Humbled

After mass at Immaculate Father Lucian, Ryan Peralto, and I drove up to Devon Pen for our 2nd of three masses that day. This was the first time I have ever gone with Father Lucian to a mission for mass. It was possibly one of the most humbling experiences I have ever had. The group in mass today was small but the way Father Lucian spoke to everyone during his homely was amazing. You could tell everything he was saying was genuine and meant to really inspire the people in Devon Pen. He spoke of coming together as a community and not to grieve God because when you do that you aren’t letting God into your life. He encouraged people to embrace God and to welcome him into his life. It was as though the community and the church brought so much life out of him…they brought that energy. On our way back to Stony Hill we stopped at Miss. Molly’s and Father Lucian blessed her house and said a blessing over her. You could tell by the look on her face and through her kind words how much it meant to her. We also made a stop at Aunt Daph’s house to deliver communion to Mas John. I listened as Mas John told Father Lucian how wonderful his wife Aunt Daph was and how much he appreciates all of her hard work. She goes through sleepless nights because he is up struggling to breathe or just can’t get comfortable. Then she is up early in the morning working to keep the house functioning with almost little complaint. Father Lucian listened with an open ear and open heart really understanding the whole struggle that the family is facing. It brought me to tears watching Father Lucian’s gentle hand feed Mas John the Eucharist. As we sat and drank juice with Aunt Daph in the living room after prayer I got to thinking how I can relieve some of their stress and struggles. They are really having a hard time making ends meet which is heart-breaking to hear and see. I talked with Father Lucian and Ryan Peralto on the way home about what can do maybe stay a night a week and help with the night care but that would be a huge commitment to one family. Ryan made a really great point that just being there and helping when I’m there would be huge. I hope to talk to Aunt Daph this week and get an idea of help they could use once and awhile around the house!
On Sunday as well I got to see Micheal a Jamaican take his final vows as a Passionist. I had met him while in Chicago at Discernment weekend. He was attending seminary school in Chicago at Catholic Theological Union. He and Ian another man in seminary school talked to us about life and Jamaica and kind of gave me my first taste of Jamaican life especially the church aspect. Many people attending the final vows mass including many other Passionists and the Archbishop of Kingston. I had met the Archbishop earlier in the week when he had us over for juice and to talk to us about his work in Jamaica. The whole ceremony was really incredible…the music, presentations, and that the celebration was in Jamaica.