3rd Sunday of Lent

03-23-2025Pastor's CornerFr. Bob Deehan

Recently, I’ve become more aware of the caregivers in our midst who walk among us often unnoticed, but who are providing heroic care in rather challenging circumstances. They include parents and grandparents caring for chronically ill or disabled children; husbands and wives caring for ill, disabled, or dying spouses; grown children caring for elderly parents; relatives, friends, and neighbors providing quiet care and support to disabled people and elders living alone.

It makes me stop and think about the special opportunities as well as the difficulties that caregivers have. For example, caregiving affords grown children an opportunity to return some of the love and care their parents provided them in their formative years, and it provides an opportunity to fulfill the Fourth Commandment: “Honor thy father and mother.” Caregiving can sensitize us to the special needs of other people around us and incline us to live more fully the selfless love of Jesus. And still, there are the often unspoken emotions and very human struggles that go along with the challenges, frustrations, and pain caregivers face, such as the daily grind of caring for a chronically ill or very demanding family member, or the heart-wrenching sadness of a spouse caring for their “other-half” who is terminally Ill.

Caregivers of all kinds are among us in rather large numbers. Each of us can offer them powerful support just by acknowledging them – through an encouraging word, a prayer, an understanding smile, a referral, or an offer to provide respite. Here at Holy Family Parish, we have volunteers who can be of support to the caregivers as well as to the care receivers in our parish. For example, trained members of our Stephen Ministry are available to offer one-on-one emotional support to people going through a life difficulty, and trained IThirst volunteers can provide one-on-one spiritual support to those experiencing an addiction and/or to their loved ones who are suffering due to this affliction. We also have parishioners who visit the sick and shut-ins, and offer prayer and Holy Communion on a regular basis. Volunteers are available to drive people to medical appointments and to weekend Mass. Our Prayer Shawl Ministry volunteers create prayer shawls and lap blankets for the ill, infirm, and grieving. For more information, check out the back of our bulletin, our website, or contact our parish office. Let’s pray for the caregivers in our midst, and ask God to bless them with the strength, patience, and perseverance they need as they care for their loved one