A sense of absence serves to remind us of the importance of nurturing a relationship and connection, St. Timothy's Rev. Joe Whalen shared with parishioners of the Catholic church in Blaine.

People may learn about many ways in which they are connected to one another even more deeply than they might understand or be aware, he said on the Catholic Church of St. Timothy's Facebook page.

“And maybe this time when we have suffered that absence, or that loss, is a gentle reminder of how much we need to take good care of those relationships,” Whalen wrote.

The first and most important relationship is with Jesus and God, he said. We need “to take good care of that spiritual depth that gives us life and gives us a purpose in living our lives well, but also to take good care of all the ways in which we find relationships with one another.”

Whalen told parishioners they need to lead a life with responsibility, concern and respect for each other.