Dear Parish Family, Alone versus lonely? Was this ever a conundrum for you? Many of our brothers and sisters suffer from the lack of interaction with others. Especially our elderly who are unable to get out as much as they had previously been able to, do not have family close by, or are somewhat isolated. We need to be supportive of those in this type of situation. Help can come in a number of different ways. Our wonderful group of ladies who make up PEOPLE TO PEOPLE send greetings to many of our homebound. If you know of a parishioner who would enjoy this, please call the Parish office. As a person who still loves to hear the voice and inflection of a friend, I find it gives “soul” to how they are feeling. Can you hear joy, laughter, being unwell, or sadness? Fr Stanley calls this my “phone therapy.” It works!! One of Fr Stanley’s favorite singers is Roy Orbison, which immediately brings to mind his song Only the Lonely. When we feel lonely, it is the separation from others, that emphasizes this. On the other hand, solitude is as necessary as togetherness, to have a balanced life. Where do I turn? First to prayer -words of Psalm 25:16-17 say it for us. “I am lonely and afflicted, relieve the troubles of my heart and free me of my anguish.” St Rita of Cascia is known as the patron saint of loneliness. She was born in Italy in 1381. The day after her baptism, it is alleged that a swarm of white bees went in and out of her tiny mouth without hurting her. They believed that this marked her to be virtuous and devoted to God. Her most well known quote is “There is nothing impossible to God.” In Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” My prayer is that each and everyone of us REACH OUT to someone who may be in need of a lift and let them know that someone cares. Mary Jo