I know you will be generous in considering Fr. Bernard’s appeal today. All Catholics are called to be missionary disciples. Your generous response to the annual mission appeal reflects our ongoing awareness and concern to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all peoples of the world.
The Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is this Friday, September 29
th. The custom in this parish has been to celebrate our Patron Saint on the Sunday following the Feast day. And since St. Michael is also the patron saint of police officers, I’d like to introduce a new custom to our celebration. At our 11am Mass next Sunday I’d like to honor all those on Tybee Island who are employed in the "public safety field" (i.e. police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and lifeguards). Our Mass in honor of our patron saint is an opportunity for our faith community to show our gratitude to first responders and their families who will also be invited to our Pot Luck Dinner after Mass. Please sign up for the Dinner after Mass today.
In the first reading today Isaiah quotes God as saying, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” During the evacuation, a pious woman in Augusta reflecting on the destructive forces of Irma and Harvey asked out loud, “What is God, trying to tell us?” I will need to tell my confessor that I was not too patient with her in my response, “Don’t blame God!!!” And fortunately, because I knew we held different political views on climate change, I left it at that. Hurricanes and other disasters that hit guilty and innocent alike are never a punishment from God. It may be only human to think they are, but I’d prefer to be a little more respectful of God and humbly admit that I don’t understand some things about the mystery of evil.
What I do understand is that many people act with great nobility and virtue in the face of natural disaster. Many of you are quietly cleaning up after Irma has left a mess. I am grateful to Carolyn Jurick who is coordinating our faith community’s response to those here on the Island who need help. Please, don’t let pride keep you from turning to your fellow parishioners. I am grateful to all of you who are so willing to share your time. talent, and treasure to help those in need.
In the face of Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria, and the worst Hurricane season ever, we can do what so many of you have already have been doing: first, pray for all those affected and all the emergency workers. Second, we can be as generous as possible, donating money to our charity account, collecting needed supplies, and if we are in the position to do so, volunteering to help those in need.
We can also turn to St. Medard (not that I want to give up on St. Michael), the patron saint for protection from bad storms. St. Medard, whose feast day is June 9th, was a bishop in the 6th century from what is present-day France. St. Medard was known for his love for the poor. As a child, an eagle hovered over him to protect him from the rain of a bad storm -- hence he became the patron saint for protection from bad storms. Here is a prayer to St. Medard:
Saint Medard, patron saint for protection against bad storms, we ask you to intercede for us during the storms of our lives as well as the storms in nature.
Protect our families and our homes. We pray for assistance for the victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.
Loving God, send in more helpers, and multiply resources and supplies for the aid of those in need.
You calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee; deliver us from the storms that are raging around us now.