A Heartfelt Thank You
Dear Editor: I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the article (“God’s Love Crosses Continents With African/ Caribbean Music,” Feb. 11) about our church, St. Joseph. The words and thoughtful insights were truly heartwarming, and we are so grateful for the time and effort you put into the piece.
As a community of musicians in the Diocese of Brooklyn, we often struggle to get the word out about the things we are doing as it pertains to the fusion of African-American music and Catholic worship.
When I speak with my colleagues from different parishes, we often discuss the hunger parishioners have for this music. So, having your article published means more to us than you can possibly imagine. We are truly grateful.
Furthermore, I need you to know I appreciate The Tablet’s commitment to high-quality journalism. Especially in these times, when it seems like well-written, thought-provoking, and educational print journalism is becoming an “endangered species,” you all truly make a difference to us.
Thank you again for all that you do.
Kevin Robinson
Music Director, St. Joseph Church, Jamaica
Raising Self-Awareness
Dear Editor: Father Robert Lauder’s column Faith & Thought titled “Experiencing the Loud Thoughts of Self-Rejection” (Feb. 25) — about Henri Nouwen’s book “Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World” — calls loudly for deep self-examination.
This thought of self-examination takes us to the center of who we are if we allow ourselves this opportunity.
Sometimes the fear of getting to know ourselves or the fear of rejection sends us running in the opposite direction.
This is what Nouwen seems to be asking himself and each one of us at the individual level to look at this part of us.
To overcome this fear in us is a wonderful and priceless life gift to ourselves. It is certainly not an easy task to achieve, like many things in life. This requires self-awareness, sacrifice, and of course, being proactive.
Self-reflection helps to combat the idea of self-devaluation, which we tend to disguise with a mask. Whether it’s acknowledged or not, it permeates silently like a virus.
God gives us inner strength and connects us to people in times of insecurity in order to help us.
1 Corinthians 11: 28 says, “you should each examine yourself first,” and 2 Corinthians 13: 5 says, “put yourselves to the test and judge yourselves to find out whether you are living in faith.”
Taking care of the emotional self is one of the worthwhile challenges in our life.
Thank you, Father Lauder, for pointing out Nouwen’s book to help us heal the invisible wounds in us. This will help us to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Future generations, hopefully, will not endure “the greatest enemy,” which is usually an unwanted guest from past generations in our lives.
Andre Goris
Oakland Gardens
Faith and Prayers
Dear Editor: I would like to praise Mayor Eric Adams for talking about his religious faith and his belief in the need for prayer in school (“Cardinal Dolan Praises Mayor’s Comments on State and Religion,” page 4).
I grew up in a home and school where prayer was an important way to start and end the day. I felt it gave me a sense of peace and a way of dealing with the problems of the day.
I believe that for a family to stay together, prayer is so vital and so very important. Mayor Adams, keep up the faith.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose