May 9, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers. In the U.S., we have honored mothers since 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation making it a national observance. This day gives thanks to all our mothers in their sacrificial love for their children. A mother’s love has no limits, even when she is tired or even when her children become adults. A mother strives to do her best, learning along the way by “trial and error” since there is no manual on how to be a good mother. And each child has his/her own personality. What may work for one child may not work for another child. May we pray for our mothers that they may be the first of all teachers (along with fathers) in the ways of faith. May they be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do—taken from the Baptismal Rite for Children. May we also remember in prayer any mothers who have died. See p. 7 for a prayer for all mothers.
Let us also pray for all the other women who serve as a “mother” or a 2nd mother. Let us pray for those grandmothers (and grandfathers) who are taking such an active role in parenting, sometimes being the only or primary parent. I am amazed how grandparents are rearing their grandchildren for a variety of reasons. God is wise to give motherhood to young adults since parenting can be so exhausting. To see grandparents who are older giving so much in sacrificial love to rear their grandchildren is really astounding.
Once a young father who is a stay at home father & his wife who works outside the home described his role as a stay home father as the hardest thing that he has ever done, even harder than being in the military. When his wife was pregnant with their 2nd child, he said he could not be at home with both children. I commend this father for what he has done, but it only substantiates the huge responsibility that mothers have and how we do not give enough credit to the work of a mother. When mothers work outside the home, how much more difficult it is for them, especially if the father is not present.
No one is perfect, including mothers, though too many people expect perfection in others. Yet it is also true that some parents are less than good examples. How many times I hear in the confessional the conflict in a person’s life when one’s parent has been abusive, mean, not loving, abandoned the family, etc. Then how does one “honor your parents”? We have to remember it is a two-way street also. Parents are to give what is best to their children, to follow the “golden rule” of treating others the way you want to be treated. But sin enters into the world, and not all parents do offer the best. Sometimes, it may be intentional or other times parents have so many problems themselves that it affects the children, like alcoholism, their own hurts, a mental illness, etc. (May is Mental Health Awareness Month. More info will be forthcoming when we can offer the 8 week sessions on mental health concerns.
If you find yourself struggling with your parent who has been hurtful, you might have to put “boundaries” in your relationship so continual hurt does not happen. But you can “honor” your parent by praying for healing, conversion, for their good, etc. To allow resentment and hurt to fester just makes matters even worse. Though we cannot change someone else, with God’s graces, we can change how we are.
Springtime is known to be a time for cleaning. The narthex & parlor room have been cleaned & de-cluttered. Now in the narthex is hanging the decree that established the parish on July 1, 1983. Have you noticed in the sanctuary (altar area) we replaced the white tape with black tape that outlines the step area? The black tape blends in better but still serves the same purpose of denoting where the steps are. Thank you, Deacon Matt & David Everest (and their knees), who installed the new tape. (Ask Deacon Matt his explanation why his knees were not hurting after this installation job!) The chapel & its entrance way have been cleaned. Now we have to paint both areas. There are some water leaks that need to be fixed in the church & chapel. On this Mother’s Day, my deceased mother would be smiling upon me for all the clean-up we have done in the church & chapel since she liked everything clean & organized! More info next week on expenditures for maintenance & repairs recently.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!
Fr. Lawrence W. Jozwiak
Pastor
“The Cross is the school of love.”
—St. Maximilian Kolbe
“There is no greater love, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” John 15: 13