If you've been to Mass here in our parking lot over the past month, or if you've been a part of Alpha over the past five years, you will know Steven. At Alpha he's known as Chef Steven; online for our Masses and programs, he's the tech guy, and in the parking lot, he's waving you into your parking spot. 

Steven worked here in Salem a few years back in the role of Campus Minister, and although he was laid off when the Collaborative parishes started to transition to a new parish, he never stopped helping, serving, and loving this community. And now we are so happy to say that Steven is back on our staff, in the new role of Director of Family Engagement. 

This position is funded through a generous grant from a local Catholic family. The funders wanted to help parishes grow in their outreach to youth, young adults, and families with children. MQOA is one of three parishes selected to receive this grant because we are offering faith formation in innovative ways. Our funders chose parishes who have let go of the traditional, classroom-based, child-centered CCD model, and want to support our work in finding fruitful ways to support families and young people in their discipleship walk. We are so thankful for this grant, which allows us to creatively expand the ministry we're already offering families, in new ways. 

Steven is perfect for this role, bringing with him years of experience working in Youth Ministry, family faith formation, and, of course, his experience here in Salem. He's already taken us to new heights, technology-wise, and we're excited for what we're going to build together here at MQOA, now that he's joined the team. 

If you see Steven this week, please welcome him to his new role. And of course, please keep Steven, MQOA, and our funders in your prayers!

Blessings, 
Margo

We're so excited to be able to continue Drive-In Mass this Sunday. If you'd like to join us for Mass this Sunday, please register your family. Please note that if it is rainy or too hot (over 80F), we will not hold outdoor Masses.

We'll continue to offer our weekend Online Mass, as well, and will continue our regular schedule of offerings until we're ready to make changes safely and prayerfully. The Cardinal's dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation continues for everyone, even if Masses are being offered in churches in their area.

6:00 PM Sunday join us for our new night of prayer, praise and connection called Something More.  It's less like Mass and more like a combination of coffee/donuts and Alpha nights.
Meeting ID: 889 0982 7026  Password: 235802

A MESSAGE FROM FR. MURRAY

Happy Fourth of July to one and all! It is a truly strange time in which we live and try to go about our lives, with the recognition of the issues that are currently facing us. The pandemic and the “second wave” or local surges are causing all of us to remember that we are still in the midst of an illness that could potentially harm and even kill people of all ages.

At the same time, as Christians we can always be a source of strength and example. Our faith calls us to be people who are, as the Jesuits say, “people for others.” By wearing masks, washing our hands frequently, and social distancing, we are acknowledging that we are all in this together. We are living in a time where being a community means being conscientious for the other. It is painful to see that we were doing better as a country and now, it appears, we are sliding back a little to where we may need to go back to stricter measures.

At MQOA, we have been trying to offer what is best for the whole community as we gather for Mass. The parking lot Masses are going well, and again I thank the team and all who are attending for their cooperation. It was particularly wonderful to see Payton and Lila, who received their First Communions during the last two weekends. I hope it will be a holy memory for them and for their families. Thanks to all those who cheered them on by honking your horns in applause.

In my life, I have a few memories that are preserved because of the conditions (blizzard of 1978, Hurricane Bob to mention two). These are truly unique historical moments that allowed me to preserve the time and events in my memory because of things that were not in my control. I am always amazed by the resilience of people. We have had tough times before and we are enduring one now, but we will keep going forward and look for better days.

We are also in the middle of a national reckoning about the issue of racism and hatred in our country. Whether you believe that there is systemic racism or not (I do), we are seeing that many people are rising up together to address the issues of our day. This returns us again to our Christian heritage. Reading the Gospels, written to address the oppressed and victimized, we see that the challenge of the Gospel is for us to love God, and in light of that love, love our neighbors as ourselves. There is no accounting for all the things that we are discussing now — the color of skin, place of birth, etc. — all are one in Christ Jesus. This is the challenging message that sent Jesus to the cross for us, so it follows that we will be challenged if we love our neighbors in response to our love of God.

We can start with our country and local reality. Treating everyone we meet with dignity and respect is the only way we can proceed, because that is the way God proceeds with us. This week’s Gospel shows us that, whether downtrodden or weary, the humble reaction of Jesus to us is to lift our burden by His message of love and acceptance. We can invite all people of our parish, our city, and our nation into this vision with humility and patience. The only result we hope for is that God’s love will be made more evident by what we say and do. 

Peace, Father Murray

UN MENSAJE DEL PADRE MURRAY

Feliz 4 de julio a todos! Es un momento verdaderamente extraño en el que vivimos y tratamos de hacer nuestras vidas, con el reconocimiento de los problemas que nos están enfrentando actualmente. La pandemia y la "segunda ola" o oleadas locales nos están haciendo recordar que todavía estamos en medio de una enfermedad que potencialmente podría dañar e Incluso matar a personas de todas las edades.

Al mismo tiempo, como cristianos siempre podemos ser una fuente de fuerza y ejemplo. Nuestra fe nos llama a ser personas que son, como dicen los jesuitas, "personas para los demás". Al usar máscaras, lavarnos las manos con frecuencia y distanciarse socialmente, estamos reconociendo que todos estamos juntos en esto. Vivimos en una época en la que ser una comunidad significa ser concienzudo para el otro. Es doloroso ver que estábamos haciendo mejor como país y ahora, al parecer, estamos deslizándonos un poco hacia donde tal vez necesitemos volver a medidas más estrictas.

En MQOA, hemos estado tratando de ofrecer lo mejor para toda la comunidad a medida que nos reunimos para la misa. El estacionamiento Masses van bien, y de nuevo agradezco al equipo y a todos los que asisten por su cooperación. Fue particularmente maravilloso ver a Payton y Lila, que recibieron sus Primeras Comuniones durante los dos últimos fines de semana. Espero que sea un recuerdo sagrado para ellos y para sus familias.

Gracias a todos los que los vitorearon tocando sus cuernos en aplausos. En mi vida, tengo algunos recuerdos que se conservan debido a las condiciones (blizzard de 1978, el huracán Bob por mencionar dos). Estos son momentos históricos verdaderamente únicos que me permitieron preservar el tiempo y los acontecimientos en mi memoria debido a cosas que no estaban en mi control. Siempre me sorprende la resiliencia de la gente. Hemos tenido tiempos difíciles antes y estamos soportando uno ahora, pero vamos a seguir adelante y buscar mejores días.

También estamos en medio de un recuento nacional sobre la cuestión del racismo y el odio en nuestro país. Ya sea que creas que hay racismo sistémico o no (sí, estamos viendo que muchas personas se están levantando juntas para abordar los problemas de nuestros días. Esto nos devuelve de nuevo a nuestra herencia cristiana. Leyendo los Evangelios, escritos para dirigirnos a los oprimidos y victimizados, vemos que el desafío del Evangelio es que amemos a Dios, y a la luz de ese amor, amamos a nuestros vecinos como a nosotros mismos.

No hay ninguna contabilidad de todas las cosas que estamos discutiendo ahora —el color de la piel, el lugar de nacimiento, etc.— todos son uno en Cristo Jesús. Este es el desafiante mensaje que envió a Jesús a la cruz por nosotros, por lo que se deduce que seremos desafiados si amamos a nuestros vecinos en respuesta a nuestro amor a Dios.

Podemos empezar con nuestro país y la realidad local. Tratar a todos nos encontramos con dignidad y respeto es la única manera en que podemos proceder, porque esa es la manera en que Dios procede con nosotros. El Evangelio de esta semana nos muestra que, ya sean o cansados o cansados, la humilde reacción de Jesús hacia nosotros es levantar nuestra carga con Su mensaje de amor y aceptación. Podemos invitar a todas las personas de nuestra parroquia, nuestra ciudad y nuestra nación a esta visión con humildad y paciencia. El único resultado que esperamos es que el amor de Dios sea más evidente por lo que decimos y hacemos.

Paz, Padre Murray