Snapshots on my heart
Dear Friends in Christ,
It is a rainy Columbus Day afternoon and I am sitting in my office thinking about the days ahead; days which are really jam-packed. I am also thinking about various images from the previous days that keep returning to my mind. When I drafted this letter the first time, I realized it started to sound like a “to do” list. I hope that the second draft has corrected that. I share these “snapshots” with you because they are on my heart, and I hope that they in some way do for your heart what they do for mine.
A woman who is new to our parish introduced herself, her husband and their children to me after Mass. She is preparing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church this year.
As I preached last Sunday on baptism, I saw a young man in the congregation who is preparing to be baptized here at Easter.
I saw two young boys from our school come into Mass with their parents. I see them at school drop-off each morning. They are always smiling.
I saw a little girl at Mass diligently practicing holding her hands in the “prayer” posture.
On Columbus day, I showed up five minutes early for our daily confessions. I heard confessions from 11:15am until 11:55am. I had to end so that I could get ready for our daily Noon Mass. I was really struck as I looked around at the Noon Mass on Columbus Day that so many people who had the day off of work, opted to come to daily Mass. Their presence really moved me. After Mass, I went back and heard another thirty minutes of confessions!
I will meet with our Vice-Principal and the parents of two of our older students in our school who–on their own volition–have asked to receive First Holy Communion. (Well, by their own volition and by the Grace of God.)
I will meet with a couple of seminarians (I still am an adjunct spiritual director for the seminary) and I will also meet with a man who is preparing to become a permanent deacon.
I will hear confessions and have a Holy Hour for our Young Adults and then–if I can muster the energy–will join them for their Happy Hour. (I might bail on the Happy Hour. We’ll see.)
I will meet with our new priest for a few hours.
I will have dinner with a young couple from our parish.
I will join some parishioners who invited me to a dinner for a young woman who is becoming a nun. I will preside at a Wedding Mass and offer a Funeral Mass.
I mention these things not so that you think I’m busy. (You’re all a lot busier than I am). I mention them because it fills my heart with so much joy when I think about how blessed we are. Those are just a smattering of things that happen here in the course of a few days. Those are just a few things that I actually noticed.
Seeing and participating in all of these things this week really encourages me and fills me with a lot of gratitude. I hope in some small way that sharing these snapshots encourages you also. The Catholic life is so beautiful.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. David Barnes
PS: Last week we announced that Archbishop Henning has appointed Fr. Matthew Harrington to serve as parochial vicar here at St. Patrick Parish. Fr. Harrington was ordained a year ago and will begin his ministry here on October 29th. We are very happy to welcome him and look forward to his becoming part of our parish family.
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