On Tuesday , May 17, I will be gathering with volunteers who will be organizing efforts to help a refugee family. We meet at 7:00 pm to discuss the various issues, concerns and concrete details in the area of planning. We are will be helping a family from a different culture and country become acclamated to a new city and way of life. In all likelihood, these individuals will not speak English, which will challenge us to discover creative ways of communication while they learn English. 

A refugee is leaving their country of birth, giving up a familiar culture, language and way of life, due to poverty and violence. They see the U.S.  as a place of “refuge” where they will hopefully have new opportunities and freedoms to live their lives with meaning and purpose. 

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” teaches Jesus. 

Another note: Catholic Charities and Refugee Outreach  has asked us to collect packages of disposable diapers for boys and girls in all sizes. There is a serious need for diapers. Please help if you are able and bring them to any Mass you will be attending. If you like, you can place them near the altar in the baskets or plastic storage cartons provided during the Presentation of the Gifts. During this time if the Mass, we take up the Collection and “present” the bread and wine to be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Why not present food for the poor, shoes for the undocumented and diapers for babies, along with, the symbols that are at the heart of the Eucharist, bread and wine?

The Mass is all about the transformation of our hearts. 

Peace. Fr. Frank