Dear Fellow Parishioners, Several people commented on how lucky I am to have such good neighbors who came to MY rescue when Stella was hit. Some went further to say, “How lucky you are to know your neighbors! As I was reflecting on that I realize that we have been socially distancing from others for years, and not just since Covid-19. This happening is made more evident in Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.
We are the Catholic Community of Sacred Heart. There is no way we can be a community and be distant from each other. My role as your pastor is to build community, and I must tell you it is becoming more and more of a challenge. In the past few years, we have been losing the ability to enter into civil discourse. How sad I am when I see these flags and banners flying from people’s homes and front yards that seem to shout out to others, “This is where I stand, like it or not!” We seem to be in each other’s face, not listening, not talking, not building community but digging trenches and walls that cause us to separate.
We are asked to protect each other’s health by socially distancing and wearing masks in public spaces. Even that request has become a movement from, “being in this together and looking after one another”, to “don’t infringe on my freedom!” Some have eliminated the words “us and we” from their discourse, to only look after “me, and my kind.” How do we build bridges that connect and take down walls that separate? All these questions weigh heavy on my heart.
We are the only ones that can build community and look after and take care of each other. We are the only ones who can be “neighbor;” only we can build bridges. As individuals and households, we are the only ones that can develop listening skills necessary for civil discourse. The Gospel continues to challenge us to take care of, look after, carry, assist, walk with, accompany, and companion. There seems to be a message contrary to the Gospel that is shouting out to divide us. My prayer is that we will work together to plant the Gospel message that will lead to common union with each other as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, so we can truly live up to being “The Catholic Community of Sacred Heart!”
It is not by chance that my neighbors came to my rescue. I go out of my way to make sure I know all my neighbors, and at the same time, I strive be a good neighbor.