The Pastoral Council has had our first meeting with Fr. Kilian. In our short time together, he shared many ideas for our Parish. Ideas to bring us closer to our Lord and ideas for fun and social events to bring us closer together as a Parish. One of the bigger items on his plate will be the celebration of our Golden Jubilee (the 50-year anniversary of our Parish). 2024 will usher in this momentous occasion and the clergy and staff are busy with plans to make this a wonderful and memorable event for all.

 

Another idea that Father Kilian would like to implement is a “Well” at our parish.  This is in support of Bishop Dolan’s new mental health ministry. The focus of this ministry is to provide awareness and work toward eliminating the stigma that accompanies mental health. Mental illness is a growing problem in the US. According to Mental Health America, over 50 million people suffer from mental illness so chances are we all know someone who is affected by this challenging and misunderstood disease.

 

The Well is referencing the story about Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman.(John 4:4-30). The Well is where the women gather together, however, in this instance one woman is alone because she is an outcast and shunned by her community and Jesus engages her at the Well. It is Jesus who is there in her isolation and loneliness when everyone else has tossed her aside. Jesus speaks and tells the woman who He is to her. Those suffering from mental illness are often the shunned and outcast members of society, not solely from the community, but the individuals themselves typically suffer alone, lost in their world of isolation, depression and confusion. 

 

• Suicide is the 11th cause of death in the US and in 2020, 45,979 Americans died by suicide and another 1.2 million attempted to take their own lives.

 

This Well will be a symbol for all who suffer or those who love someone who suffers from mental illness and its devastating effects. Father is welcoming and inviting our input and suggestions on where we would like to see the Well and its implementation at our parish. He wants to hear ideas of where it can go and how it can look and any other creative suggestions we have to address this important issue. Perhaps this can be a coming together for those of us who have loved ones that are suffering in our parish.  Hopefully, this symbol will be a sign of hope and better understanding of this disease that takes so many forms. At the very least, this Well can serve as a focal point that reminds us that we are never alone and that the Lord is here to encounter us in our isolation and brokenness in whatever way we are affected by this tragic illness.

 

Please hit submit on the tab below with any comments, thoughts, ideas or suggestions on how we can make the Well become a reality here at Blessed Sacrament.