Fr. Don’s Weekly Letter ~ 3 May 2026

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

This time of year we come to the celebration of many sacraments – a season of sacraments – first holy Communion, spring marriages, ordinations of deacons and priests, as well as perennial anniversaries of many sacraments rich with memories. If you are preparing for one such sacrament, help each other to make it a sacred memory that will stay with you the rest of your lives.

I was at a Hindu temple a couple of weeks ago and there was a ceremony being celebrated for dozens of girls nearing their teen years. The traditional Tibetan garments, beautiful fabrics, families all dressed up for a special day. There was a group of drummers as they processed into the temple, a rite of passage, perhaps. My friend Anuttama explained how, in the Hindu cultures, there are moments of samsara, events or rituals that imprint the soul and shape it to become fully the person one is intended to be. These are memories you go back to, time and again, and recall who you really are, especially when you might be losing your way.

It is not unlike our sacraments. They aren’t mile markers in the sense of stuff
you just have to do, but they are profound opportunities to shape us, conform us to the person of Jesus. We should plan and celebrate these moments very intentionally so that their effects, the grace given, is something that is always in the perspective with which we view other parts of our lives.

I remember being told on the day of my ordination: remember this day, because many will come when you need to draw back on these memories to get you through days which may not be so happy. I often say this to couples in marriage preparation. St. Teresa of Avila wrote a treatise on the spiritual life comparing it to a lush garden, filled with beauty and blooms. The day will come, she said, when there will be drought and aridity. You must remember that there is so much more, and you have known it.

I know I reprint a lot of Pope Leo’s messages in the bulletin. I think of it as an opportunity for much needed adult formation which is relevant and easily available for you. If you have a moment read his homily last weekend at St. Peter as he ordained ten priests for the diocese of Rome. Don’t limit the message to priests only: with your baptism you yourselves participate in the three-fold ministry of Jesus priest, prophet and king. Consider this for your priesthood.

He speaks of priesthood as a ministry of communion, opening our eyes to our brothers and sisters who are already experiencing, or still seeking, the power to become the children of God. “...the deeper your bond with Christ,” Pope Leo said, “the more radical your belonging to all of humanity.” There is no opposition, competition between heaven and earth.

“Today the need for security makes people aggressive, causes communities to close in on themselves and leads people to seek out enemies and scapegoats. Fear is often present around us and perhaps within us. May your security not lie in the role you hold, but in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as well as in your participation, along with your people, in the story of salvation. This salvation is already at work in the many good deeds that are quietly carried out by people of goodwill in the parishes and settings where you will join them as fellow travelers. What you proclaim and celebrate will protect you, even in difficult times.

Today more than ever, especially when statistics seem to indicate a divide between people and the Church, keep the door open! Let people in, and be prepared to go out. This is another secret for your life: you are a channel, not a filter. Many believe they already know what lies beyond the threshold. They carry memories with them, perhaps from a distant past. Often, there is something within them that is alive and has not died out; this draws them in. Other times, however, there is something else within them that still bleeds and repels them. The Lord knows, and he waits. Be a reflection of his patience and tenderness. ...Keep the threshold open and direct others to it, without using too many words.

Let all of this be our shared mission!

The Lord be with you,