Dear Parish Family,
 
In 1929 Hellen Keller remarked “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door, that we do not see the one that opens for us.” We often hear the need to see the glass half full rather than half empty. Which way do you see the world?  With the many challenges that Helen had, it would have been easy to crawl into a shell, hide, and continue her anger at the world.  Yet, this amazing woman with the help of Annie Sullivan, her teacher, mentor and friend, found joy and happiness, became an author, believer, disability rights advocate and a political activist.
 
Are you a passionate proponent of hope and courage in the face of adversity? Think of your own challenges and how you create a happy life. This does not mean the absence of hardships, but rather how you deal with them. How do I become my best self?  We begin by asking God to give us the perseverance to tackle our challenges and guide us along the path to happiness. Pessimists never discovered the stars or opened the human spirit. At times we are in need of a gentle push to create the awakening of all the charisms we possess. Let’s get up in the morning and give God thanks for the opportunity to find happiness and share it with others.
 
 
“Joy is never in our power, but pleasure often is” Saint John Paul II and from St. Katharine Drexel “If we wish to serve God and our neighbor, we must manifest joy. Let us open our hearts and press forward and fear nothing.”
 
May you find joy during this Easter Season.
 
Mary Jo