My Dear Parish Family:

“It was the worst of times; it was the best of times.” This is the opening lines to the classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (I highly recommend it for your summer reading list).

I wonder if every time period in the history of the world does not seem to be the best and the worst of times. Perhaps on some level, for us too in the 21st Century these words may ring true. We will celebrate America’s birthday this week and we can all agree that there are some difficulties going on in our own Nation and throughout the world. Nevertheless, let us cele- brate America’s day of Independence with great joy and in prayer.

We have much to be proud of as a Nation! We, as a people, have come a long way over the past 242 years. Yes, there is much that needs to be changed and corrected, but that is why it is also important for us to pray for our Nation and our elected leaders. They need our prayers!

We proudly sing God Bless America at base- ball games and all kinds of different events, but perhaps we can use it on this Independence Day as our prayer for our great Nation:

God Bless America

Land that I love Stand beside her

And guide her
Through the night with the light from above From the mountains
To the prairies
To the ocean
White with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home

Until next week, Happy 4th of July!
St. Benedict and Cardinal Cooke, Servant of God, pray for us!