Dear Fellow Parishioners, Sunday was a washout! A bride was trying to wait out the rain for a 3:00 P.M. wedding and it just never let up. We know of the flooding in Vermont, and being from New England, that is close to home. Then we read about the 500 dams in New England, (200 in Massachusetts) that are in danger of being breached. I didn’t even know we had that many dams in our state. I often do the 4-mile and the 8-mile loop trails at Buffumville Dam in Charlton. We hear of triple digit temperatures in the southern states. We are breaking all sorts of high temperature records in recorded history and often times we just think, as long as I am comfortable and it doesn’t impact me, it is ok. However, as church we HAVE a moral obligation to instruct the people of God in the ways of our faith. Pope Francis takes this role seriously and wrote an Encyclical letter to all peoples of the world entitled: Laudato Si’: On the care of our common home. Many people have read the letter and some of us have been trained as Laudato Si’ animators. That is why you see suggestions in our bulletin on a weekly basis on how we as individuals can be active in preserving our earth for future generations. Of course, these individual actions add up and make a difference, However, it is not enough, and we are unsure of what more we can do. On a recent rainy day (we have had several of them!) I sat down and watched a movie that is based on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ it is entitled The Letter: A message for our earth. It is available on Youtube at this link: https://www.laudatosi.org/the-letter/the-letter-movie-a-message-for-our-earth/ Several times as I watched it (heads up, first two minutes are in French with English subtitles) I was moved to tears. The end of the movie asks a simple question, “How will you take action?” Often times I feel like I am doing enough, I recycle, I drive a hybrid car, I put solar panels on my home 13 years ago, I had heat pump installed three years ago, we are putting solar carports in our parking lot; I have served on my town’s recycle commission… But that’s just me. I wonder what difference we can make when we act together? That is part of what I am hearing from the Holy Spirit as we move forward The Catholic Community of Sacred Heart. What are you hearing? Again, please jump in with your wisdom.