can turn our troubles over to Jesus and be filled with His presence. It’s a time when the only thing required of me is just me — not what I can do for another, not my intellect, not my compassion — just the person God created me to be at that moment. It was weekly adoration that drew me to this parish, and one that continues to keep my faith grounded in the roller coaster of challenges that life tosses my way.

While the heart of any parish is the spiritual nurturing it provides, the soul of the parish is its ability to bring the light of Christ to all members of the community. Supporting others through the various organizations of the parish allows us to mirror the generosity of God’s blessings upon us. Blood drives, the food pantry, and the clothing closet are just a few ways that we help individuals with the basic necessities for life. From the beginning with the Apostles and throughout the two millennium the Church has been in existence, each family in each parish, in each diocese, contributes to the neighbors that surround them. The parable of the Good Samaritan is illustrated daily in many different ways in locations all over the world.

During the main celebration, this combination of spiritual and social was also key. A solemn Mass was not only the spiritual ingredient, but the reminder of why the parish started in the first place: to meet the needs of the then rural community that had sprung up in the outskirts of Richmond. After the Mass, the social reception included opportunities to walk down memory lane of various historic documents, and to reach out to the homebound parishioners by writing notecards to extend them into the celebration. Being relatively new to the parish, it reminded me of the various parishes that I participated in and how, in another 50 years, my picture in a parish directory may be viewed as the typical style of that decade. I didn’t know most of the people in the photos that I saw, but there was still a sense of family when I viewed them. Their participation in the parish at that moment allowed it to live and flourish so that I can be a member now. And my participation in both the spiritual and social events continues the parish’s, and the Church’s, mission to spread the Gospel, both in Word and worship.

If we love God and want a relationship with Him, then we must also love our neighbor and share the blessings God has given us to them. Each parish provides unique opportunities to work both within, as well as, outside of our comfort zone to strengthen our relationship with God and lend our hand to others in friendship and service. If we want to be a part of a strong and vibrant parish, it is up to us to participate and to seek God’s guidance in how we can best contribute to our spiritual family and the surrounding neighborhood family.