Dear Fellow Parishioners,
With the events of these last few months with the deaths of persons like Mr. Kelly, Miriam Moses and Pat Couture and now, with the illness of Sr. Jolene, I just felt compelled to write to all of us. These have been difficult months and difficult weeks. We cannot imagine our beloved Sr. Jolene, unable to talk and unable to get up and get around. Mr. Kelly and Miriam were mainstays in our parish, along with many others who have gone before them. Sr. Bev reminded me that change happens and oftentimes, we don’t like the change and we don’t know how to adapt to the changes when they come into our lives. I think this is true for all of us at one or more times in our lives. I went to a Memorial Service last week for a 47 year old man who committed suicide leaving a wife, 2 young children, his parents and a sister and host of other family and friends as evidenced by the attendance at the service. Our first question when something like this happens is “why” and “what did I miss”, if you were close to the person. One of the main themes that came through a speaker from “Kevin’s Song”, John and Gail Urso’s Foundation for their son, stated ‘it is not anyone’s fault’. The pastor at the Church which held the Memorial Service, got up and spoke and he stated ‘it is not the fault of anyone that this happened.’
I was taught long ago by my mother, that ‘good does come out of bad’, but that we don’t always see it right away. That is the way I am feeling about Sr. Jolene and her stroke and her having to move to the Motherhouse. Intellectually, I know this is the right thing for Sr. Jolene at this point in time. In my heart, I am angry and hurt and all of the other feeling one has when someone we care about is hurt in some way.
The point I would like to make in writing this article is that we are here at Nativity are as family. We would and do help each other out every day, whether it is by a telephone call to see how someone is doing, a ride to church each Sunday for taking someone grocery shopping during the week. That is what families do. Families also hold each other tightly when something happens within that family. It does not throw its’ hands up in the air and quit functioning. It is my prayer for our Nativity family that we hold together, that we fight for what is right and just and that we speak up when necessary, to let our feeling be known so that perhaps others will have the courage to do so. We will get through this difficult time and I believe in my heart that Sr. Jolene will be able to come back and visit us when the time comes. The Nativity Family is a strong family who cares about each other and we will make it through this current crisis.
Peace,
Mary Ellen White
With the events of these last few months with the deaths of persons like Mr. Kelly, Miriam Moses and Pat Couture and now, with the illness of Sr. Jolene, I just felt compelled to write to all of us. These have been difficult months and difficult weeks. We cannot imagine our beloved Sr. Jolene, unable to talk and unable to get up and get around. Mr. Kelly and Miriam were mainstays in our parish, along with many others who have gone before them. Sr. Bev reminded me that change happens and oftentimes, we don’t like the change and we don’t know how to adapt to the changes when they come into our lives. I think this is true for all of us at one or more times in our lives. I went to a Memorial Service last week for a 47 year old man who committed suicide leaving a wife, 2 young children, his parents and a sister and host of other family and friends as evidenced by the attendance at the service. Our first question when something like this happens is “why” and “what did I miss”, if you were close to the person. One of the main themes that came through a speaker from “Kevin’s Song”, John and Gail Urso’s Foundation for their son, stated ‘it is not anyone’s fault’. The pastor at the Church which held the Memorial Service, got up and spoke and he stated ‘it is not the fault of anyone that this happened.’
I was taught long ago by my mother, that ‘good does come out of bad’, but that we don’t always see it right away. That is the way I am feeling about Sr. Jolene and her stroke and her having to move to the Motherhouse. Intellectually, I know this is the right thing for Sr. Jolene at this point in time. In my heart, I am angry and hurt and all of the other feeling one has when someone we care about is hurt in some way.
The point I would like to make in writing this article is that we are here at Nativity are as family. We would and do help each other out every day, whether it is by a telephone call to see how someone is doing, a ride to church each Sunday for taking someone grocery shopping during the week. That is what families do. Families also hold each other tightly when something happens within that family. It does not throw its’ hands up in the air and quit functioning. It is my prayer for our Nativity family that we hold together, that we fight for what is right and just and that we speak up when necessary, to let our feeling be known so that perhaps others will have the courage to do so. We will get through this difficult time and I believe in my heart that Sr. Jolene will be able to come back and visit us when the time comes. The Nativity Family is a strong family who cares about each other and we will make it through this current crisis.
Peace,
Mary Ellen White