Dear Saints,

There’s a lot going on around here these days, almost too much to keep track of. That’s one of the reasons why we’re very intentional about our communication vehicles and information repositories - you should always know where to go to get what you need. Announcements before Mass offer only a highlight of activities at the parish, and more often than not are time-sensitive. My weekly email is very similar, at least as it relates to action items. The bulletin is a good source of information, but the most reliable spot to get what you need is in the parishioner portal of our website (www.olmc.church). If any of this doesn’t quite do the trick, you can always stop in to the parish office, and you can reach us by email (admin@olmcboonton.org) or phone (973.334.1017). My hope is that you’ll find the announcements, the bulletin, and our website useful sources of information, means of connection to OLMC, and avenues to become engaged and involved in parish life. If there’s anything we can do to improve along those lines (or others), please let me know.

The past couple of weeks or so I’ve been talking with parishioners more and more about mental health. These aren’t all crisis calls - The reality is that each of us has some healthy habits of heart and mind, and each of us has unhealthy habits of heart and mind. Further, Christian theology, spirituality, and morality are all at stake in the conversation: We are made to be good stewards of our thought lives, but not all of our habits of mind are aligned with what God wants for us.

That’s a pretty complex view of things, but the long and short of it is that the Christian horizon for life is hopeful: We are broken in any number of ways, but Christ wills our healing.

I’ve been witness to the Spirit’s healing work these past few months in nothing short of miraculous ways, and this has me more and more committed to fostering healthy hearts and minds at OLMC. To that end, we are continuing to expand our team of Stephen Ministers, a group exists to accompany people in challenging moments or seasons of life, making present God’s love where it is most needed.

Join me in thanking and encouraging the parishioners who serve in this extraordinary ministry (Bonny O’Mullane, Lori and John Testa, Helene Damato, Anita Patterson, Debra Molloy, John and Cathy Robben, Joseph Chapman, Kate Banks, Greg Francesca, Gregory Milbank, Marie Fragomeni, and Diane Hertzig).

And please know that I am here for you. I’m eager to join you on this journey, and I’m not afraid of
daunting and difficult challenges: these are often our best opportunities to grow into the lives of great meaning and purpose that God wants for us.

I love you my friends, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Christ’s Peace,

Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ