"The main thing is to know"

At our staff, and in our Evangelization Committee meetings, we had talked for some time about doing something at Mass to recognize folks who live a catholic sacramental life. What we had decided was to bless couples on the month of their wedding anniversary. So on the fourth Sunday of every month, we ask couples who have had an anniversary that month to stand, or wave, or some sort of thing. As a gathered faith community we bless them. I think its nice to do and the people seem to like it.

I still want to do something for singles and widowed persons. The Spirit and Truth program never really took off, so maybe we can do a singes dinner or something. But I think it is really good and important to identify and bless people at the various stages of their lives. I will remind the young people every now and then that we come to church to worship God, and pray wit hand for one another. I want them to know that that old woman in the back of the church is praying for them, as they would pray for her. That is the really neat thing about being in a parish family.

Our own families are unique and living entities that are filled with joys and concerns. Within the families we work on faith and character formation, with the Church and it's teachings and guidance to offer a foundation on which to set our lives. The scriptures help us understand the necessity of quality time as well as nurturing between spouses, parents, and children. None of us are the Brady Bunch and shouldn't try to be. But we can be like the Holy Family with Jesus living in our household.

Sometimes on Saturday nights a priest friend and myself go to a parishioners home for dinner and a game of cards. It is fun. But it connects us priest-type people to moms and dads with kids. And I am sure it is a chance to personify "Father" for that family. Because really we are One through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. So we bless each other as we live in a Stewardship of relationships.