Loving in deed and truth

Happy Fifth Sunday of Easter! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Last week, I wrote about Pope Francis’ cry for more caritas, the gift of God which enables us to love for God’s own sake and love others for God’s sake. Last night I heard a fine testament of caritas by Tyler Perry in, of all places, the Oscars awards:

You know, when I set out to help someone it is my intention to do just that. I'm not trying to do anything other than meet somebody at their humanity. . .

My mother taught me to refuse hate. She taught me to refuse blanket judgment. And in this time and with all of the internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way - the 24-hour news cycle - it is my hope that all of us will teach our kids - and not only to remember - just refuse hate. Don't hate anybody.

I refuse to hate someone because they're Mexican or because they are Black or white, or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they're a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian. I would hope that we would refuse hate.

I want to take this Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and dedicate it to anyone who wants to stand in the middle, no matter what's around the walls, stand in the middle because that's where healing happens. That's where conversation happens. That's where change happens. It happens in the middle. So anyone who wants to meet me in the middle, to refuse hate, to refuse blanket judgment and to help lift someone's feet off the ground, this one is for you, too.

This is a small section of an 800-word speech. The whole speech, which has the reference of standing in the middle, is here and a half dozen other websites.

Ministry Opportunities

Victoria Ries has volunteered to continue the garden in support of St. Mary’s Food Bank! Yea!!! She has begun tending and caring for it with the help of a couple of volunteers. But she needs your help! If you’re interested, please contact Victoria at victoria.ries@comcast.net.

We need someone with a modest familiarity with computers to help Nicole run our livestream equipment. Although we are now celebrating two Masses on Sunday, we still are at less than capacity, and many parishioners are still staying away because the COVID danger is still with us. The livestream is our best way to keep our parish vibrant. If you are able to watch Mass on your computer, you are computer-savvy enough to help. Contact Nicole at: nicoles@sttherese.cc.

Ellie Wakefield is seeking help making lunches for the Matt Talbot Center. The goal is to provide 30 lunches once a month for the center. She needs three volunteers to make ten lunches each and drop them off at the house of a fourth volunteer who would then drive them downtown to the Matt Talbot Center. Depending on how many people sign up, you may only need to volunteer once every 3-4 months. If you can help, contact Ellie at ellieawake@gmail.com. (My all-time favorite email address!)

For you newcomers, the MTC ministers to individuals who want to recover from addiction. It was engendered by the Holy Spirit at the same 1981 Cursillo retreat where the Gospel Choir was rooted and is led by former St. T parishioner Greg Alex.

Collections
July 1 - April 29, 2021 $347,507
Where we need to be: $326,140
Last year at this time: $311,582

To support our many ministries, please click on Give on our website. We appreciate your generosity during this challenging time.