It’s a Small World
One of the things I have been reminded of during my transition to Immaculate Conception is how interconnected we can be. Here are some examples.
When one parishioner introduced herself, I recognized the last name and discovered I know her brother-in-law in Odessa.
Our Pastoral Associate was at my Confirmation 31 years ago because she knew one of the other people I was confirmed with.
One of the parishioners was on the team for the Cursillo weekend I made in 1999.
While I did not know him, my first funeral was for a man who had taught at Odessa-Montour School for over 30 years, near Watkins Glen that I call home.
One of our school parents started to tell me about her family and I discovered that I had met her father while I was in Elmira.
One of our choir members recognized me as having done a relative’s burial service in Penn Yan.
These are not big connections. I don’t really know any of these people well but it does show that we live in “a world of connections.” We are not just a bunch of isolated individuals. We are created by God to live in community. Every one of these connections happened through the church for me. God is the connecting point.
With the new translations at Mass, our opening prayer normally ends
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you
In the Unity of the Holy Spirit
one God for ever and ever.
The Holy Spirit is what binds us in faith.
Peace,
Fr. Jeff
I forget to mention the parishioners who are the parents of people I know in Fairport from my Pastoral Year.
Peace,
Fr. Jeff
Wasn’t that funny? It is a small diocese after all! Looking forward to working with you on supporting our wonderful school and Catholic Education in Tompkins County!
Welcome to Ithaca,
Kerry Curran
[…] I have said Mass in different churches, there have been connections from the past (see my article “It’s a Small World” from 2012). Even as I go to St. Michael’s, I already know that the son of one of the […]