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March 25, 2022
+ Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Dear Friends in Christ,
I write to you today on this great feast of our Catholic faith which celebrates Mary’s yes to the Angel Gabriel – a yes that ushered into the story of humanity the Incarnation of God.
Throughout my time as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, I have written to our community on select feast days of Our Lady, who has been a gracious intercessor for our community of faith. Today, I write to ask for your prayers for peace, recount the blessings we have received as a parish, and look to the future when you will soon be shepherded by Fr. John Bauer who is indeed a good shepherd after the heart of our Lord.
Today, in Rome and in Fatima, Portugal, Pope Francis – united with bishops throughout the world – consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I ask that you join our Holy Father, Archbishop Hebda, and me in lifting your prayers to God, through Mary, for an end to the violence and bloodshed in Ukraine and for deep and lasting peace. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary enfold all of humanity in their tender and compassionate embrace and may all of us experience the deep healing for which we yearn.
Since learning this past fall that I would be leaving Our Lady of Lourdes and going to the Basilica of St. Mary this summer, I have been reflecting – often in prayer – on the various ways that God has blessed our community. In life it is important to stop, and with gratitude, recount and celebrate the blessings we have received. Along with God’s abundant grace and Our Lady’s efficacious prayers, your faith, generosity, and graciousness have been a source of great blessing, indispensable to the many ways Lourdes has flourished over the past ten years.
First, it is remarkable to think that we moved from a sleepy boutique parish of less than 500 families to a vibrant urban parish of more than 1,500 families. Additionally, many of our parishioners have become engaged in multiple ministries with a robust number of young Catholics and couples serving our community in a variety of ways. Multiple areas of parish life should be noted for the commitment to excellence which now mark these areas: adult faith formation; sacred music; communications; and justice and charity/outreach to our brothers and sisters on the margins.
As a pastor, I am proud of the growth and commitment to excellence in these areas and thankful to you for your engagement and commitment that has made this possible. On the giving side, we nearly tripled our parish income over the last ten years and held two successful capital campaigns, which among other things, funded air conditioning in the church, the interior renovation of the church, our new courtyard and relocation of the grotto, and provided a significant and sustained investment in sacred music. All of the above accomplishments are impressive indeed and a sign of God’s providential care of our community as well as your faith.
Looking to the future, many Catholic parishes, including Lourdes, are faced with the challenges of what post-pandemic parish life will look like. Will parishioners and friends come back to Mass? Will people choose to become engaged again in parish ministries, volunteering and opportunities for fellowship? Will giving, which funds so many aspects of parish life, continue to suffer? My hope and prayer is that during this time of transition of pastoral leadership and in the wake of this prolonged pandemic, parishioners of Lourdes would lean-in, step-up, reengage and continue the positive trajectory we were on before the effects of Covid ravaged our collective life.
Continuing with the theme of transitions, Fr. Bauer has begun to meet and engage with parish staff, our trustees, and key councils and committee as he prepares for his pastorate at Lourdes. Lastly, please see the Lent and Easter page, which lists the Holy Week schedule and the Calendar page, which lists several spring events, including the presentation of our 2022 Fleur de lis and Pope Francis awards.
May the God who created us in His image and likeness, may the God who redeemed us through his son Jesus Christ and the yes of Mother Mary, and may the God who continues to bless and sustain us in these challenging times, complete the good work that he has begun in all of us.
Gratefully in Christ,
Rev. Daniel Griffith