St. Jerome Catholic Church

I understand why studies show that people who do not attend church services regularly have a corresponding increase in feelings of loneliness. “It is not good for man to be alone.”

 

The current number one health threat in the United States is loneliness and isolation. You may have heard, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance and 12 hugs a day for growth.” Isolation contributes to

an increase in the likelihood of diabetes, strokes, heart disease, dementia and

a decline in emotional well being (decreases in physical activity, doing things with others, in conversations, mutual support, and increases in food, alcohol consumption and drug use).

 

God knows we need to gather together for our spiritual, physical, emotional and mental well being. That is a part of why we gather for worship on Sundays. Humans thrive when we have a sense of community, a sense of being welcomed and belonging, a chance to connect with other believers, worshiping together: singing, listening, praying, moving as one… becoming one in the Word and being one as we receive His flesh for the life of the world. God doesn’t need the church. WE DO. He has given it to us to help us stay connected with Him and His Body.

 

Know that handshakes, a pat on the back, sharing a smile and hugs are good for our emotional and physical health. Isolation and loneliness are worse than smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Visit someone face to face. Call someone to connect and catch up. Pray with someone else. It is not good for man to be alone.

 

Church isn’t just good for our spiritual health but also our physical, mental and emotional health.
 
Your brother in Christ, Fr. Bill