Last Monday evening I participated in a somber Interfaith Midtown Prayer Service at St. Bart’s Church to memorialize the recent fatal tragedy at 345 Park Avenue. The reflections, music and prayer were a stark reminder of the irrationality and darkness of that violence.

As I prayed during that service, I thought about how widespread irrational violence, hate and death have become, by individuals, organized groups, and governments.    

Because of Catholic Charities commitment to feeding the hungry in NY, how could I not cry for the widespread hunger and unacceptable humanitarian suffering in Gaza? We must continue to raise fervent prayers for the victims of October 7th, hostages, and the dead, wounded, hurting, and starving in Palestine, Israel and throughout the Middle East.

I thought about my travel to Ukraine a few months after the Russia’s invasion.   We prayed that the war would end. Now, over three years later, the killing and destruction continue.    

How could I not reflect on our own country with the Statue of Liberty in New York’s harbor?   At Catholic Charities, we are acutely and painfully aware that too much rhetoric and too many actions betray our proud legacy  as a haven of refugee and opportunity, and invert our proud motto, e pluribus unum?  Catholic Charities does not hesitate to accompany those threatened and fearful.

How could I not think about another Park Avenue, one in the Bronx, where too many mothers are fearful for their children because of the threat and lure of gangs?

But then I thought about this week’s Feast of the Transfiguration. This glorious mountain event, prefiguring Jesus’ resurrection, that occurred shortly after Jesus told his disciples that he must suffer and die, and that they will have to follow his example.   This talk of Jesus was not a great morale builder, then, and even now.  And I must confess that sometimes, I am impatient, as I suspect you may also be, with the God’s timeframe for transfiguring our world.  God’s pace is much slower than what I want!

And so, I suggest that amid much darkness, we more intensely gaze to the mountain and take in the enlightening vision of the transfigured Jesus as the hope and promise not merely for ourselves, but for the entire world – the holistic transformation of pain, suffering and death.  

I propose that we allow this vision to further empower and sustain us with the clear recognition that our Catholic Charities family of agencies, programs, services, trustees, staff, volunteers, and donors are already forcefully at work.  Your work testifies that darkness, although devastating, does not conquer or have the last word.   Your goodness does.  You help thousands of our neighbors each day to experience the help that provides hope for them and their families.

I raise a prayer of petition for God’s increased healing, mercy and protection for those most vulnerable among us.   I end with a prayer of thanksgiving for you and pray God’s blessing upon you and your family.

Sincerely,

Msgr. Kevin Sullivan
Executive Director