Dear Parishioners,
When I first started writing these letters each week over a
decade ago for my parish bulletin, my intention was to communicate directly
with you my parishioners and to let know
you what I was thinking. I generally enjoy
writing, and I saw this as an additional way to communicate my thoughts and sometimes my feelings. (Go on a Marriage Encounter Weekend to have this distinction--thoughts vs. feelings--clarified
more fully!) The homily each week was
not always the means by which I could convey everything that I wanted to say. Nor was it always the appropriate forum for
some of the matters that needed to be addressed.
With time, and a transfer to various parish assignments, I
began posting my letters on my blog (www.fr-ed-namiotka.com)
for anyone to see. Hence, my "parishioners" took on an
ever greater context. I now have people
who do not physically reside in my parish but look for some spiritual guidance
or insight, or just try to see what I am up to these days. I hope that whoever reads my brief messages
somehow benefits spiritually from what I have to say. I put time, energy, prayer and love into my
weekly message with the hope that it can somehow touch souls. I pray that God use these words in whatever
way He sees fit.
I just returned from a Caribbean cruise. While it may seem a strange thing to do
during Lent, sometimes the
circumstances of life do not fit into exact categories. For years, I was able to take my mom (now 85)
with me and this was a way that we could be together for a week (or so) and where
we could warm up from the chill of the winter.
Unfortunately, for the past two years she has declined to go with me for
various reasons (usually health and mobility related). Nonetheless, I was able to offer Mass and to
preach each day for some of the cruise passengers and they seemed very
appreciative that I could be there for them.
Daily Mass usually saw approximately 20-30 people while the Sunday
Masses were attended by about 125 travelers.
Currently, I am a participant at the Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in South Jersey being held in Atlantic City. Bishop Sullivan is the driving force behind
this three-and-a-half day event. He has required each parish to send 10
delegates with their pastor. The hope is
that the approximately 800 attendees will be able to return to their respective
parishes filled with Gospel joy and zeal, and to be effective leaders. We have Mass and pray together each day,
attend various conferences and workshops, and find ourselves getting to know
the chosen delegates better. For me it
has been something of a Diocesan/Catholic Who's
Who, as I have run into so many former parishioners and friends. When you are a priest for over thirty years,
you do get to know quite a few people!
The convocation began on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25). This
day, dedicated to Our Lady and her acceptance of God's will in her life, has
been a special day for me for quite some time.
One of my close priest-friends generally sends out Annunciation Day cards rather than Christmas cards. He does
this to remind us all that the Word became flesh--the Incarnation of Jesus the Christ--with Mary's "yes" to the angel Gabriel (see Luke 1: 26-38). The sacredness of the life of every child in the womb is accentuated by
the presence of Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The words of the Hail Mary and the Angelus
should be daily prayer-reminders of the events of this day.
When I return to the parish with my fellow attendees this
weekend, pray that we be filled with the
Joy of the Gospel!
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
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