Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
Today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and all of us as the flock safely resting in his bountiful pastures is a beloved one in our Christian tradition. In the Gospel today, Jesus warns that robbers and thieves may breach the sheepfold and threaten the safety of the sheep. The sheep remain safe if they run from a stranger’s voice, towards the voice of the Shepherd who will protect them. Jesus’ promise as the Good Shepherd is to call us each to safety in Him, if only we listen to His voice.
This week our Bishop, Danny Garcia, issued a letter to the faithful in the Diocese of Monterey. I encourage you all to read it, it is available on our website, carmelmission.org. In it he enumerates several considerations as we envision a return to worship together in the coming months. We cannot yet guess at a definite date when we will be able to resume public celebration of the Mass but the one thing we can be certain of is that things will not be immediately returning to normal. We continue to explore our options and prepare as much as we can for the welcome day when we can gather together again as a parish family.
Your support is crucial to all of our efforts; both growing and engaging our virtual community online, and preparing for when we may re-open. Your generous financial stewardship is essential to keep our staff and our ministries functioning, especially in this time when other revenue is non-existent. I thank you so much for your continued support. We continue to welcome your thoughts and ideas on other possible ways you may wish to contribute to your community at this time and thank those who are already reached out with ideas. Your creativity and flexibility are, and will continue to be, important as we navigate these unprecedented times.
Today we also celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, a time when we pray especially that men and women being called to the priesthood and consecrated life may listen to their Shepherd’s voice and bravely answer that call. Next month I will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of my own ordination. Shepherding this community has been the greatest joy and honor of my priestly life, no less so in these difficult times. I am inspired by the faith and care I witness and experience from each of you and the strength and compassion that is being shown during the challenging time of this pandemic,. Please pray for me, Fr. Rodrigo, Bishop Danny and all clergy that we may continue to be good shepherds to our flocks.
I wish you and your loved ones the gentle care and comforting voice of the Good Shepherd,
Fr. Paul
Please take a moment to read our Carmel Mission Weekly Bulletin.