A Letter from Fr. Paul - December 29, 2019

As we end 2019 and enter into 2020, I, as a representative of our community, would like to thank our staff and all who volunteer their time and talent in so many ways to make our community vibrant and alive. Countless hours are spent in meetings, ministries, services, and etc. May God bless you for all your generosity.

I also thank Fr. Patric for his help and support this year, especially when I was in rehab. Because of his other duties as a full time teacher at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, and all the after school hour activities involved, Patric will only be covering the one weekend a month when I am in Racine with the Salvatorian candidates.The basic unit of society is the family. Why? Because in the family we learn how to relate to one another, how to follow Paul’s command to the Colossians: Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love,that is, the bond of perfection.

These are all learned virtues and the most important thing a parent can do for a child is to model these virtues, gently helping the child to grow in the ability to live them. As human beings, we can’t live these virtues and forgive others without God’s help. So, in addition to modeling these virtues, another crucial thing a parent can do for the child is help the child develop a relationship with the Lord, through both regular church attendance and personal prayer.

After listing the virtues above, Paul says, let the peace of Christ control your hearts.If we help our children learn how to be patient, loving, generous, and especially forgiving, and to have a relationship with the Lord, we are setting them on a path for a happy and peaceful life here on earth and a future life with God.

This is what happened in the Holy Family and it enabled Jesus to advance [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man, as Luke tells us in his Gospel.

As we remember the Holy Family this weekend, I invite us to reflect on our words and actions: am I helping children and others to grow in compassion, kindness, patience, and the ability to forgive? What specific action can I take to improve (that might be a good new year’s resolution)?

When we come to the end of 2020, hopefully each one of us will be more compassionate, kind, patient, and forgiving. May you have a blessed New Year and let us support each other in prayer throughout 2020.

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