
by Father Mark Goldasich
What is most important to you?
I’m sure many Southern Californians had to grapple with this question in the face of the devastating fires ravaging their neighborhoods. As our front page this week highlights, the scale of devastation is mind-boggling.
I’ve been monitoring the fires closely as a close college friend, who is an actress, lives in Pasadena. It’s been a harrowing experience to watch Nancy’s posts on Facebook.
Five days ago, she posted her address for friends who were concerned if she was safe. She ended her post with: “Thanks for the prayers & support. Gonna water down the deck & roof again. XX Nancy & THREE Dog Night.” (She has three rescue dogs.)
Someone asked if she had drinking water. Nancy replied with a picture: “Yes, have water & filled the tub.” Some people urged her to load up her dogs and get out before the evacuations became mandatory. Although the Rose Bowl was open for evacuees, it was heartening to see many folks offering her an alternate safe place to crash.
Being a hearty Iowan by birth, she stayed put. Her reasoning was simple: “One of my gauges for packing up is birds. . . . Today, the birds (finches & sparrows & mourning doves) are chattering away so I’ve calmed a bit.”
Three days ago, she reposted something from a Bethanywin that took to task people who were downplaying the disaster that was unfolding. That post read: “You are seeing celebrity homes because that’s what the media is showing you. What they aren’t showing you are the small business owners that have lost everything. The people from convalescent homes being relocated on stretchers in the middle of the night. The unhoused. The working-class renters. So shut it about the LA you think you know.”
Our coverage in this issue shows those “other people,” especially how Catholic churches and parishioners are dealing with the loss of almost everything they had. Honestly, I get tears in my eyes reading these stories.
In times like these I recall some words of Fred Rogers from the TV show, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”: “When I was a boy and 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.’”
Pope Francis wants us to take things a step further, especially in this Jubilee Year. He invites us to become those helpers, to truly be “pilgrims of hope.” Our question as followers of Christ must never be “if” we should help but “how” we can help.
As I look around my comfortable home, I’m humbled by how blessed I am to have clean water, a roof over my head, food, clothes, electricity, a bed, and plenty of mementos and photos of family and friends. These are luxuries that I way too often take for granted. In thanksgiving for these gifts, how can I not reach out to those in need?
The information box on the front page indicates how to financially support those who may feel hopeless and lost in LA.
And let’s not forget the power of prayer for all those affected and for the helpers. Recently, Nancy posted: “Praying for rain. Is it Noah who brings rain or St. Peter . . . I’m out of touch?” Responses ranged from St. Joseph and St. Isidore to St. Anthony (since rain is presently “lost”) and St. Jude (“if all else fails”).
As of this writing, Nancy, the dogs and her home are safe. However, she did just post a picture of Bob, one of her dogs, positioned on her front porch as a “spotter” for any tell-tale signs of smoke or fire.