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To raise men of faith that will leave this world a better place.

March 19, 2022

2 Samuel 7:4,8-16  | Romans 4:13-18 | Luke 2:41-52 | Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:1-4, 26-29

As a mother, I often think about the incredible responsibility that Mary must have felt. How hard it must have been for her to understand her role in raising Jesus. When I read Luke 2:41-2:52, I felt her panic in my core when she was searching for Jesus. Once when we were attending a birthday party at Launch, I thought I lost my oldest son. For those of you that have never been, Launch is an intricate and dark maze of trampolines – and crowds! For five short minutes, I felt shattered. But like Mary, my son was right where he was supposed to be. Not in his Father’s House, but simply jumping behind a column and out of sight. I hadn’t even thought to look there.

I am a mother to three incredible sons. With everything going on in the world, I feel a huge sense of responsibility to raise them in God’s image. To teach them above all else to be kind, empathetic, and generous. To help them be grateful for all that we have, while not losing sight of the struggles that others face. I want to raise men that are allies for everyone in our community – that will use their voice to speak out when they see injustice. 

I come from a very religious Catholic family. Looking back on my childhood, I loved so much of my experience in the church. But to be honest, I also struggled with some of the values that were being taught. As I got older, I found myself seeking faith on my own, outside of a church community. But as my boys grew up, I kept feeling this strong desire to find a community that can help me shoulder this incredible responsibility that I have been blessed with as their mother. To raise men of faith that will leave this world a better place. I want them to have a safe environment where they can ask questions and learn, forging their own path in understanding God’s love.  

Finding St. Luke’s has been such a blessing. Not only has it brought me closer to my own faith, but in a sense, I feel that it has allowed me to bring my children back to their Father’s House.

Mary Semeraro