A Letter from Fr. Paul - June 21

I am appreciative to those who have kept up their financial support of our community over these last months. Our expenses continue and I am pleased that our income continues to come in. Thank you. Also, despite the current economic conditions, we have set a record this year for our Living Waters Campaign: $45,110. Congratulations! What a great gift to the 9 communities in Tanzania which will receive wells. PACT: Pius Parishioners Always Come Through!

The diocese now allows daily Masses. We will celebrate in the church at 8:00 am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, wearing masks and observing social distancing. The bishop has removed the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays through July.

Many of our problems come when we operate out of fear. One example is the cartoon reprinted here about toilet paper, showing two “roll models”: one hoarding, the other sharing.

​Why did people hoard toilet paper? Fear that they would be caught without. Experts tell us there would have been no shortage if there had not been hoarding. The fear caused hoarding and the hoarding actually caused the shortage. If people had thought of others and not just themselves, everything would have been fine.

That is a good analogy for this weekend’s reading. We fear when we should trust in God. If we know God is in control, we will be able to reach out to each other. With each person reaching out to others, all will be OK. We will be helping each other instead of dog-eat-dog. Do we really want to live a dog-eat-dog existence?

News stories reported a big uptick in gun sales at the beginning of the pandemic, presumably so people could “protect” themselves and what they have. Can we trust in God? Share? Be concerned for the other? Then many of our fears will go away.

Our readings this weekend challenge us to trust in God, even when things are very difficult. Jeremiah was having a hard time, but he trusted. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us not to fear and to “be not afraid.” Does God not take care of sparrows? Does He not count the hairs on our head?

I invite us this week to reflect on how much our life and actions might be driven by fear, rather than trust in God, asking God to help us grow in reliance on His Divine Providence. And let us support each other in prayer.

I wish all our fathers a happy Father’s Day.

​May God bless you today and always