This past week I had a couple of experiences that gave me hope for our Church and our families. The first was the unique journey of prayer and presence with the family of Joe Lasher, who passed away last week. Joe and his wife Eleanor were Charter Members here at Holy Rosary in the beginning and raised fourteen children, sending them through Holy Rosary and Memorial High School. Church and faith life were at the heart of their family. There was a resounding sense of trust in the Lord that God would provide for their needs and sustain them. Their faith and celebration of the life of Joe had a profound effect on me. As I prayed with the throng of friends and family that made the trip across town to St. Joseph Cemetery, I was moved with a strong sense of God’s presence in our midst. It made me feel like a priest in a way I had not experienced in my fifteen years of priesthood. I’m grateful to have had the moment of consolation.

The other moment of hope came Tuesday evening after the 6:00 pm mass. We have had a hand-full of young families and their children attending this mass on a regular basis. And, as I was locking the church after mass, there in church was one of our fathers with his third grade son praying the Rosary together. They were smiling and praying together, one echoing the response to the other. Is there any doubt that God will walk with this family.

The family, the domestic church, is the foundation of parish life. The stronger the faith of our families, the stronger we will be as a family. How is your family doing? Do you pray together at meal time, in the morning, at bed time? Does Mass on the Lords day hold a priority in your Sunday routine? What have you been doing to teach your children the value of prayer? Do you have your children in Catholic Schools or Religious Education Programs? May God continue to bless your family in your effort to invite the Lord in to your daily experience.