Throughout my priesthood, I have experienced more than a few instances where parishioners have a relative whose health, mentally and physically, have deteriorated tremendously. They (they family) feel torn about what to do and what to pray for.
Respecting life from the womb to the tomb means giving every person a quality of life as free from pain as possible until they breathe their last breath. Fortunately we have much medical technology to help make this happen. Psychologically, many of us struggle between not wanting to let go of the person and desiring, because of our faith, that our loved one go and be in the Lord's loving merciful hands.
I currently find myself with mixed feelings about my 89 year-old uncle's situation of life. While I want him to go to the Lord and pray that whenever he does, it happens as pain-free and peacefully as possible, I do want the doctors who are caring for him, to give him a chance to recover from his current situation and enjoy whatever life he has left in this world. I am confident that this family experience that I'm having right now, will better equip me for future experiences I have of ministering to people and their families in similar circumstances. I do thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers for my Uncle Paul, for me and for my family. Now that we have him back from Japan and close by (UAMS Medical Center) does help relieve the stress I've had for the last two weeks when he was sick in a hospital in Japan.
Respecting life from the womb to the tomb means giving every person a quality of life as free from pain as possible until they breathe their last breath. Fortunately we have much medical technology to help make this happen. Psychologically, many of us struggle between not wanting to let go of the person and desiring, because of our faith, that our loved one go and be in the Lord's loving merciful hands.
I currently find myself with mixed feelings about my 89 year-old uncle's situation of life. While I want him to go to the Lord and pray that whenever he does, it happens as pain-free and peacefully as possible, I do want the doctors who are caring for him, to give him a chance to recover from his current situation and enjoy whatever life he has left in this world. I am confident that this family experience that I'm having right now, will better equip me for future experiences I have of ministering to people and their families in similar circumstances. I do thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers for my Uncle Paul, for me and for my family. Now that we have him back from Japan and close by (UAMS Medical Center) does help relieve the stress I've had for the last two weeks when he was sick in a hospital in Japan.
Each week our parish offers a few complimentary copies of each edition of the "Arkansas Catholic" newspaper on a table outside of Linda Daniel's office. Some times I even find a few still on the table after the weekend Masses. This past weekend it wouldn't have surprised me to see that all were gone after the Saturday evening Mass, as many people, especially Catholics, are looking for articles about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and what will be happening in the aftermath of his decision. No doubt we will see articles in the "secular media" about events and happenings surrounding this story, including of course, the conclave of Cardinals who will be meeting soon to elect a new Pope. The slant of the secular media is one reason why I look forward to reading about events before, during and after the new Pope is elected, in articles printed in the "Arkansas Catholic".
I encourage you to make the decision soon to subscribe to the "Arkansas Catholic" for at least a year. (The cost is only $22 for seniors.) There are subscription envelopes in your stewardship packet and in the pews at church. This historic Papal action deserves our attention, and the "Arkansas Catholic" will help us to keep up with Church news at the local, state, national and international levels. It is an "award-winning" publication for a reason. See for yourself.
I encourage you to make the decision soon to subscribe to the "Arkansas Catholic" for at least a year. (The cost is only $22 for seniors.) There are subscription envelopes in your stewardship packet and in the pews at church. This historic Papal action deserves our attention, and the "Arkansas Catholic" will help us to keep up with Church news at the local, state, national and international levels. It is an "award-winning" publication for a reason. See for yourself.
I'm sure we were all shocked to hear the news that Pope Benedict XVI is resigning as Pope effective February 28, 2013. Back in 2005 he was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals and took over as the Vicar of Christ after Pope John Paul II Died. Pope Benedict led the Church and now resigns with humility and thankfulness to God for blessings given to him and through him to others. These and other "Christ-like" qualities are worthy of our imitation and appreciation. It is now time for all Catholics to pray for the College of Cardinals who will soon be meeting in Rome to elect the next "Vicar of Christ". Let us pray that they will, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, elect the one whom God wills to lead His Church at this challenging time in history. Personally, I have a hard time grasping what it would be like to be a bishop of a diocese, much less the Pope for the whole Church. Thanks be to God that the Pope has the help and support of his brother bishops and priests and the daily prayers (especially at Mass) of Catholic lay people throughout the world. While we know that the Pope's humanity will come through (look at St. Peter), we can be confident that God's will for the Church will be done through the leadership of the "Holy Father", whoever he may be.