On Thursday, I visited the pre-K at the school, and I read a book to the students and their mothers. The children’s book was called “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch and beautifully illustrated by Sheila McGraw. I had never read it before and I was not prepared for the ending; I cried like a baby! I think all the mothers cried online with me too! The story tells how a mother loved her baby boy and sings a lullaby to put him to sleep when he is little. She continues to hold him and sing this song to him throughout his life. Eventually, she is too old and sick to do so anymore, and the boy, now a man, comes, holds her and sings the same song to his mother as she sleeps. It is a truly beautiful story of the cyclic nature of love. How our mothers love us every day of our lives as best they can, and we will all get a chance to return that love back to our mothers.
I know that is true for me in my life. When my mom was alive, I would go to Ireland often to visit her and spend time with her. In those early years, I would go home for 2-3 weeks a year and spend my time with her just chatting and walking each day. As her memory faded, she would ask me, “When are you coming to visit?” I would reply, “Mom. I just got back from visiting you last week!” But she didn’t remember. So, I changed my plans and visited her twice a year for one week. Then her memory got worse, and I changed my plans again visiting her 3 times a year for five days. Then finally, four times a year for four days. While it was hard to travel so far for only a few days, I would never change it for a minute. I will never regret visiting my mom so often while she was still alive. I cherish each of those trips as special memories.
If your mother is still alive, I hope you can find it in your heart to visit regularly, in person if you can, but online if not. I promise you will never regret those visits as you will share love and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Sunday is Mother’s Day and it is an opportunity to show our mothers how much we love them. It is also a time for us to express our gratitude to our mothers for the gift of their love. If our mother has gone to heaven, then maybe we can pass on that gratitude and love to others who mother us still. Let’s celebrate the gift of mothers and their love.
At all Masses, we will have a gift of a flower for every mother, and a special blessing for them. It is our way to say thank you and we love you!
Last Wednesday, we held a meeting to discuss the possible resumption of the 6:30 am weekday Mass. The meeting was held at 6:30 am to accommodate those who could only meet at that time. I was delighted to see over 35 people gather to discern the best way to move forward. After listening to the gathered community and discerning with the clergy of the parish, I am delighted to announce we will resume the 6:30 am Mass starting May 17. Mass will be at 6:30 am Monday through Friday indoors.
We ask everyone who is working to consider coming to the Mass in person and join this community in praying each day to start their day. For those who are not early risers, we will continue to have 8:30 am Mass and we will continue to livestream that 8:30 am Mass. Thank you for all who helped me discern the best path forward.
God bless,
Fr. Brendan