Be the Light

What happened at Annunciation was devastating. It pierced our hearts and shook the very sense of safety we want for our children, our families, and our community. It is natural to feel afraid in the face of such darkness. Yet fear is not where God wants us to remain.

Over and over, Jesus tells his disciples: “Do not be afraid.” Those words were not spoken in times of ease, but in storms, persecutions, and moments of confusion. They are words meant to remind us that God’s presence is stronger than the fear that surrounds us.

We are Lumen Christi, the Light of Christ in the world. Light does not erase the reality of darkness, but it transforms it. A single flame pushes back shadows. A community of faith, united in love, becomes a blazing fire of hope that nothing can extinguish.

My family and I went to Annunciation yesterday. We went to pray, to pay our respects, to reflect, and to be representatives of Lumen Christi and show our unending love and support for our brothers and sisters. If you have not gone, I encourage you to go. It's heartbreaking, but seeing the outpouring of care and love is amazing. We are a larger community than just what is found in the confines of our building. The world needs light and we can be that light.

This is who we are called to be right now. Not a people paralyzed by fear, but a people who let the light of Christ shine through us, in compassion, in courage, in acts of love both great and small. The tragedy at Annunciation calls us not to hide, but to step forward, to be a source of hope and healing for one another.

As the leadership of Lumen Christi, we want you to know that we are not sitting idly by. We already have a strong foundation of safety and security in place, but we are actively reviewing and evaluating new options and updates. Change can feel unusual, and it takes time. It also requires resources. Yet we are committed to taking thoughtful, faithful steps to strengthen our parish, so that all who gather here may do so in peace and confidence.

Darkness never has the final word. Christ does. And He is the Light that no darkness can overcome. Let us carry that light boldly, together. Let us be the light of Christ for all the world.

Max Huber, Parish Director