Though I hesitate to speak for my fellow priests (and hopefully not "about them" unless it is something good), I believe "we" priests are usually not very good at saying "no" when requests are made of us. We are called to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ, and our first inclination is to say yes to people who are asking some-thing of us. Thankfully (most of the time) I don't regret saying yes and hopefully seeing through on whatever I say "yes" to doing, if asked.
When I reflect on our V.I.P. for the month of May, Marian LaVelle, one of the qualities that I most admire and give thanks to God for, is her willingness and tendency to say "yes" to what I and others ask of her and doing it with a smile on her face. It is a blessing to have people around who smile (or even laugh) easily, and who put a smile on others faces, like me whenever Marian says yes to my requests for help. She responded a number of years ago when asked to help Cathy Silk with office duties and was a very welcoming, helpful presence to me and those who came to the office with needs or just to have someone to talk to. She has been serving faithfully as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Mass and has been known to do this ministry on more than one occasion on a weekend when needed. She serves as a sacristan who comes early to "set up" for Mass and stays after Mass to clean up and put up. She was one of those I could count on to help out in various ways during our weekly outdoor Masses during COVID. She has been a helpful presence and worker at many social activities in the lower hall when asked to do so. She currently serves on the liturgy committee and took over awhile back on the scheduling of gift-bearers for the weekend Masses and is now serving on the Sacred Heart Pastoral Council representing the liturgy commission. She is a valuable member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir and has recently agreed (to the great pleasure of our organist/choir director, Kathleen Kinney) to become a cantor. She has recently trained to start bringing Holy Communion to our parishioners who are shut-in and cannot attend Mass.
In the bio she submitted to help me with this column (though I can honestly say I didn't really need it as I was already aware of the many things Marian has done and continues to do), she made a remark about her participation in our parish ministries and activities that you can see is so true. She said that since the time her husband Don died after a battle with cancer (5 years ago), she made a conscious choice to make this wonderful parish her main focus. Many (including me) have been blessed by it! God bless you, Marian!
When I reflect on our V.I.P. for the month of May, Marian LaVelle, one of the qualities that I most admire and give thanks to God for, is her willingness and tendency to say "yes" to what I and others ask of her and doing it with a smile on her face. It is a blessing to have people around who smile (or even laugh) easily, and who put a smile on others faces, like me whenever Marian says yes to my requests for help. She responded a number of years ago when asked to help Cathy Silk with office duties and was a very welcoming, helpful presence to me and those who came to the office with needs or just to have someone to talk to. She has been serving faithfully as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Mass and has been known to do this ministry on more than one occasion on a weekend when needed. She serves as a sacristan who comes early to "set up" for Mass and stays after Mass to clean up and put up. She was one of those I could count on to help out in various ways during our weekly outdoor Masses during COVID. She has been a helpful presence and worker at many social activities in the lower hall when asked to do so. She currently serves on the liturgy committee and took over awhile back on the scheduling of gift-bearers for the weekend Masses and is now serving on the Sacred Heart Pastoral Council representing the liturgy commission. She is a valuable member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir and has recently agreed (to the great pleasure of our organist/choir director, Kathleen Kinney) to become a cantor. She has recently trained to start bringing Holy Communion to our parishioners who are shut-in and cannot attend Mass.
In the bio she submitted to help me with this column (though I can honestly say I didn't really need it as I was already aware of the many things Marian has done and continues to do), she made a remark about her participation in our parish ministries and activities that you can see is so true. She said that since the time her husband Don died after a battle with cancer (5 years ago), she made a conscious choice to make this wonderful parish her main focus. Many (including me) have been blessed by it! God bless you, Marian!