Hail Mary, Full of Grace—Help Me Find a Parking Place!
The quality of life in cities has much to do with systems of transport, which are often a source of much suffering for those who use them. Many cars, used by one or more people, circulate in cities, causing traffic congestion, raising the level of pollution, and consuming enormous quantities of non-renewable energy. This makes it necessary to build more roads and parking areas which spoil the urban landscape.
Pope Francis
Why is it that we expect parking to be convenient, available, and free? Reading just the introduction of Henry Grabar's Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World was compelling and sobering: making me squirm in its accurate reflection of how—like none other—parking turns us into reptilian homicidal maniacs.
It also inspired me that my own expectations in life and the behavior I must model for our son Leland should also be more realistic. Very little in life is free—but lower the cost, and I may have to give up some convenience or availability. And if I do pay for that convenience or availability, who am I displacing? Perhaps they are more deserving but don't have the means.
Working in parish life, especially at St. Monica, the ministry directors and I get to tackle these issues and try to make life convenient, available, and affordable to all. Utopian? You betcha. But if we truly believe in all that we profess—we're not asking too much of God; we're asking too little!
The gospel of Pentecost reminds us that we all need to work together, finding common ground to form loving disciples who will transform the world. This is why the MarCom Summit on June 9 is a parish-wide event open to all those who serve and lead the ministries of St. Monica. Our ministry directors cannot do this alone—they need help. And who better to tell the stories of the parish, share the impact, and inspire people to join us than our own parishioners?
Saturday, June 9, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Reserve your spot at stmonica.net/inspire.
And thank goodness—three levels of free underground parking. 🤣
