Dear Saints,

Autumn is here, the leaves have just begun to change, and school is back in the swing of things. You know what that means: it’s time for Boonton Day! The beloved tradition of a beloved town, Boonton Day brings together residents, local businesses, public officials, and visitors for a charming afternoon on Main Street and beyond.

For parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Boonton Day is a great opportunity to reflect on the reality that we are a community within a community, and to take stock of our obligations in that context. In other words, when people meet an OLMC parishioner on the street or in a store, what should the experience be like for them?

The answer is laid out clearly in Romans 13: 8-10: “… the one who love another has fulfilled the law. The commandments… are summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” As neighbors, friends, and strangers spend time in our town, our interactions should leave them no doubt at all: they are welcome, they are valued, they are invited to more, and - above all - they are loved.

Christ’s Peace,

Father Daniel

δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ