A New Year

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Let us all pray that this new year be a time of healing for all the world. Not only was 2020 a time of the largest pandemic in modern times, we also had record numbers of hurricanes and wildfires, as well as, other natural and man made disasters. Countless people have lost their jobs and many are now homeless. Many of these people have never had to ask for help before. Even with the vaccines the end of the pandemic is probably a long way off, and I share the fear of those who worry that some will see the vaccine as a cure and stop practicing the precautions that have kept many of us from catching Covid-19.

I am praying that this New Year be at the very least, a symbolic turning point for us. We now have the tools to fight the virus and keep those who are most vulnerable safe. I am hoping that this new year is also a mental turning point for so many people who have suffered from anxiety and depression, especially children, who often suffer in silence.

I want to encourage those who find themselves in need, whether that is financial, mental or spiritual, that you seek help. Please do not let pride or a sense that you do not need help, keep you from asking for it. We all need help at one time or another for one thing or another. This is a foundational aspect of The Church. We are a community. The life of a Christian is not “me, myself, and I.” We live our lives in the midst of a community, and just as we have different gifts, we also have different treasures and different needs. As a community, it is also very important to reach out to those in need. Just as I encourage anyone in need to please ask for it, I also encourage you to reach out to family, friends, or neighbors that might be in need, especially anyone who is alone. Some people have stayed locked up in their homes since this began. If you need help with this please let us know if we can help.

We will also be renewing our online efforts. Fr. Tom is working on a Church History course and I will be presenting a series on the Gospel of Mark, which is our primary Gospel for this liturgical year. And of course, Fr. Chung will have a variety of material. We also have all of the online material at “Formed.org”, not to mention our increased ability to stream events from our church.

While 2020 presented us with trials that none of us would have expected, I am looking toward 2021 with a renewed sense of hope. While the pandemic still rages and our environment is a long way from being healed, I am encouraged by the faith and commitment of the parishioners of St. Alphonsus. Even in the midst of a financial crisis, your support to our outreach center grew to meet the growing need. And with the spread of the virus increasing we were still able to open The Toy Store, which I felt was so important. I could not imagine children not having gifts on Christmas, especially if there was something we could do about it. This “love of neighbor” is so evident here at St. Alphonsus, and I know that God will continue to pour out blessings upon us because of it. It is the building of the kingdom, the proclamation of The Good News, and the Incarnation of The Body of Christ. So may God continue to use us to accomplish His Will & Way.

And so church, “Let us continue to run through 2021 Until at last, the race is won!”

In the Redeemer, Fr. Rick