Bishop Burbidge has designated November 9 through 16 as a Diocesan Week of Service, during which time every parish in the diocese will dedicate itself to a particular Work of Mercy. At St. John the Beloved, we will be making visits to the homebound. You probably know of people in your neighborhood who would benefit from a visit, be it for coffee and a chat, for help with chores around the house, or to get together and pray. Our visits need not be limited to fellow parishioners but should include anyone and everyone. Plan on making those visits and please let us know about your plan. You can send your note to us at info@stjohncatholicmclean.org. By the same token, if you do not know of anyone who lives in your neighborhood and who appears to be stuck at home, please contact us at info@stjohncatholicmclean.org and we can suggest someone from our growing list of McLean residents.

At 1994 the National Prayer Breakfast, Mother Teresa observed:

I can never forget t

he experience I had in visiting a home where they kept all these old parents of sons and daughters who had just put them into an institution and forgotten them — maybe. I saw that in that home these old people had everything — good food, comfortable place, television, everything, but everyone was looking toward the door. And I did not see a single one with a smile on the face. I turned to Sister and I asked: “Why do these people who have every comfort here, why are they all looking toward the door? Why are they not smiling?”

I am so used to seeing the smiles on our people, even the dying ones smile. And Sister said: “This is the way it is nearly everyday. They are expecting, they are hoping that a son or daughter will come to visit them. They are hurt because they are forgotten.” And see, this neglect to love brings spiritual poverty. Maybe in our own family we have somebody who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried. Are we there? Are we willing to give until it hurts in order to be with our families, or do we put our own interests first? These are the questions we must ask ourselves, especially as we begin this year of the family. We must remember that love begins at home and we must also remember that ‘the future of humanity passes through the family.’