Reaching Out in Times of Sadness
Many tears of disbelief and sorrow have been shed these past several days at St. E's. Feelings of hurt and anger; questions of "why"... How could this happen just when we were getting back on our feet? Where is our consolation? Where are you, Lord?
My thoughts go back to one of our beautiful gospel songs. Here is my prayer:
Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills...
Knowing my help is coming from you.
Your peace you give me
In times of the storm...
You are the source of my strength...
You are the strength of my life...
I lift my hands in total praise to you.
************
NOTE: I will keep this article near the top of the page so that if others wish to comment, it will be readily available. It was originally posted on May 24, 2007. mary ann
Labels: fatherandrew
posted by mary ann @ Wednesday, May 30, 2007
7 comments
7 Comments:
Mary Ann, these comments express my sentiment also. To say it's a dissappointment is to say the least.
My first reaction was complete surprise, this was totally
unexpected by me. I drove the long way home after the Liturgy yesterday, thinking about what we had just heard. My mind was engulfed in what I felt at the time, was.. unfairness..TO us. I am also mindful of the fact that St.Patrick is also losing Fr. Andrew, but feeling that St.Elizabeth has been through such a struggle to come this far and then to have "the rug pulled from under us". Then I began to think about my favorite scripture, Romans 8:28 "ALL things work together for the good of those who love God, & are called to HIS purpose". I thought about our spirituality & faith and how it's brought us through before, and I believe it will again...even
though right now, there is shock, anger, uncertainty,etc, but we have to believe that GOD must still have something else for us.
While talking to Stacy today, she said something that reminded me of another scripture...Eccl: 3, v:1.."There is an appointed time for everything, & a time for every affair under the heavens."...maybe Fr. Andrew was sent to us for a time & purpose, and as hard as it is for US, now it's time for him to go and minister to others, as he has done so inspirationally to us! He told us that.... "I have to be obedient..that's my life" & if he is being called by our Lord somewhere else, then I feel we must COMFORT EACH OTHER AND take "comfort" in his being OBEDIENT to GOD's calling.
Isn't that what we should be all about anyway, trusting in
GOD...'THROUGH HIM, WITH HIM AND IN HIM!"
Thank you, Ronnie, dear friend... Your deep faith never fails to inspire me.
We know the sorrow we feel is not only for ourselves and for our church, but for our pastor also...
These words are so comforting during a time of sadness and frustation. But, as Fr. Andrew reminded us, we must be strong in our faith and turn to our Lord to 'ponder' what we do not understand. Thank you for sharing your feelings and I too am inspired by you.
All of us at S.E's love Fr. Andrew, he has a special place in my heart. In the short time that he has been with us he has taught us much, and one was to continue to love one another, my heart is sad, however, because I trust in Jesus I know everything will be all right. Frances
I was saddened to hear of Fr.Andrew's transfer after only 10 months with us.I told Diane the first time I saw him offer Mass that he is special. in my opinion Bishop F.X. never had any intention of keeping us afloat. he hoped that we would fail.I think it is quite obvious now. by turning over our situation to a new priest who knows nothing of what we have been through he is hoping we will be unable to cope. But all that being said I know that St. E's is a strong faith family and with God's help we will weather this storm also. let's all pray for us and for our beloved Fr. Andrew in this time of trial. God bless us all.
What Vince wrote was also one of the thoughts racing through my mind, that's why I said I felt it was UNFAIRNESS, KNOWING how we have struggled financially and otherwise. The Bishop HIMSELF KNOWS how we love Fr. Andrew AND
vice-versa...BUT...
I decided that even if ALL that we think is true..that all we can do is to do WHATEVER we can do by continuing to support our church and each other & knowing that God can make something good come from something that "MIGHT" not have been for good at first.
Yes, we will pray for our beloved Fr. Andrew also, but if this is his calling...then I commend him for being obedient also to God's will.
phyllis l. booth May 26,2007
I was shocked, numb and couldn't believe what had happen. I prayed for understanding aand acceptance.
We are a spiritul people. WE ASKED FOR AND RECIVE A PRIEST. He has been with us for only a little while. We are a faithful people and as Hebrew 11:1 says" Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen, We received the first part of our belief and now we must be prepared to receive the evidence of things to come. Faith is built on hope. I hoped that we will have another spirit fill priest and the relationship will be a long one. I pray that he'll finish FR. Andrew's project. Faith is spiritual. We are known as a spiritual and warm parish we'll contiue to be this and grow stronger on Second Avenue in Highland Park.
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