Dear Parishioners,
Storm Damage
We had some branches fall on campus yesterday. Tom and Matt cleaned up many of them this morning. We lost power in the parish center and church at least briefly. I spent most of the day in the rectory which did not lose power. We were very fortunate on campus.
A Nixle alert from 9:57 AM states that 75% of Manchester was still without power. The mayor said that trucks from Indiana and Ohio were coming to help restore power. Fr. Pat out in Whiting has heard of some of his parishioners having trees fall on their houses. My sister Kathleen was working in the Barnegat Library as a tornado touched down in Barnegat. She returned home after the power went out to find that a tree limb landed gently on their roof. Her husband thinks he can repair the roof. My siblings' neighbor across the street had a tree fall and gently touch their house.
With all the challenges of 2020, Isaias may prompt us to ask God, "How much more?" If you're not ready to talk with Jesus, go to His mother.
Our Lady of the Snows
As improbable as our 2020 challenges have been, snow in the heat of August is more so. The Blessed Mother appeared to a nobleman John and his wife as well as Pope Liberius. She asked them to build a church in her honor on the hill that would be covered with snow. On August 5, 352, snow fell during the night in Rome. Today, we celebrate The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major which was built upon that snowy hill.
If it can snow in Rome in August through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, then we can ask Our Lady of the Snows to intercede for us. What will she do? She'll bring our concerns to her Son with the desire of bringing us and her Son closer together. What will Jesus do? He'll offer us every grace we need to carry these crosses we bear this year.
God love you,
Fr. Jim