Memo from Msgr. Raun - Tuesday, April 21st, 2020


My dear family in the Lord,

Some more Bible verses for our Quarantine meditation !

Empathy Engages us with God’s Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-Discipline

“To Timothy, my dear son… Recalling your tears, I long to see you… I am reminded of your sincere faith… For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:2, 4-5, 7).

God’s Grace Helps You Accept Your Weakness and Become Strong

“Three times I [Paul] pleaded with the Lord to take [the thorn in my flesh] away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ …That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Trouble, Hardship, and Death Don’t Separate us From Christ’s Love

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? …Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:31-32, 35-37).

DAILY PARISH WORSHIP during the Quarantine:9 am - Holy Mass on-line
5:30 pm Confessions in the Adoration Chapel (Monday through Saturday)
6 pm Holy Hour on-line

NEW ALPHA SERIES STARTS TONIGHT AT 7 PM.  As of yesterday afternoon,  we have more than 30 people signed up! How wonderful that, despite the limitations we have to deal with because of the quarantine, so many people want to come learn more about Christ and have a personal relationship with Him. How about you? How about inviting someone you know? Just go to stanm.org to register (which you have to do because we are going to have it on Zoom.)

PRAISE REPORT: I shared one of Debbie's stories about being a Care Caller yesterday: she sent me another one!

"I thought I’d share a story with you. I was making my phone calls last week and called a number on my sheet asking for a Patsy. A man answered and said Patsy hadn’t had that number for a long time but that recently he had been receiving more calls for Patsy then for himself.  We both chuckled. I asked if he was a member of Saint Thomas and he said no. I then asked if he had any prayer intentions he’d like me to pray for. He shared that he had just recently been diagnosed with cancer. We prayed together and I asked if he’d like me to call back next week and check in on him. He said that would be nice and that he was thankful for the phone call. What a blessing to be able to pray and cry with a complete stranger."

FIRST COMMUNIONS and CONFIRMATIONS are "on hold" at this time. I am happy to say that our Children's and Youth ministries are meeting on-line with the students and continuing their preparation for the Sacraments. God bless these teachers who have found such creative ways to continue to work with our students! As soon as the "all clear" is sounded, we will be setting new dates for these young people to receive their Sacraments.

SHARE US ON-LINE on your social media. Download the parish app onto your smart phone or tablet. It the easiest way to receive everything the parish has to enrich your life.

HOLINESS TIP: I just found out this morning of our first parishioner (that I know of), to be tested positive for COVID-19. She is elderly and ill. We have several other parishioners who are dying. (I don't want to mention names lest I forget anyone.) And it seems that neither family nor clergy can enter hospitals/nursing homes at this time. So please, pray for the sick and the dying. I love the idea of praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and offering it to God for that person, who He knows, is dying alone at this moment. Spiritually adopt a dying person! What a work of mercy!

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE:
Tomorrow is the National Home School Tornado Drill. Lock your kids in the basement until you get the all clear. You’re welcome!
 
2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away from positive people.
 
The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house, and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!

OUR PRAYER FOR THE DAY: based on St. Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 28

Do not be afraid," - God, I hand over to You those things that make me so afraid. Resurrect the parts of my faith squelched by fear.

"I know that you are looking for Jesus," - God, when my soul is searching, help me know the answer to every longing can be found in You.

"He has risen," - God, the fact that Jesus is risen should lift my head, my heart and my attitude. Help me to live today as if I really believe this with every part of my life.

"just as he said," - Jesus, You keep Your promises. Help me live as though I believe that with every part of me. Help me trust You more, obey You more and resemble You more.

"Come and see," - Jesus, You had the angels invite the women in to see for themselves that You had risen. You invite me into these personal revelations every day. Forgive me for sometimes rushing about and forgetting to come and see for myself ... You, Your Word, Your insights.

"Then go quickly and tell his disciples," - Jesus, I don't want to be a secret keeper with my faith. I want to be a bold and gracious proclaimer of Your Truth. For You. With You. Because of You. Me, the unwanted girl whom You loved, redeemed and wanted.


I send you my fatherly blessing, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen !

Msgr. Doug Raun

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