Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

June 11, 2020

This Summer, my goal is to be more diligent about updating my blog, so people can stay abreast of what is going on in my life! Big News came during the early afternoon hours of Tuesday! With public Masses still suspended in the Diocese of Sioux City, and with other circumstances, I will not be moving to Sioux City for a six-week summer assignment. Instead, I have been assigned to stay in Algona for the rest of the Summer!!!

During the next two months, I will be helping out at the parish, Five Saints Catholic Community - which serves the churches of St. Cecelia-Algona, St. Joseph-Bode, St. Michael-Whittemore, and Sts. Peter and Paul-West Bend. I have enjoyed my time here thus far, and know that God will provide many blessings. When reflecting on the summer I thought I would have, many things have changed. Originally I had applied for a program that does homeless ministry in Denver, then I thought I would be spending time in Sioux City, and now I will be staying put. God works in many wonderful ways and he gets us where we need to be! So there must be a reason for staying in the home area. 

The past three months have been a whirlwind for many people in lieu of the pandemic. People are scared, people are doubtful, people are mourning, and people were hoarding various items. Now we are seeing mass protests across the nation. Times are certainly interesting. Now more than ever, we as a human race, need God in our lives. We need to pray for the healing of the nation and of the world. We need to work hard to usher in an era of peace and prosperity, where the needs of all people are met not matter their skin color, gender, socio-economic status, or their religion. Every human being has an inherent right to a life of freedom and opprotunity. 

I urge you all to keep up your prayer life. If you find yourself down in the dumps or needing some encouragement, remember that the lives of the Saints are a great source of inspiration and wisdom for us during this unique times. They all experience a struggle of some sort in their lives! But they turned those sturggles into joys! Seek our their stories and try to learn a thing or two!

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family of Dubuque, Iowa, whom I am an Associate with often end things with a blessing, so I will end with that today! (Of course they always sing it)

May God Bless You and Keep You.

The Light of God's Face Shine Upon You.

May God be Gracious to You.

May God Look on You Kindly.

May God Fill You with Peace!

Pax et Bonum,

Jake