Dear Friends in Christ,

In light of the devastating news last weekend, I have been reflecting on the

current climate of our country. Regardless of one’s political stance, no

candidate should ever face an assassination attempt. Corey Comperatore, the man who was tragically shot and killed, should not have lost his life, and his family should not have to endure the grief of his passing. Sadly, we found ourselves in the midst of another violent weekend. But I believe we all desire something different. So, what type of world do we want to live in?

I envision a world filled with peace, where regardless of ethnicity or skin color, we see one another as brothers and sisters, united in one human family. I want to live in a world where people know they are loved and wanted, and that their existence is not an accident, but a result of God’s love and creation. I dream of a world where we experience authentic relationships, and love one another selflessly. Despite our sufferings, I hope for a world filled with true joy, true peace, and true community.

While this vision resonates deeply with me, I do not believe I’m alone. I think many share this vision. Unfortunately, this vision is not yet the world we live in. In our country, people feel the need to hide their political affiliations for fear of rejection. This division even exists within our Catholic faith, where supporters on either side of the political spectrum are labeled unfairly. How did we get here? How did we reach a point where we assume the worst in others rather than their inherent goodness? Our nation’s struggle with unity seems rooted in seeing the “other” as fundamentally other. I don’t want to live in a world where we “hate” half the country because of differing political views. I don’t want to live in a world where we despise others for not agreeing with us. I hope I’m not alone.

While I don’t have all the answers, I do know that Jesus is the ultimate answer. We need to seek to mend divisions, bring people together, and learn to love one another through our weaknesses. We need to love as Jesus loved us

(John 15). This is the path to true joy and true peace. As Mother Teresa once said about her desire to inspire change, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” In other words, to inspire change, we need to love the person in front of us. Love our family, love our friends, and love our community. Once again, Mother Teresa says it best, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”

Brothers and sisters of St. Pius X Parish, we are co-workers in the mission field of Jesus Christ. We have been called to be evangelizers and people of hope. I pray that as a parish we can model the unity we wish to see in the world. This type of unity arises only if we are willing to trust one another, to recognize each other’s inherent dignity, and believe that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. When disagreements arise, we can sit down and talk them through, grounded in the belief that we are all beloved members of God’s family.

I believe we all yearn for a world where we hate less and love more. This will be my prayer over the next few weeks. May we have the strength and courage to model this love in our families and as a parish. People need hope and they need Jesus. Let us strive to give them both.

In Christ’s Love and Friendship,