This Thursday, February 1st, we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Brigid, the patron saint of our Parish. She joins Saint Patrick as one of the patron saints of Ireland. Saint Brigid is known for her extraordinary spirituality and prayer life. She is also known for her Christian charity. Her ministry involved healing and feeding the poor and she is celebrated for her generosity to those in need. It was said that she could not bear to see anyone cold or hungry since she truly believed that Christ dwelt in every person. Saint Brigid strived to work with the less fortunate with love and compassion. Her love of God and love of neighbor were obvious to all who knew her. Through her words and example, she serves as a wonderful model for us.
This week we also celebrate National Catholic Schools Week, with the theme of “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community”. Catholic education has always been a priority for the Catholic bishops of our nation. For many years, Catholic schools had been staffed primarily by dedicated nuns, religious brothers, and priests. They are now staffed primarily by dedicated lay teachers who truly view teaching as their vocation. These teachers strive to educate and form students who will embrace and spread the faith. Catholic education was also very important to Saint Brigid. She is the patron saint of students and worked to see that the Catholic faith was taught clearly and thoroughly, and she founded several Catholic schools.
This Sunday we also focus on the work of Mustard Seed Communities (MSC). Mustard Seed was founded by Msgr. Gregory Ramkissoon, a Catholic priest in Jamaica. MSC started in Jamaica and expanded to Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Africa. It cares for several hundred children with special physical and mental health needs, many of whom have been abandoned.
Pope Francis stated, “We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished, and protected.” Mustard Seed strives to love and protect the most vulnerable of our children. It strives to focus on these children as gifts from God.
MSC also manages a number of community outreach programs to combat poverty and provide educational opportunities to local populations.
Saint Brigid Parish supports MSC primarily through its spiritual and financial assistance. Our parishioners also participate in mission trips to assist in the construction of appropriate housing for the children in need. Some of our parishioners have also adopted children from various communities of Mustard Seed. Representatives of MSC will be available after the Masses this weekend to answer questions about the Community and the work it does.