From Our Pastor: Quiet! Be Still!
Quiet! Be still! This command is not just to the storm, but to the disciples in that moment and to us today. This is not just to the storms around us, but to the storms within us. So often we are terrified about the difficulties of life or loss, but we must just trust the Lord all the more. When Jesus says, “do you not yet have faith?” He is asking us; do we not trust Him? Let us quiet our hearts and minds so that we may be still and rest in Him. If we do this, we will trust in Him and there we will find eternal peace.
This past week on June 20, we celebrated 15 years of Deacon Wayne Zimmerman being a deacon in the Catholic Church. This wonderful man has served so faithfully for these many years at the altar of God and in the sacraments of the Church. Deacon Zimmerman has been a huge blessing to me in my time here at St. Francis. He has been so helpful knowing the norms and practices of the place with such graciousness and quiet help. He helped keep me from pitfalls of not knowing how something is done in a new place. He helped make my transition easier. He helped me know where things are. He assisted me at the altar and helped me immensely by taking funerals, wakes and burials, marriage prep and weddings, adoration and benediction, baptisms, and preaching. Congratulations Deacon Zimmerman on your many years of service. 15 years is a big year!
This next week on June 26, Deacon Dennis Holbrook celebrates three years! These two wonderful men have been set apart for service in the Church as Deacons. Do not forget they are DEACONS, and should be given that name of respect, Deacon, for their service. It is respect for what God has done in ordaining/setting them apart for service. These clergy often get no recognition from the Church, from priests sometimes, but most especially from the people they serve because you knew them before. Even if you knew them their whole life, call them Deacon out of respect for the Lord and what He has done in them. It’s the least we can do for their many hours of study and formation and for the Lord in His call of them. Often, I hear them called by just their first name, unless you’re their direct family member, please call them Deacon, if not for their sake, for mine…if not for my sake, for God’s sake who called them. Ad multos annos Deacon Wayne Zimmerman and Deacon Dennis Holbrook! Which means many years to come!
This past week we had a very successful Totus Tuus program. Thank you to the Diocese for providing for this wonderful program. Thank you to the missionaries who dedicated their lives to serve Jesus and His children this summer. Thank you to Liz Alonzo, Jane Ann Petty, and Gina Bergman for their work in collaborating from St. Francis and St. Peter’s to make this a wonderful week.
I will be on the men’s Cursillo weekend this weekend, please pray for me, specifically Sunday morning, and the candidates and team all weekend.
Don’t forget next week is Father Rafal’s last week here. Please thank him for his dedicated service here at St. Francis Solanus. He has been an immense blessing to me. He is fun to live with. He is fun to work with. He is a huge help. I will miss him. Pray for him as he transitions to the excitement of being a pastor to those two wonderful parishes. Don’t forget to spend just a little more time after any of the masses and say goodbye to this joyful priest. Let him know of our gratitude!!!
- Rev. Steven Arisman