Tuesday – 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 8:19-21

Family Time

St Kateri Center Chapel

6 years ago this week, we paid our respect to one of our Native elders as she took her final journey back to the Creator.  We prayed for her as one family and we honored her for a full life, a life of love and service to her community and to her faith.  One of the most touching and heartfelt words we heard as we stood together in the sunshine was this – she was everybody’s grandma.  Can you imagine what love and affection, what care and concern guided her throughout her entire life for such a statement to be offered!

She served her community for decades as a volunteer and social services director.  She devoted herself to caring for the needs of her community.  She treated everyone as family, helping them with donations of food and clothing, toys for the kids and shelter for those in need.  She saw everyone as part of her family and she treated everyone as such.  She was a woman of deep faith and great love, of kindness and compassion.

What an example she is of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel.  Anyone who hears the Word of God and acts on it is part of my family.  We are all part of one family, not by blood but by faith if we only act on that faith.  And the Elder we continue to mourn today did exactly that!  Because of her faith, she saw everyone as part of her family and she treated and cared for them, just like a grandma would!

May Mother Earth guide your feet

May Father Sky keep his arms around you

May Grandfather Sun warm your coldest days

May Grandmother Moon keep the glow in your heart

May the Ancestors light the way as you make your journey home

And the Great Spirit always keep all of us

shielded from pain and sorrow

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