Hello Holy Family Church,

This is my first year at Holy Family and for me, Holy Family has drawn me in with an embrace of God’s love, the welcome of His Church. Our church, Holy Family, demonstrates the love of the People of God through service and a strong social justice program. Daily, I work in the Eden Center, the building right next door to the St. Joseph Center & Giving Bank. I see our Giving Bank staff and volunteers work with so much cheerfulness, serving those in need. This really is a Church for everyone!

Currently, I am especially proud to be working with our youth. These teens can teach all of us a lesson. They continue to attend our programs and do so with a smile, despite their lives being not what they dreamed of this past year. They keep their families in prayer, and whenever they are asked for an intention they wish to pray for, they pray for our health and frontline workers, people who are suffering from COVID and seniors who are unable to see their families. Although it has been trying, they remark that they now have more family time and enjoy cooking and eating as a family. So maybe some good has come out of this incredibly stressful time.

Our first-year Confirmation candidates have completed their first-year retreat, and as a part of this retreat, they discovered their five main strengths, which they have been encouraged to learn more about and put into action in their lives using the actions of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Our teens demonstrate this and work together with respect and dignity. Please, if you know of any teens grades 6-8 who would like to attend our monthly Crosswalk Middle School program, they are welcome to join at any time, as with our Confirmation classes which are currently being held via ZOOM.

As we move into this period of LENT, we wonder how this next year will look. Between COVID-19 and the division we have seen in our country, both in our government and with racial tension, we have all experienced stress and anxiety. Perhaps now we can take this opportunity to sit back and really think about Matthew 22: 36-40:

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.’”

This LENT we can spend time with our family or the blessing of being able to ZOOM with family, in my case. Especially, we would love our families to “Lent Together.” The Faith Formation Team has put together the “Let’s Lent Together” program in which has us experience the Holy Journey together. Please visit the website at www.holyfamily.org/Lent2021 for a list of activities. There is time for prayer, an opportunity to build your own sacred space in your home, recipes for Lent, ideas on almsgiving and fasting and a time to get together and share. There are even things for the zoomed out!

As we journey forth, I think we all know what to do. We need to look after one another and appreciate each other’s differences. Our teens have exemplified this on a daily basis.

With them, I pray for all our families and wish you a safe and healthy 2021.

God Bless,

Sally Cunningham

Associate Director of Faith Formation

Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Confirmation