Before I Forget&
· Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.  What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.  It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evening, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.  Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.
-Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J.  Former Superior General of the Jesuits

     On August 14, I completed six years as pastor of St. John's.  This parish is home for me.  It is also home for thousands of parishioners.  Just as it would be terrible to be physically homeless, it would also be rather sad to go through life without a spiritual home, a parish, a community of believers.  We need to belong to someone, to a family, to a community, to God.  Our Judeo-Christian tradition stresses the importance of belonging and worshipping together .  Our religious tradition emphasizes the people coming together... It's not just about the individual and God.  We need each other as we seek to live the gospels, especially the command of Jesus to "love one another." 
     Remember last September 11 and the days following?  The weekend after September 11, people went "home"... to places of worship... people needed to be with other people.  For weeks we were bombarded with the films of the World Trade Center being struck and collapsing.  We heard about thousands dying in the disaster.  When terrible things happen in our lives, where do we go?  Yes, we go to the comfort of home.  And the Church is our spiritual home where we can go for care and comfort.  Think about it... your history... death and loss in your life... the Church is ALWAYS there for us... even when we distance ourselves from the Church.
     In times of tragedy, we human beings need to connect with others.  That's why people went to their churches, temples, and mosques.  Even those who haven't been to church in years felt the need to be with "believers".  The "bar scene" didn't cut it for the 20 and 30 year olds.  They knew they couldn't find comfort at a martini bar... they needed to be with people of faith... they needed to come home! 
     Faith is all about believing that there is Someone who will never forget me, who loves me unconditionally, who cares about me, who will comfort me when I 'm at my lowest, and Someone who is home to me. Ah!  Maybe we need God more than we think when everything is great. Along comes September 11, 2001 and we realize how much we need a very loving, caring, and comforting God.  We need to belong to God's people. 
     Who cares about you when you see your friends and peers dying suddenly on a Tuesday morning in September?  Do their lives have meaning?  Does my life have meaning?  Why do terrible things happen to good people?  Why do we exist if some terrorist can kill us at any moment?  Does Anyone care about me?  Who cares about the people who died on September 11?  Do they count?  We want them to count!  And people came to their spiritual homes the days following September 11. 
     People came to church to be comforted, to be cared for, to know that they mattered, that they had worth .  It reminds me of home, of a family.  Church is really that simple, and that important.  We are people who care about one another, who comfort one another, as we journey together through this life to the Kingdom of God!  The words of Jesus are important in our lives& "Come to me and I will refresh you (give you comfort)."  "You are worth more than many sparrows"  (Your life has meaning, it truly does).  No matter what happens, we are loved by God, a love that comes to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
     The Catholic Church in the United States had a horrible year with the pedophilia scandal that came right after the events of September 11.  What a year for all of us.  But, you know what?  I love this Church of Jesus Christ.  I need this Church, and I hope you don't give up on the Church.  It's more than sinful bishops, sinful priests and sinful people.  It's about more than all of that.  It has survived for over 2000 years, by the grace of God, and it continues to be a home for saints and sinners.  It's my "real" home and I hope, a home for you.  Bring a friend "home" anytime you want to?  There's always "bread and wine" and a place for you at the table.  That's what  "Catholic" means:  Everyone is welcomed.

     You're great!
     Fr. Bill