Dear Friends,

Last week, we, Priests and the Bishops of our Diocese gathered in Flagstaff for our annual convocation. While it was radically different from the convocations we had in the past, it was nevertheless hailed as one of the best we have had in recent years. Our presentations focused on the hidden life of St. Joseph through the lenses of artists. Elizabeth Lev, the renowned Vatican Church art historian, and author who made these presentations, captivated the priests and the bishops with her very thrilling talks and sense of humor, making the three days of the convocation look like half a day. This was not a mean feat to achieve, considering that she was talking to priests who are often hard to impress.

However, what inspired this article was not these presentations but rather a random comment made by one of the waitresses who served us one evening. As she cleared the table after our dinner, I thanked her for her service and engaged her in small talk. During our short conversation, she immediately lit up and said she felt blessed to serve the priests. She went on to say: “I have worked in this hotel for a very long time, and each year, I look forward to this moment of serving you guys because you are just so grateful and kind to us. You are so different from many of the other people we serve.” She became so emotional as she said these words.

Her emotional statement, however, did not immediately strike a chord in me. Still, the more I thought about it afterward, the more I realized that simple words of gratitude and acts of kindness can profoundly impact others, even when we don’t realize it. I realized, too, that in the world we live in, which is often filled with negativity and adversity, gratitude and kindness can be powerful and transformative antidotes.

This is because these virtues not only improve our own well-being but also have a profound impact on those around us. By cultivating gratitude and kindness, we create a ripple effect of positivity, transforming the lives of others and of the communities around us. Moreover, recent research has shown that gratitude increases feelings of happiness, life satisfaction, a sense of fulfillment, and social connection. At the same time, kindness releases oxytocin, a hormone that promotes trust, bonding, and relaxation. Acts of kindness also reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Don’t we all need these? I do!

So, dear friends, as we come to the completion of our reflections on stewardship this month of September, these are the virtues I would like our parish to embrace as good stewards because gratitude has the power to transform lives and build a more compassionate and supportive community. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” and I add, “Be the change you wish to see in our parish.” Let us now embark on the journey of gratitude and kindness, spreading love, compassion, and hope to those around us.

I love you!

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