It’s hard to think of one grace when there are so many within the week, so I will start with last Sunday. Sunday's homily by Deacon Adrian took me back to when I was 15 years old attending retreats at St. Roberts and having my first encounter with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Deacon spoke of John 3:16, which many of us know. “For God so loved the world that He gave he only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I learned this scripture as Adrian and Marisela Canales at the time were with the music ministry and they sang this very scripture in song! To this day, the song and the tune remain with me.

St. Robert’s is a place that I call home and where I attended Masses and received the sacraments. I raised my children in the faith and as an adult began in the ministry as a lector, teaching CCD and am a part of Catholic Daughters. As they say, when one door closes, God opens another. I had just stepped down from 26 years of teaching confirmation as I had just lost my mother. A year later, Father Philip called and asked if I would pray and reflect to lead a bereavement group at St. Roberts. My first response was “I don’t know, who am I to lead.....I am not qualified” His response to me and I knew his words and chimed in “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” While I was still somewhat reluctant, I said yes and began facilitating the bereavement sessions. It will be 4 years in August and I would like to share that this ministry has been such a blessing of healing, comfort and humility, supporting those in their time of grief while incorporating tools to help in their grief process. Though there are many ups and downs as we journey through life, I am grateful for God’s love and mercy. I am so blessed that my mother gave me a solid foundation, and with God’s grace and our parish of St. Robert’s that has molded me into who I am today.

If I may say......Listen for the whispers of the Holy Spirit as He will nudge your heart and you will discover the endless love that He has for you and me, if only we open our hearts to His call.