“Father Sandman and I both came across a beautiful little custom in one section of the parish, when we went on sick calls. I arrived before the preparations were completed, and surprised the decoration committee still constructing a beautiful wreath about the doorway of their home, the doorway through which ‘Nuestro Señor‘ was to pass. In making the wreath, the people were using the red copihue, a very beautiful flower, which is the national flower of Chile. Father Sandman told me that, for his sick call, everything was ready, and garlands of flowers were strewn about the entrance to the house and for some distance down the road. We both came back with a favorable impression of the wonderful faith of these good people.”
Maryknoll Mission Letters, written in Curepto, Chile by Father Joseph J. Rickert, MM

For some reason this mission letter seemed appropriate with everything going on at the moment as we face this global pandemic. Though we are all social distancing and cannot provide decoration, as they do in this story, to those making sick calls, providing health care, food, and calm to all in need, we are grateful. We are so thankful for everything that you are doing for every community across the world. Risking your lives every day to make sure that there is someone out there to take care of us. Know that we all have such faith in you and you are providing so much hope. As Fred Rogers said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'”

To all of the helpers,
thank you.