At Mass this past weekend everything finally aligned correctly for us. The Sunday Scripture started with Part Two of Ordinary Time, the summer heat and wonderful weather became more consistent, and finally life in general eased up with all the sunlight which makes life better. The Ordinary Sundays which run through the summer are filled with scripture that allows us time to pause and reflect upon ourselves, our lives, our journey in faith and what everything in many ways is all about. Ordinary Summer Time is a great time to ponder quietly and without undue stress our lives and where we are going. However, this Sunday in this year we take a step off our path of reflection to celebrate the birthday, aka Nativity, of John the Baptist. His actual birth date is unknown, but because he was a very hot and fiery prophet, his birthday is plunked down right in the middle of the Northern Hemisphere's hot and sunny season of summer. Our spring lasted quite a length this year, so that the dryness of summer and the scorched earth lacking water have yet to appear around us. In fact, this year, most of us are quite happy that summer has finally arrived, even if water limitations and high heat will soon start.

Welcoming Stephen May: This past week Stephen May, our new Pastoral Associate (PA) began his ministry and service to our Parish. Nan Rafter, our outgoing Parish Nurse and Pastoral Associate, has been assisting him in his transition. Our Parish has been blessed by the work of Nan and now we wish her great health, many blessings and a wonderful retirement. Stephen May will now begin the work of ministering to our many, many parishioners. He will be involved in caring for the sick and homebound, those in assisted care facilities and nursing homes and also, at times, in hospitals. He will also help in the pastoral care for our dying, bereaved and mourning. He will be a liaison and work with our Health Ministry Committee.

The Capital Campaign project is moving forward!! Work will begin on Thursday, June 14 in the lower church hall. Check back periodically for updated pictures.

This is a wonderful season of the year to attend Sunday Mass, the weather turns so nice these next three months complimented by the Sunday scripture readings helping us to understand our lives and our relationship with God. We listen in particular to the Gospel to hear the words of wisdom and insight that Jesus offers us and to hear and envision his miracles and healings in what they can mean in our actual lives today. We are not following "the narrative of Jesus" as much as we are listening to, meditating upon and pondering the Wisdom Sayings and graced Actions of Jesus. In the readings this weekend, we find the theme and image of a leader. We expect our leaders to have personal magnetism, a clear sense of purpose and an aura of power. We simply presume good intentions. Our readings today highlight the magnetism, purpose, and power of a leader who is all-good. The readings charge us to recognize him and to follow.

The longer days of sunlight and the increasing, but the still inconsistent warmth makes our days so much easier in so many and various ways, although there is much more to do now that the ice and bitter cold have departed. In addition, the speed at which everything takes place is unbelievable. From watching HGTV, folks seem to be convinced that everything in life takes only one half hour, or at worst one whole hour! You can renovate an entire home without dirt and dust and have it finished in 60 minutes! Not weeks not months or one year, but mere minutes! Besides the huge social issue we have, that unfortunately so many things have to happen at the same time and thus no one can be in two or three places at one time. As you are aware, choosing to say "yes" to someone and their event, often means saying "no" to someone else's also very important event. I find as my family moves down through the generations of family with the additions of in-laws and their in-laws with all their very important commitments and schedules of family celebrations and events, it gets harder and harder to be able to go to all the family events.