The Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County

As a first-time pastor in a parish, I received a phone call one afternoon from a young married couple, “Father, our 2-year old son drowned in our pool this morning. We are at the hospital. Please help us.” I sped over. The little boy was gone, his body cold, slightly
blue, laid out on a bed. His parents were distraught and in shock. For the next few years, I walked with the couple along their difficult and painful road. They openly shared with me how they were often tempted to blame and accuse each other for the loss. And yet, by God’s grace, their love for each grew stronger and deeper as the years went by.

The Holy Family was not without its pain and loss, either. Luke tells us, after losing their twelve-year old son, Joseph and Mary “after three days found him in the temple area, sitting among the teachers…” (Luke 2:46). We don’t know specifically what those three days were like for them except for what Mary says: “Your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” The three days of his absence foreshadow his death and burial. His finding in the temple is a kind of resurrection for his family. They had to learn, again and again, that their family was becoming a place where death and resurrection was not only accepted but welcomed and celebrated. But surely they deeply felt the dangerous agony of their loss — just like every couple who has lost a child.

What losses in your experience of family still cause you anxiety? In what ways has God’s presence seemingly vanished in your family? Will you keep searching for Jesus? Remember, he will rise and be found. Your family may be suffering, but when he is found, it will be stronger than ever before.— Father John Muir ©LPi

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“Las buenas relaciones familiares representan una riqueza irremplazable. No podemos ser indiferentes al futuro de la Familia, comunidad de vida y de amor, alianza insustituible e indisoluble ente el hombre y la mujer, lugar de encuentro entre generaciones, esperanza de la sociedad” (Papa Francisco). Nos ponemos bajo la protección de Jesús, María y José. Por más que los poderes de este mundo traten de acabar con las familias, no podrán, porque las familias no están solas. Dios en su providencia las protege y cuida
siempre. La Sagrada Familia cuida de los esposos y de sus hijos e hijas.

“Es preciso que en familia se ore por cada uno, según la medida del bien que para él constituye la familia y del bien que él constituye para la familia. La oración confirma más sólidamente ese bien precisamente como bien común familiar. Más aún, la oración es el inicio también de este bien, de modo siempre renovado” (San Juan Pablo II). ¿Cuánta oración haces en familia? ¿Qué tiempo dedicas al
cuidado de la familia? La Iglesia siempre ha estado pendiente del cuidado de la familia. Varios documents eclesiales están dedicados a la familia: Exhortación Apostólica Familiaris Consortio, Evangelium Vitae, Dignitas Connubii (Dignidad del matrimonio), para
mencionar algunos. Consagrar nuestros hijos e hijas a Dios es una gran bendición para todos. Es una forma de practicar el amor de los unos para con los otros en el núcleo familiar. ©LPi