From Archbishop Carlson:
Although the floodwaters have mostly receded, the needs are still very great. But our generosity must be greater. That is why I am directing all parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis to hold a special collection the weekend of January 16-17 to assist in recovery efforts through Catholic Charities. Financial assistance, rather than clothing or food, is the most needed resource at this time.
This weekend’s special collection is part of a national campaign to help recent victims of disasters across the country, including the flood here in the St Louis area. Catholics across the country will be encouraged to give to this campaign. Some funds will stay here to help the St. Louis area relief efforts, and the remainder sent to USCCB/CCUSA for future disaster assistance. Catholic Charities is working to help victims of the flood disaster, which has affected every county in the archdiocese. Several Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) will be set up in a variety of locations in counties across the St. Louis Region as locations where flood victims can come to have their needs assessed and then access services from a variety of community agencies, including St. Francis Community Services (our lead agency for disaster response/recovery). The list of times and locations of the MARCs can be found at ccstl.org/floods.
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I came across this post by Fr. Mike Schmitz which is very reflective of my experience these 31 years as a priest, and appropriate as we begin this year of Mercy.
“I was once riding in a shuttle-bus with a number of older folks on the way from an airport. They noticed that I was a priest and started asking questions about it. “Do you do all of the priest stuff?” “Yep.” “Even the Confession thing?” “Yeah. All the time.” One older lady gasped, “Well, I think that that would be the worst. It would be so depressing; hearing all about people’s sins.”
I told them that it was the exact opposite. There is almost no greater place to be than with someone when they are coming back to God. I said, “It would depressing if I had to watch someone leave God; I get to be with them when they come back to Him.” The Confessional is a place where people let God’s love win. The Confessional is the most joyful, humbling, and inspiring place in the world.
What do I see during Confession? I think there are three things. First, I see the costly mercy of God in action. I get to regularly come face to face with the overwhelming, life-transforming power of God’s love. I get to see God’s love up-close and it reminds me of how good God is.
Not many folks get to see the way in which God’s sacrifice on the Cross is constantly breaking into people’s lives and melting the hardest hearts. Jesus consoles those who are grieving their sins . . . and strengthens those who find themselves wanting to give up on God or on life. As a priest I get to see this thing happen every day.”
(to be continued next week)