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| Dear Parishioners, I hope you take the time to fill out the survey being passed out by the Parish Council. WE NEED TO KNOW YOUR OPINIONS as the Council begins to formulate our Parish goals for the period July 1, 2000 to June 20, 2001. Please help. A friend sent me the following story. I thought we can all profit from it. The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. We saw your smoke signal," they replied. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground — it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it: You say: "It’s impossible" You say: "Nobody really loves me" You say: "I can’t go on" You say: "I can’t figure things out" You say: "I can’t do it" Sincerely, Father Vicent Ring |
