Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “This is no ordinary time and no time for weighing anything except what we can best do for the country as a whole.” Mrs. Roosevelt spoke these words as the United States was just beginning to recover from the Great Depression and not long before our country was drawn into the Second World War. Eight decades later, Mrs. Roosevelt’s words seem especially relevant for every country and every community all around the world. For what seems like the first time in my life, there is a growing sense that we must face this global health crisis together, that one family’s tragedy is mourned by every family; and that we need each other now more than ever.

At this point, my parents and I are separated by more than two hundred miles. One month ago, speaking together by phone, we decided as a family that they should self-isolate at home in Maine; and that I should remain here — to work and remain ‘in network’ for health care in the event of any illness. Our conversation was matter-of-fact. We thought the pandemic would last for a few weeks, maybe even for a month. After that, I would resume my weekly drives north to visit my folks and prepare our gardens and yards for the spring season. Of course, we know now that it could be many more weeks, maybe months, before we see each other again. Clearly, this is no ordinary time in our lives.

My mom was born shortly before the end of the war. She did not live through the depression or see the ravages of that war. At the same time, she has experienced hardship and loss. She was called upon to care for her younger siblings because my grandmother was often too sick to do so. My grandfather died suddenly just months before a long-planned early retirement. Her younger brother was killed by friendly fire in Vietnam. And her younger sister died young from complications related to a chronic medical condition. And even now, my mom is considered among those who could be most vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Earlier this week, we talked for a long time about this crisis and what it means for our family, for our country, and for people all around the world. For the first time, my mom spoke in real depth, from the heart, about her own experiences with adversity and suffering. Although she had never really brought it to speech, she said that she has often thought about what it must have been like for my grandmother to flee the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia: all alone, just sixteen years old, with just a paper bag containing her belongings. She spoke about how hard it must have been for my paternal grandmother to raise two infant boys while my grandfather was stationed oversees. And she spoke about how the Vietnam War has left long lasting scars on our whole family.

Finally, my mom said: “Maybe now it is our turn to be strong.” We did not talk about what that could mean because we both knew. It means that this may be our time of trial and tribulation. This may be our time to forge ahead through the darkness. This may be our time to weep over a suffering world. We cannot (yet) imagine what it must be like for our brothers and sisters in Italy or Spain or New York City; for our friends and family members who work in hospitals or nursing homes; or for those heroes who continue to bring food to our tables. But during this Holy Week, with our world pinned to the cross of pandemic, we can be strong. We can care for each other. We can pray for each other. Now is the time.

Cliff Garvey
Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (4-5-20)
Bringing Home the Word (4-5-20)
Family Activity Page (4-4-20)

Pastor’s Note: On behalf of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, Father Jim wishes to thank our dear friend, Jody Cole. for giving us permission to use her beautiful and moving icon, Jesus Is Taken From the Cross, online and on the cover of this week’s newsletter. For more information about Jody’s work, please visit: jcoleicons.com.

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