vis-a-vis

A Drop in the Ocean by Karen Miller, Pastoral Associate This pandemic has consumed our headlines and our conversations.  It has altered our work, our worship and our lives. Some families have found themselves together too much and some just long to be together. For others, being alone is suddenly magnified. Facing an ocean of hardship, our hearts long to help, to make a drop in the ocean, to affect for the good and so many of you have been doing just that…   Tighe Hall would have been a lonely, empty space had it not been for Katie Hall, a Visitation parishioner and Director of Development for St. Luke Foundation and her team! They transformed the Faith Formation Room, Retreat Room and Brides Room into a headquarters for material cutting, sorting and mask kit making. When the organizers realized they needed twist ties for the nosepiece, they asked and you responded! Twist ties poured into the newly placed basket that first afternoon. Other parishioners and ...

Earth Day Stewardship by Megan Burdolski, Director of Stewardship Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day. The first Earth Day was observed fifty years ago, in 1970, to raise public awareness of pollution, vanishing wildlife and other concerns plaguing our environment. As Catholics, we believe that our environment is a gift from God and that it is our responsibility to show our gratitude by caring for and honoring His creation. Earth Day offers us a chance to renew our pledge to be good stewards of God’s creation. Consider this story – One day a young man went to visit his old grandfather. He was surprised to find his grandfather in the backyard planting a small peach tree. The boy knew it would take many, many years for the peach tree to grow up big enough that it would produce fruit. If his grandfather wanted peaches, the boy wondered, why didn’t he just go to the store and buy some? That would be so much faster. Finally, after watching his grandfather work for a l...

Gospel Reflection: Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday by Teresa R. Albright, Pastoral Associate John 20:19-31 In Sunday’s Gospel message we heard the story of “doubting” Thomas and what led him to believe that Jesus was the Christ and is risen from death. As I meditated on this story I wondered, why wasn’t Thomas with the other disciples who were sheltering-in-place behind locked doors? Was he out making a run for bread and toilet paper? While the others remained closed off from the world, Thomas had ventured out into the thick of things...perhaps even risking his own life. Did Thomas volunteer to gather supplies and food on behalf of the others because he was getting a little stir crazy cooped up in a single, upper room? I have always drawn comfort from theologian Paul Tillich’s words, “the opposite of faith is not doubt – it’s certainty.” I like to think of Thomas, not as someone to pity for his disbelief, but as someone to admire for his self-awareness. Th...