From the desk of the Pastor...

You Really Count!
One of the faithful parish groups for which I am very grateful and who rarely get much recognition is St. Matthew Circle. These are the folks who give up their Sunday or Monday mornings to count, recount, record and balance the offertory collections. Moreover, when many people are able to experience a casual morning/day off, they come in on holy days and on holidays (day after Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, etc.). They are wonderful and generous! I offer a special “thank you” to Terry Uselmann and all of the captains for organizing and making sure everything works out. Thank you all!

Moodiness and Joy
Sometimes after the holidays or big family events such as weddings or funerals we can find ourselves experiencing a kind of let down and/or emptiness. So much effort and adrenalin were a part of our recent activities and now it’s over . . . yet something of it hangs on us. When winter weather is added to the mix, we can feel isolated, sad, moody, melancholy. Sometimes all we can do is muscle our way through it. But let’s not forget prayer! God’s grace is ever near. Perhaps the following quote from Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta might help:

"Resist anything that leads to moodiness. Our prayer each day should be, ‘Let the joy of the Lord by my strength.’ Cheerfulness and joy were Our Lady’s strength. This made her a willing handmaid of God. Only joy could have given her the strength to go in haste over the hills of Judea to her cousin Elizabeth, there to do the work of a handmaid. If we are to be true handmaids of the Lord, then we too, each day, must go cheerfully in haste over the hills of difficulties.”
—p. 45 Thirsting for God

Pray for the Defense of Life
A reminder that this Thursday is the 42nd anniversary of the fateful decision Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion in our nation. God forgive us. Please pray daily for a conversion of hearts and the legal protection of life at every stage.

Have a blessed week,

January 18, 2015