Dear Parish Family, Did you hear that? No, I wasn’t listening! From scripture (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) “Those called to listen, are called to love with all their heart, soul, strength, and to take heart to the word of God.” We need to choose to be present, eliminate distractions such as cell phones and focus on the person speaking. Hearing is part of listening, where listening takes time and effort. Hearing is through only the ears, while listening is at a much deeper level of comprehension. When we open ourselves up to actively listening, we will be surprised how much we gain. What is better than an open and honest conversation with someone? Isn’t it is better to be interested – than interesting! Do you know of someone who is so eager to speak, that they have not heard a spoken word? As we listen and show empathy, we are able to see things through another’s eyes and gain insight into how they feel. If we are attentive and ask questions, it is amazing what we ourselves learn. St. John Vianney knew the power of listening. He traveled the farmlands of France and listened to its people. He created trust and warmth by hearing their confessions. Through his priesthood, he embraced others, and let them know of their value and that God also recognized their worth. As he prayed, he listened for God to revile His plan for him. He teaches us that listening can save lives. He reminds us that “each and every person has something to say.” and in silence we often get the response from our prayers. God is always listening to us - do we not need to listen to Him? May our loving God bless you! Mary Jo