'Everything I have is a gift from God'
Father Lio Faletoi embraces, encourages stewardship at his parish and across the diocese. Article link in the bio
We welcome Fr. Claudio Aguirre from Venezuela. He is a missionary priest spreading the gospel message in his home country, Columbia, Chile, and also worked with indigenous people in the Amazon.
We bid farewell to Rene Lemus and his family as they journey to their next adventure in life in Nebraska. Rene has been such a blessing to our parish for the last 15 years. He was the Hispanic Music minister, prepared families for the baptism, maintained our yard, served as a member of the Pastoral Council, and represented St. Michael’s in the Diocesan Liturgy council. His wife, Gabi, provided beautiful flower arrangements all year, most notably during the Feast of Guadalupe. Thank you for all you’ve done. We will miss them dearly.
Lord, please bless them with safe travel to their new location. May you continue to use our friends to spread the gospel wherever they go so that others will be brought to faith in Christ through their witness. We also pray for opportunities to be able to cross our paths someday. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Where do we stand?
Where do we stand?
Do we stand in the luxury of our own home?
Do we see the walls filled with comfort and security?
Do we stand on the front porch?
Do we see the house next door and across the street, perhaps where our friends live?
Do we stand on the corner down the street?
Do we see the neighborhood and its collection of people and lives?
Do we stand at the front of the neighborhood?
Do we see the main street and the traffic it brings to our world?
Do we stand at the bus stop?
Do we see the many busy people that drive by?
Do we see those who walk by?
Do we see the faces on the bus as they pass us by?
Do we stand at the center of the city?
Do we see the faces that live and breathe the life of urban surroundings?
Do we see the faces of those living on the street?
Do we see them, hiding under bridges or asking for help?
Do we stand at the airport?
Do we see the collection of people coming home and traveling far?
Do we see the people emptying the trash and cleaning the floor?
Do we stand in a new city?
Do we see the marvels of history and culture before us?
Do we see the poverty and hardship of the streets before us?
Do we stand in a warring nation?
Do we see the destruction?
Do we see the fear?
Do we see those mourning losses that can never be recovered?
Do we stand in the under-developed world?
Do we see the despair?
Do we see the hunger?
Do we see the hope?
Where do we stand?
Will we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters to work, hope and pray that we will all stand in one equal place?
Will we, one day, see a world of peace, abundance, compassion, and love from wherever we stand?
―Theresa Coop (via Social Justice Resource Center)