Greetings, Friends and Family of St. Margaret Mary!
Is it true that you love the weekend, but the Sunday? Hmm, really! Well, I get it with the feeling “I have to come to Mass today.” Hopefully and prayerfully, coffee & donuts (C&D) can cheer you up or at least provide you and your children some comfort while fulfilling every Sunday obligation. Frankly speaking, the Sunday anxiety was the feeling that I used to struggle with in the past. That feeling is now shifted to another mode called “feeling of responsibility.” Speaking of responsibility, no one wants to be more responsible for extra things unless that person is either mentally challenged or passionate about making a difference. As a matter of fact, making a difference is such a noble thought that many people keep saying but struggle to make it happen in the real life. Therefore, I totally agree with the saying that the longest distance is between one’s mouth and hands. I remember Fr. Pat Thompson, our late Pastor, used to say that before we expect people to change their lives, we have to make them think first. That’s true. How?
As you may recall of the ongoing Pounds to Pentecost (P2P) program launched a month ago in our parish, several participants have recently reported of losing between 5-8 lbs. When asking how they feel about the results, their answers are consistent with positive terms such as happy, better, lighter, careful, etc. These self-reported data indicate that people are becoming more aware of their own choices, habits, and nutrition they put in their system. Holistically, the P2P program is not just weight loss, but furthermore about the satisfaction of life, development of healthy lifestyles, enhancement of self-commitment, importance of Christian community or group support, and building of social network. Faith and personal commitment matter in transforming life! As Lent continues and the Holy Week approaches in two weeks, I strongly encourage you rethink about the meaning, quality, and satisfaction of life. Spiritually and mentally, Sunday is meant for your own goodness in various ways. Going to the Sunday Mass is a good way not merely to bond and build relationship with God, but also to foster a cohesiveness among your family members. As parents, you must not forget the sacred responsibility of raising your children up to be holy Christians like St. Paul who often reexamined and challenged himself for betterment: “When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11).
Fr. Long Nguyen
