As the days progressed I found myself settling in and enjoying the rhythms of each day. Some days I was able to attend morning Mass at St. Francis or get in a two mile walk around Lake Lynn. Mom's spirits were high as she followed the doctor's orders and helped her healing along.
By the end of November I was beginning to feel much more comfortable at the significantly expanded Community of St. Francis as well. Though I didn't know many people and had only seen one former neighbor or two, I had enjoyed attending several daily Masses, a "Come and See" with the Secular Franciscans, and a day-long retreat with one of the friars.
I had celebrated the Holy Day of the Feast of All Saints on November 1-- attended by the Franciscan school children dressed as miniature Mother Teresa's and Pope Francis's and various holy people of old. Then on Thanksgiving Day I had the wondrous surprise of sitting in church right behind my middle school best friend Maureen Clark and seeing her husband, her children, and much of their extended family as well.
We joyfully celebrated Thanksgiving dinner at Mom's house that afternoon with Jim and the kids, Jim's mother Barb, and our little Evie who was in dog heaven with all of the goings on.
So, it was with mixed feelings that my time staying with my Mom came to a close. On our last Sunday together we drove to Greensboro for a special brunch and afternoon with our cousins who have become dear friends through the years.
Then on my last morning with Mom, I decided to attend Mass at St. Francis one more time. It was December 8th, the Holy Day of Mary's Immaculate Conception, and the liturgy was filled with such joy! As the music, the preaching, the baptism, and the praise came to a close, I was suddenly filled with the idea of having my father commemorated here.
So I went to the church office and asked to have my dad's name added to the Memorial Wall.
So you see, while I was busy taking care of Mom after her fall in the yard, God was busy taking care of me-- and of Mom too-- through the many outpourings of help and of love from so many in our community.
Thinking back to that conversation in October with the woman at church who asked me if I had faith, and then to the amazing conclusion of my time with my mom which culminated in adding Dad's name to the Memorial Garden at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, I answer once again that, yes, I have faith! And gratitude! And joy! And such great hope in the days to come.
May the Joy of Christ be yours this Christmas and always.
By the end of November I was beginning to feel much more comfortable at the significantly expanded Community of St. Francis as well. Though I didn't know many people and had only seen one former neighbor or two, I had enjoyed attending several daily Masses, a "Come and See" with the Secular Franciscans, and a day-long retreat with one of the friars.
I had celebrated the Holy Day of the Feast of All Saints on November 1-- attended by the Franciscan school children dressed as miniature Mother Teresa's and Pope Francis's and various holy people of old. Then on Thanksgiving Day I had the wondrous surprise of sitting in church right behind my middle school best friend Maureen Clark and seeing her husband, her children, and much of their extended family as well.
We joyfully celebrated Thanksgiving dinner at Mom's house that afternoon with Jim and the kids, Jim's mother Barb, and our little Evie who was in dog heaven with all of the goings on.
So, it was with mixed feelings that my time staying with my Mom came to a close. On our last Sunday together we drove to Greensboro for a special brunch and afternoon with our cousins who have become dear friends through the years.
Then on my last morning with Mom, I decided to attend Mass at St. Francis one more time. It was December 8th, the Holy Day of Mary's Immaculate Conception, and the liturgy was filled with such joy! As the music, the preaching, the baptism, and the praise came to a close, I was suddenly filled with the idea of having my father commemorated here.
So I went to the church office and asked to have my dad's name added to the Memorial Wall.
The Memorial Wall, also in the Garden, provides room for over 600 memorial plaques. Memorial plaques are names inscribed in memory of deceased parishioners who are buried elsewhere, or in memory of our parishioners’ deceased family members.As Catholics, we believe that Baptism is our birth into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; the Eucharist is our meal for life’s journey. Our Memorial Garden reminds us of this mystery. As we pass through the Garden each Sunday on our way to Mass, we come through death to life, through the Garden to the waters of Baptism and the table of the Eucharist. We are travelers passing through, incorporated into the body of Christ, one day to be united with him and with those we love who have gone before us.
For more information about the Memorial Garden and Columbarium, or to purchase a niche or plaque, please contact Tresa Pickup, 847-8205 x 249.
So you see, while I was busy taking care of Mom after her fall in the yard, God was busy taking care of me-- and of Mom too-- through the many outpourings of help and of love from so many in our community.
Thinking back to that conversation in October with the woman at church who asked me if I had faith, and then to the amazing conclusion of my time with my mom which culminated in adding Dad's name to the Memorial Garden at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, I answer once again that, yes, I have faith! And gratitude! And joy! And such great hope in the days to come.
May the Joy of Christ be yours this Christmas and always.
The Priestly Blessing
(Numbers 6:22-27)
The Lord said to Moses:
Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.
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