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Dear Friends,
In these colder months, I find that I have some more "inside time" and that provides me
the opportunity to catch up on some books that have been sitting on my shelf calling for attention.
While I love to read biographies and inspirational books, I also tend to read more practical ones that give me better insights into myself, ministry and how to better grow and support our parish. As you can imagine, there’s never enough time to read all the items that I would like.
Having said that, I recently finished the book entitled, Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship At A Time. In it, Keith Ferrazzi gives some practical tips on how to connect with other people. It’s an interesting treatise on how to help and how to be helped not only in the professional world, but in our personal lives as well.
Reading this stirred my heart into re-visiting the various conversations that I have had with parishioners who are in need of help, particularly those in our midst who find themselves out of a job. If you have ever been one of those people, you know just how frightening it can be, especially in the face of having a family and real responsibilities to provide for them. It got me thinking further that as a parish, we can do a much better job at helping one another on both sides of the equation - when we have an opportunity to share with someone and when we are in need of a new opportunity.
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians this week urges us, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we agree in what we say, and that there be no divisions among us, and that we be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. I can think of no greater practical way to embody that challenge than for us to better help one another in our times of need.
While I am not sure precisely how to start this "new ministry" I am interested in your help. If you can help with a lead on a job, or are in need of a job, or can help organize this, please reach out to me or any member of our staff.
Thanks, and blessings!
-Fr Bob