Let Your Light Shine

Dear sisters & brothers in Christ,

I pray that you are blessed, and that your new year is off to a great start... at least better than 2020, which was a rough year for so many, whether it was the pandemic, or its financial fall-out, or the many natural disasters that befell us. While many people lost someone to Covid-19, some lost multiple loved ones, and others lost everything to record setting hurricanes and fires. Let us pray that this coming year will see relief on all fronts.

While we held our own during the first months of the shut-down, as it has gone on, our income has de- creased, despite our savings on expenses. While I am extremely grateful for those who continue to give, I am painfully aware of those parishioners who are wrestling with their own financial problems caused by the pandemic. If you need help, especially with food, please do not hesitate to contact Michelle. Barring a miracle, our famous (and financially important) Fish Fry will not be able to operate as usual. We are, however, looking at possible options for doing it in a way that respects current guidelines. You have also heard us talk about our “Gift Card” program. There is huge potential there if we can get enough parishioners using these cards for their day-to-day purchases. It is a great program because all it costs you is a little pre-planning for which cards you will need in the coming weeks. And finally, we are also planning a fundraising night with parishioner-owned Licari’s restaurant. Please keep an eye on the bulletin for further details, and I hope you’ll be able to join us as we enjoy some of their delicious food.

Besides finances, my other major concern as your pastor is the spiritual aspects of our parish community. Luckily we have had some great success with our online presence, from the streaming of our liturgies, our various workshops, and now our membership with Formed. All of these will continue and if you need help with using them please let us know. While none of these things can ever replace the actual coming together as a physical community, we do hope that they help to nourish your spiritual hunger. Let us all continue to pray that they will be able to step up the pace of the vaccine distribution and that it will help us return to some sense of normalcy.

Be assured of our continued prayers as we continue to walk with Jesus, and let our little lights shine, until there is no darkness left in the world.

In the Redeemer, Fr. Rick