Connecticut Tragedy and how you can help . . .

This was passed on to me from a good friend. Please consider sending a note and/or card to these devout but emotionally overworked priests to encourage them in this difficult time for the victims, their families, and their parish communities. Even if you are not a US Citizen but are reading this, consider the joy for these people to know they have an international caring community.
God bless,
Barbara

In your charity, remember the priests of St Rose of Lima parish, its parishioiners and the community of Newtown, CT, in your prayers. There is even an address to which you can write.

Fathers, perhaps it's possible for you to offer Mass, especially for the priests who need the grace to carry on.

This letter was posted on Facebook by the sister of the parochial vicar of St Rose of Lima Parish, Fr Luke Suarez. The pastor's name is Msgr Weiss.

In Christ, AnnMarie

My friends,
All of you, I am sure, have heard so much about the tragedy in Newtown, CT. Many of you have received emails from me about my younger brother, Father Luke Suarez, who is a priest at St. Rose of Lima parish, a Catholic church just down the road from Sandy Hook Elementary. He, and his pastor, Monsignor Weiss, arrived at the school within moments of the shooting, and have been caring for the community ever since. The picture I have included was taken at the school.
Father Luke has an impossible task before him. His diocese is without a bishop right now…. Monsignor … is personally devastated by the losses. The parish is very large…. The rectory has received serious threats, and as my brother gave the homily Sunday at the noon mass, the church had to be evacuated by SWAT teams. After experiencing identity theft and online hacking incidents, he had to erase all of his internet accounts. After a weekend of endless media requests, notifications and vigils with heartbroken families, and little sleep, he now has two wakes and two funerals every day, until the fourth Sunday of Advent. Father Luke has not even been ordained two years.
My large family has been trying to send Father Luke our love and support from afar, and one of my brothers was able to visit with him briefly a couple times. All he asks for is prayer.
I have been wracking my brain, trying to think of a way that our beautiful, loving community could tangibly reach out to Father Luke, Monsignor Weiss, and the St. Rose parish, to support them in this most awful of times. I have sent many prayer requests, and I am asking for more prayers again. But I also want to ask everyone to search their hearts, and if the Holy Spirit moves you, please consider sending one of your family’s Christmas cards to the rectory, with a few words of love and encouragement. Here is his address:
Father Luke Suarez
46 Church Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470
My brother has said over and over again that without the prayer support he is receiving, he could not keep going. And this week is only the beginning. Everyone there is still in shock. Their peaceful home has been desecrated by violence. They will need to live with this sorrow forever.
But in our weakness is His strength. Grace abounds. Can you help me carry him through this time of trial?
On a hopeful note, Father Luke did say that no media coverage has even touched the deep, beautiful awakening of faith that has occurred there. Their tiny church, where my children have received sacraments and where Luke was ordained, has been full of people in prayer without ceasing since this tragedy happened. Love is stronger than death.
Please feel free to share the address with your family, friends, and community. An outpouring of love will sustain these good priests through their impossible ministry–impossible on their own, but possible with God.
I am so grateful to live in this community. We are all so blessed with one another. Every day, I see you all loving one another as Christ loved. Thank you for letting me reach out to you now.
With humble appreciation

Oh, dear! NOT before Christmas!

I'm a plan-ahead sort of person so most of my handicrafts and shopping for Christmas is completed already. Except for a very few items, they are wrapped and ready to be delivered or set under the Christmas tree. Overseas packages went out earlier in the month with hopes that they arrive in time for Christmas. Now, they tell me that according to the Mayan Calendar, the world is ending tomorrow! I could have saved myself all that work. All that money spent and no place for the gifts to go after December 21st!

Seriously, it is funny to hear people taking such predictions to heart. A great majority of the population is Christian and believe in the Bible. Don't remember any notice about tomorrow being the Second Coming. I also believe it is quite clearly stated that we won't know the time or the place for the end of time.

It was very sad, however, to hear people saying what they would do if they knew for sure tomorrow was the last day. Most of the remarks dealt with sinful acts, gluttony, and greed. Kind of shows the state of the world that few people thought of anything except having the most fun they could before it was all over. No one mentioned, perhaps, making amends, praying, getting it right with God. Me, I'm a coward in that I don't want to be bad nor do I want to be caught being bad and since God sees and knows all, it seems like a good idea to just try and behave . . . not matter what.

I would be very surprised if tomorrow brought an end to the world as we know it. I don't think there are any second chances at that point. Yet, people who are leaning towards the proposed end of time on December 20th (as in tomorrow!), seem more concerned in grabbing all they can in respect to fun, games, and sin than preparing their souls for eternity. More people will face their own 'end times' long before the final time comes. It is a little disheartening that the first thought in the face of the possibility heads them sinful acts rather than prayer and repentance.

With all that in mind, it is either a 'see you tomorrow' or 'happy endtimes'!