Yesterday Became Today

07-10-2022Pastor's LetterFr. John Bonavitacola

Dear Friends,

For those of you who keep track, it’s been a year since I came to Our Lady of Lourdes. I have to admit that the Sun Cities area (and I’ll include in that the North Peoria area) is a very nice place to live. In fact, it seems to me that you have to work really hard to be miserable if you live particularly in Sun City West. There is an endless stream of things to do, people to meet, fun to be had all wrapped up in a safe, rather quiet (except for those F-35’s) active senior adult community. It has been a big change from my days in the ASU College town of Tempe.

Now I realize it’s not all fun and games. Afterall the force of gravity does have its effects on the body. Still most of you bear it with grace, acceptance and a healthy resignation. I admit not everybody who had a say so in building the area actually considered who would be living here. For example, the Fry’s parking lot is the Lobby to Hell. Worse is the incline when you come out of the store, watching the elderly try to hold on to their weighted carts can be heartstopping. Then there is the acoustics in our Church. Bad design for a congregation where many experience hearing difficulties. And Golf carts and cars sharing the roads has stopped my heart more than once!

Still they are all minor trivialities compared to the great amenities that come with living here: Rec centers, golf courts, ball fields, theater and an endless choice of Clubs to join. A great place to live the sunset years of one’s life, full or part time.

But of course, my real concern is Church business. And I admit it is kind of booming in the Churches around here. Having a community filled with mainly life-long Catholics, who come to Mass each Sunday and who spent most of their lives supporting and serving in their Parishes is a great joy for me.

I also get the best of both worlds. Having a Parish of well-seasoned parishioners and a new parish that is in its infancy. Speaking of which, the project has moved along slowly, as we had to slog through a lot of bureacracy considering the land we want to build on is in Peoria but surrounded by AZ State Trust land. That meant that two agencies needed to agree on the road in and we had to get them to meet and agree. We got that done (finally) and now we can proceed with a road onto the property. Hopefully in the months ahead we will see physical progress!

Thank you for the warm welcomed you have given me and quickly adapting to my sense of humor! This first year has been an allaround success in every measure. I look forward to see what happens in year two! And I look forward to the magical reappearance of half of the population in the Fall!

Love,

Fr. John B