Dear Friends in Christ,

For eight years now, we have travelled this pilgrim road together, under the guidance and protection of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. And while I have joked that if I ever have the blessing to name a parish, it will be something short like “St. Mark’s!” that comment should never be taken as me throwing shade on our patroness. I love Mary and hold to a deeply Marian spirituality. Three titles in particular are dear to me: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Don’t ask me to rank them!

In my first letter to you, my new parish family, I wrote about how I discovered the original icon of Our Lady providentially, during my first trip to Rome as a deacon with Fr. Sig Peplowski, my pastor. (Interesting note: Fr. Sig is retiring this year, having served in active ministry for 50 years!) Right around the corner from Santa Maria Maggiore, one discovers the Church of Saint Alphonsus Liguori. There, the Redemptorists keep custody of the image of Mother of Perpetual Help, that original 15th century icon. It is a lovely and quiet church to pray in; you can feel the love and presence of the Spirit. There we discovered a hidden gem, and I bought a poster, which has journeyed with me through 17 years of priesthood and has graced my dining room over all these 8 years. That very image has been and will be part of our feast celebration weekend.

For the feast, we are honored to welcome Fr. Anthony Michalek, CSsR (a Redemptorist from St. Alphonso), who will share with us his love for Our Lady of Perpetual Help. What do you like most about the icon? For me, the tension of Mary looking out at us her children, while the sandal of her Son falls, is the most stirring. Her love for her Son is immense, yet it overflows beyond Him to embrace us as well. She is first his Mother, but also ours, even as Jesus accepts the instruments of His Passion. That dynamism of love is very moving for me. 

This weekend finds me nostalgic. Over these past eight years it has been such a privilege to walk with you on this pilgrim road as your pastor. Our Lady continues to be close to us. Truly “the almighty has done great things” for us through her intercession. She moves with us and has a mother’s heart to guide and nurture. This weekend I am so grateful to God and to Mother Mary for all the times and seasons we have shared, all the moments of grace.

So, I come to you this weekend as a proud father, grateful for you, and all the ways you are part of our shared mission - building up the body of Christ. And I am so grateful to God for these eight years with you, and under our lady’s mantle. My prayers this weekend are for you, and the beautiful things that Mother Mary has in store for us. 

May our Lady guide and protect you, always!

Fr. Joel