Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
This past Thursday I sent out an update video message and letter to recap all that we have been doing to keep our community connected in this time of the COVID -19 pandemic. In addition, I outlined some of the adaptations and modifications we are considering for the moment when we are able to gradually re-open to worship together. I encourage you to visit our website, carmelmission.org, to view and read this message.
As you will hear me say there, nothing we are doing or hope to do would be possible without your generous support. You are the greatest part of all we accomplish, and you are the reason we are working hard to grow and support our new virtual community online, and to prepare for when we can welcome you back to your beloved Basilica to worship together. Thank you for your generosity in this difficult time.
We love to hear from you, our parish family. Fr. Rodrigo and I look forward to receiving your prayer requests via the PRAYER REQUEST button on the website. We also invite your thoughts, ideas and suggestions on all our new developments. Your creative spirit is, and will continue to be, vital to all our efforts as we navigate our new realities.
In Lent, we journeyed with Jesus to Jerusalem. We stayed by His side through His Passion and Death. We witnessed the glory of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Now our journey continues with our Risen Lord. His work is not yet done, nor will it ever be as long as our world continues. Today in the Gospel we find two disciples, downcast, leaving Jerusalem bereft of their hopes and dreams for the future. All that changes in an instant when they recognize the stranger among them as the Risen Jesus. They know him in the breaking of the bread, and in the burning of their hearts when he breaks open the Scriptures for them. It is easy to be downcast in this time of fear and uncertainty, but our Gospel reminds us that our Savior is always with us even when we do not recognize Him. We need only listen to His voice to feel our hearts burning with His love. We continue our journey together in this time with the fire of that love to warm and comfort us; secure in the new hope and promise of the Risen Lord.
I wish you and your loved ones blessings of great new hope and hearts on fire with His love,
Fr. Paul
Please take a moment to read our Carmel Mission Weekly Bulletin.