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I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase: “Keep calm and carry on.”

It dates back to 1939, when Europe was on the brink of war. The British posted these words around Central London, encouraging their citizens to keep calm when threatened by Nazi airstrikes.

But somewhere around the year 2000, those words were re-discovered, and they went viral. 

Now they’re printed on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs and posters, reminding people to keep calm and carry on when an unexpected event happens.

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One of the most unexpected events in our century has been the outbreak of COVID. 

Entire towns have shut down, while people are encouraged to wear face masks, to stay socially distant and to dine outdoors in the cold. Many are even afraid to come to church.

Do you remember when COVID first reached the shores of America? 

We were totally unprepared. There was a flurry of panic buying, even a rush on toilet paper! The memes on that were hilarious. 

Although our circumstances were different from Central London in 1939, like the British, many Americans struggled to keep calm and carry on; we were too afraid of the unknown. 

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On a more personal level, our parish is experiencing another unlikely event – one that’s bittersweet in my heart – my recent appointment as pastor of Saint Pius in Old Tappan, along the New York / New Jersey border. 

Ever since I found out, that phrase, “Keep calm and carry on,” has been coming back to me. 

I know over these last 5 years of priesthood, and certainly these last two years at Saint Catherine’s, the Lord has been preparing me for leadership. 

Whether it’s been through the ALPHA program, offering the Catholicism series, teaching in the school, or celebrating the Sacraments, I’ve learned so much from all of you.

So many of you have strengthened my faith, shaped my heart, and affirmed the hard work I’ve put into my priestly ministry. I cannot thank you enough.

I’m also deeply humbled by Cardinal Tobin’s confidence in me, as I’ll become one of the youngest pastors in the Archdiocese.

But, as we’re reminded by world events and even today’s Gospel, we must always be prepared for the unknown. Expect the unexpected. 

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a parable describing his second coming – what we’d call the end of the world. 

He, the Bridegroom, comes at night, but only five of the ten virgins awaiting him are prepared. Five of them refilled their lamps with oil while five ran out.

Why didn’t the foolish five have any extra oil? Were they forgetful? Were they lazy? 

No. I think they took the others for granted. Perhaps they presumed they could scrounge some oil off of the others if they needed it.

But when the Bridegroom comes, the foolish ones are left outside in the dark; outside in the cold. They couldn’t borrow someone else’s oil because that oil represented their faith.

Faith cannot be borrowed. It must grow within each of us; we all responsible for our own relationship with God.

But I can say that so many of you have fortified my faith – as I hope I’ve done the same for you through preaching, listening, ministering, and breaking bread together.

If anything, my appointment to Saint Pius has reminded me never to take God – or his people – for granted. I leave you here today with a grateful heart, ready to love and serve the people of Saint Pius as much as I have loved you.

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That’s a lesson we’ve all learned during Covid – not to take anything for granted – our freedom; our friends; our faith; our time here on earth; or my time here at Saint Catherine’s, which now comes to an end.

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As we move into a future yet to be written, mine in Old Tappan and yours here at Saint Catherine’s, I hope we all, “keep calm and carry on.”

Our ability to find that peace in any circumstance rests in one thing – our faith in Jesus. As he says at the end of the Gospels, “Behold, I am with you always.”

Whether we’re living in Central London or Cedar Grove, in times of celebration or times of quarantine, Jesus is with us. 

And you will be with me, as I carry you in my heart. 

Thank you and God bless you.

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One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited is the Grand Canyon. 

It is an endless pit of color. 

The cliffs, the peaks, the ridges rise from every angle, never seeming to end. 

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I entered the park by the Northern Rim Trail, which spans part of the canyon’s edge. From there you can descend into the canyon itself.

When I first saw the Grand Canyon, I nearly lost my breath; I was overwhelmed by the canyon’s beauty.

But after absorbing the view, I reached out for my college buddies, whom I was travelling with.

Although the canyon never changed, somehow seeing it with my friends made it even more beautiful. 

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(This picture is just an example.)

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I believe the same thing happens in heaven.

The Saints stand before God, much like my friends stood beside me. You might say they gaze upon the Lord from the Northern Rim Trail.

But they yearn to share the experience with us. Although God never changes, somehow seeing Him together makes the Lord seem all the more beautiful. 

So, the Saints pray for us, that we may someday be blessed to join them.

Imagine that – an endless line of men, women, and children gazing upon God, longing to share that vision with us.

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So, who are these Saints enjoying life in the presence God?

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They’re the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers. The ones Jesus calls “blessed” in today’s Gospel.

Concretely, we might think of those who’ve changed the world:

Peter, the first pope. Paul, the greatest missionary in history. Francis of Assisi, who renewed the Church. Catherine of Siena, who experienced mystical visions. Or Teresa of Calcutta, a modern-day Saint who showed the world how to love the poor.

But most of the Saints were ordinary men and women like us.

For example, Saint Conrad was a doorman. He spent 40 years greeting pilgrims at a Marian shrine in Germany. 

Saint Zita was a cook. 

Other Saints were barbers, farmers, maids, soldiers, even soccer players. 

There’s nothing extraordinary about what they did: welcoming strangers, cutting hair, or preparing meals. But they did these things with extraordinary love.

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One of my favorite Saints is Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. Like many others, he was a “blue collar” Saint; he did nothing great in the world’s eyes.

Joseph never went to college. He never wrote a book. He never owned shares in the stock market. 

He never held public office. He never made the news. He never lived in a major city or even journeyed far from his home.

The only time Joseph left his homeland was when he fled to Egypt as a refugee because King Herod was trying to kill the infant Jesus, and the baby wasn’t even his. 

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Joseph was uneducated; a peasant; a refugee; a foster father.

A nobody.

But 2,000 years have come and gone, and we still celebrate his life, because he made his way to heaven by doing the tasks that God gave him to do.

Namely, to be a good husband, a nurturing father, and an undeterred believer. 

That’s all God asks of us, to be faithful to the tasks we’ve been given.

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So, what has the Lord invited me to do in this life? Has he called me to married life? To religious life? To a life of service?

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Being a faithful spouse, a nurturing parent, an honest friend, a zealous priest can make us Saints.

Our reward for doing so is eternal peace, and a place along the Northern Rim Trail, as it were.

And as the old saying goes, “The more the merrier.”

So, the Saints who are already there pray for us, that one day we may join them, because seeing the Lord together somehow makes heaven all the more beautiful.

Saint Joseph, Saint Zita, Saint Conrad, all the Saints in heaven, pray for us.

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One of the many consequences of COVID is isolation. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, for example, and the CDC is encouraging all Americans to stay put and to avoid large family gatherings.

It feels almost “un-American” not to celebrate the holidays together.

But a more hidden truth behind this advised isolation is the fact that most of us are not making new friends; COVID has shrunk our social circles.

Maybe it’s even depleted them, leaving many to feel entirely alone.

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This is what we need to problem solve: how to feel connected while remaining socially distanced.

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Quarantine and social distance are problems Saint Paul himself faced.

He spent many nights locked in prison alone. As we heard in our first reading, he’s chained to floor.

But Paul didn’t let his isolation crush his spirit. He found creative ways to minister to his flock.

For example, he established several of the earliest Christian communities. And while in prison or in other towns, he wrote them letters; in fact, his letters compile almost half of the New Testament!

He also prayed for his people. As he says today, “I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy.”

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These are two concrete actions we can take during COVID. Pray for our loved ones. And write them letters. Or even reach out via Zoom or FaceTime.

Make the effort like Saint Paul to stay connected so that no one feels alone. We can – and will – endure this pandemic together.

As the old saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

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