From The Pastor: 10-21-2018

As we continue Respect Life Month, I think it is important for us to realize what we do as a parish to honor, help and respect life. Here are some of the groups and organizations that uphold life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death…and every stage in between!

• Our Respect Life group is always making us aware of the life issues in our community, state,  nation and world. They meet regularly and sponsor our March for Life in Washington, DC and the various events throughout the month of October and through the year. They are always looking for young and active members. Think about joining this important group.
  

• Our parish is actively involved with supporting the poor and needy. We are very involved with the Food Pantry here in Hershey. Our Saint Vincent de Paul Society does untold amounts of good for parishioners (and non-parishioners) who are down on their luck. Our Haiti Committee and the volunteers for the Father Beiting Appalachian Mission do amazing work in helping the truly poor. We have groups that help prisoners; others that make food for the Bethesda Mission in downtown Harrisburg; still others that make baby blankets for babies at the Medical Center. We have Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who faithfully visit our shut-ins each week. We are a parish who  is day in and day out doing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  We are daily helping our  brothers and sisters in our community.
  

• We have a special love for the elderly and for those who have lost a loved one. Our Consolation and Bereavement Ministries do wonderful work for those facing heartache at the death of loved ones.
  

Sometimes people will say (wrongly) that the Catholic Church is only concerned with the life of the child within the womb but that is far from the truth. We are concerned with life at all its stages. We are Pro-Life! Never be afraid to stand up for life! How good to be a Church that stands up for Life!

Father Al