April 27, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

Would you consider yourself a boxer or a dancer? Yes, yes, another random, off-the-wall thought from Fr. James. But stick with me. I had this image in prayer the other day.

Boxing or dancing. Which would be your preference? I suppose this might be a question for those who are more aggressive, type-A, active, and perhaps even stubborn. But the question could apply to others too. When we have an issue or a strong feeling about something, and it involves another person, are we inclined to fight them and triumph, or are we inclined to work with them and achieve a different outcome together?

My hunch would be most of us are boxers. I know I tend to be. We hop in the ring and curl up our fists. The objective is to win and have our way. For, we assume our way is the right way, the only way. Anything not our way would be a failure. So we think. I wonder, though, if our Lord would suggest we try dancing instead; stroll onto the dance floor and open up our hands to take the other.

Now, I’m a terrible dancer and am no expert on the subject (I guess I’m not that great a boxer either, come to think of it), but from what I understand about dancing is that there is a give and take. The partners work together. There might be a leader, but even the “follower” takes the lead to an extent. The dance won’t work if the follower is forced and doesn’t cooperate. So, the leader needs to initiate and relinquish and then become a follower.

Boxing is pretty obvious. Smash the opponent until he falls down. Boxing would appear to be harder than dancing. Think of Rocky versus Footloose. But, actually, dancing is harder. (I’m talking metaphorically here.) It’s harder to compromise, harder to work together with someone, harder to relinquish control and obvious success. And it takes great trust, vulnerability, and intensity to take someone’s hand and dance with them across the floor. This Easter season is meant to be, I think, one big dance.

Lent might have been a boxing match. Fasting, prayer, almsgiving were those opponents in the ring we just smashed and conquered (or, maybe they conquered us). Easter, though, is something a little more refined. It is creative and fluid and unknown. Christ is taking our hand and leading us. We’re not exactly sure where he’s going, and there’s going to be times when Christ steps back and lets us lead, though he won’t leave us. Are we able to work with him and dance?

If we can dance with Christ, then we’ll be able to dance with others. We won’t try to conquer people, but we will partner with them in something very beautiful. Saint Thomas tried to box the Lord on Easter Sunday. It didn’t work out too well. The following Sunday he learned to dance with Christ. He’s a saint and we’re all the better for it.

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We mourn the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Thank you, Jesus, for giving us Francis as our shepherd these past twelve years. Receive him into your eternal banquet. Please, Lord, guide the College of Cardinals as they prepare to elect our next shepherd. May he be a good, holy priest and bishop who will teach us how to love you even more and live in the joy of the Kingdom of God. Amen.

At all the Masses this weekend after communion we will have a special prayer service for Pope Francis. You will also notice the black bunting at the main entrance of the church as well the picture and candle of Francis at the St. Joseph altar to remember our Holy Father.

This weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday. We will have a special prayer service on Sunday afternoon at 3pm in the upper church.

I want to once again thank everyone who made the Triduum and Easter a beautiful celebration. We are especially proud of those who entered the Church and received their sacraments at the Easter Vigil. A special thanks to Beshar and his OCIA team.

Next Saturday, May 3rd we celebrate our first round of First Communion for our second graders. There will be another two First Communion celebrations the following Saturday, May 10th. Congratulations, children and families.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. James Wallace