“Caramel like the chocolate?” That is the No. 1 question I get asked when I tell people what I do for a living. “No,” I say. “I’m not even sure if it is chocolate.”
If you’re interested, the second most frequently asked question is “What does a Mission Development Director do?” I still haven’t really been able to figure that one out yet. As unique and varied as my career has been here at OLMC, I still love serving this community that turns 144 years old this weekend.
That’s humbling to think about. I’ve been blessed like you to be able drip a few drops of history in the bucket of time, at varying levels of success to our long and successful timeline as a Catholic community on the foothills of the mighty Palisades.
Not only do we celebrate our patroness Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but we as a community get to honor two Carmelites, on our Carmelite Feast Day! Former Pastor and OLMC Hall of Fame inductee and overall OLMC rockstar, Fr. Ashley Harrington, O.Carm. and our friend and across the street neighbor, Fr. Michael Mulhall, O.Carm. are each celebrating fifty years as ordained men of God! Fifty years! While I’m not super close to either I want to take the time to say thank you and wow! Their example of service has been a great example to me personally and I’m amazed how they could give a lifetime of service to Our Lady. Here I am thinking ten years is a lot! These are truly feast days.
I also find it fitting that in just one week (July 23-29, 2017) our community will be hosting homeless families for a week. You can sign up to donate items HERE or volunteer your time HERE. Is there a more appropriate way to live our mission than by physically opening our doors to our most vulnerable brothers and sisters and their children? So, on our birthday I want to say yet again, more than ever, better than ever, ‘thank you.’ It has been a pleasure to serve alongside you all. Now, let’s party!
I’ll be seeing you,
Elliot