Dear Parishioners of Mary Immaculate and Saint Rose,

This past weekend we saw the largest crowds at Mass since March of 2020!  It was so good to see not only numbers but also faces of people!  Thanks be to God as it seems we have turned a corner in dealing with the covid virus.

During the time that the pandemic was in full force, it brought out the best in people and unfortunately it also brought out the worst as well.

One of the things I remember well is how easy it was to forget the normal courtesies in daily life.  When we were all masked, it was normal to walk by people without any kind of a greeting.  It was as if we all became invisible.

At the same time, people were very generous in responding to the needs of others.  Our Quarter Sunday donations were extremely generous.  Those who served in the ministries at Mass were there week after week for over a year.
Dean Maag faithfully helped to provide the live stream Mass.  Our Mass was viewed by hundreds of people all over northern Missouri and beyond, as many of our neighboring parishes were not able to provide live streaming.

Our food pantry collections continued and exceeded all expectations.

Our faithful principal Ann Gray and our school teachers managed to continue in person classes for all but a few days  of this past school year.  They also stepped up to offer virtual classes to finish the school year of 2019-2020.

But in spite of all these heroic efforts, we have to also acknowledge our dark side.  In my own dealing with covid, I found I often grew impatient and even angry with the situation.  It was all too easy to lash out at people, especially in online communication.

For us as Christians, this type of behavior is not acceptable, and as we move into more normal interaction, we need to make an effort to be more Christlike in our words and actions.  Even before covid, it seemed that the world had become less friendly and more easily moved to anger.  Speech had become more harsh and exceedingly vulgar.

For us, who follow Jesus, our attitude is to be friendly and cheerful.  We are to reflect our love of Jesus in our deeds and in our speech.  May the love of Christ shine forth from you!

Ephesians 4:29-32

Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them.  Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed against the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander and malice of every kind.  In place of these, be kind and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.

Msgr. Cox
Detail from Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, Heinrich Hoffman (1889)