Joy is not made to be a crumb (Mary Oliver / John O'Donahue)

 

Joy is not made to be a crumb. 

--Mary Oliver 

Now is the time to free the heart,
Let all intentions and worries stop,
Free the joy inside the self,
Awaken to the wonder of your life.

Open your eyes and see the friends
Whose hearts recognize your face as kin,
Those whose kindness watchful and near,
Encourages you to live everything here. 

See the gifts the years have given,
Things your effort could never earn,
The health to enjoy who you want to be
And the mind to mirror the mystery. 

--John O’Donahue,
For Celebration 

Today is our pastor Fr. Patrick Michaels’s 70th birthday,

which we celebrate with him with much gratitude

for all God has accomplished in him and through him

at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

We are so very grateful for your many gifts,  Fr. Pat,

from your beautiful liturgies to your powerful homilies

to all the joy you bring to us

through art, song and savory goodies,
and in your presence with us daily,
both at Mass and at morning coffee...

You make every celebration special,

and every day a reason to celebrate!

May you be filled with
joy and wonder and mystery,

today and always,

and may your life be richly blessed
as you have been a blessing to us all!

 

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