Dear Parish Family,

 

Many of us ask the question – “What in the World is Going On?” Each time we turn on the news, there is another conflict in the world -  be it a war, a strike, a shooting, theft or any myriad of other tragic things.

My first question is – “when will it stop?” As we are taught to trust in God, there are days when we ask “why doesn’t He stop all of this terror?” Is this greed, or self-desire, or because “I can?’  There is a tremendous cry for help in the world and we all need to do our part to answer this. Our response during the Mass is “Peace be with you and with your spirit” which was derived from the common Hebrew greeting Shalom. Jesus refers to peace in many of the scriptures including (Luke 24:36) and (John 20:21.) This is the essence of what we want for everyone!

 

Numbers are staggeringly low of Catholics and Christians who do not attend church. We see this here in our own Archdiocese of Detroit. Schools are being asked to teach fundamentals, when in fact it should be the parents. The infighting of our government with lack of civility to one another is pervasive. What kind of example are we showing our young people? All of these horrific things can not be separated from our understanding of human life and dignity. We should treasure and build a just society and live our lives amidst our challenges. As with most situations, it begins with us and how we can affect thinking of others.

 

The Lord taught us in The Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.” May we grow in faithfulness to the Lord, as we pray for peace in every dark corner of the world.

Mary Jo