As I wind down my tenure here as your pastor I can’t help but be deeply grateful for the relationships that have come about over the years. I especially am thankful for the pastoral staff, especially the present group, who have served our community so faithfully for many years. I would need several pastor columns to speak of each of them separately. Suffice it to say that they have always had your welfare at heart in all they do. They aren’t in it for the money, believe me. Each of them expresses stewardship as a way of life and they practice it. I have come to realize that they will be friends for life. Fr. Bill is inheriting a real treasure. Take the time to thank them. I most certainly do.
June 13, 2021
This weekend we continue with the readings from Ordinary Time. “Ordinary” comes from our use of ordinal numbers, e.g., first, second, third…eleventh. And we are entering on what has not been ordinary this past Covid year, mainly opening up our sanctuary to embrace so many more parishioners.
We are installing most of the chairs this weekend along with kneelers. I hope that many of you may join in our work party on Friday and Saturday (June 11-12.) Some sections will allow 100% capacity, others 50%.
We will begin our communion procession lines after a 15 month absence. And there is no more need for registration. If you are fully vaccinated, you may sit with others who are as well. We will still wear masks. I will explain all this and more this weekend.
Thanks for your patience and resilience over the past year. You are the best!
June 6, 2021
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ this weekend we hear Mark’s account of the Last Supper. Jesus identified himself with the bread and wine he shared with his apostles. He knew that partaking of meals would be a perpetual tradition they would be involved with for the rest of their lives. He wanted them to remember him in a special way when they gathered together to share bread and drink wine. “Take it, this is my body.” “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.” He wanted them and us to be nurtured for the journey. We are called to break ourselves open for others. Thanks for the many ways you are doing this in your families, for your schoolmates and work colleagues. Let’s pray that we will soon be fully gathered together again to share in the Eucharist.
May 30, 2021
Congratulations to the twenty- four young people who are to be Confirmed this Tuesday evening by Archbishop Etienne. May they indeed be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit in whatever vocation they find themselves. May the Lord bless them in every way.
I am thankful for the Spirit leading me in my life as a priest. Last Monday (May 24) I celebrated my forty sixth anniversary in the priesthood. That has consisted of five parishes, three of which I have been a pastor. As I approach my last month as an active priest, I give our gracious God thanks for all you have done for me these past nineteen years as your pastor. You are the best. May the Lord bless all of you. I love you.
May 23, 2021
This weekend we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the ways in which the Spirit inspires, guides, and strengthens us to live as Christian disciples. Especially in the later weeks of Easter Time, we have anticipated the advent of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the disciples and in the Church. Now we hear the account of the first Pentecost, when, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Good News of Christ was shared with people from throughout the whole world. Those who heard the disciples speaking were amazed and astonished at the power of God. May that same Spirit “melt the frozen, warm the chill” (Pentecost sequence) of the COVID period we have been through so that we may give others hope of a grand future with our God.
May 16, 2021
As we celebrate the feast of the Ascension of the Lord this weekend we are reminded that Jesus is counting on us to continue his work today. Before he ascended in glory to the Father, Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” The latter part of our parish mission statement proclaims: “and the diversity of our gifts is used to answer Christ’s call to proclaim and live the gospel.” Our three priorities for the last few years echoes this: “Gather in God’s name, Grow in God’s time, Go in God’s Spirit.” In other words, Jesus did not have a plan B. It all depended and depends on his disciples and us to build up his kingdom in our world today. With his help may we do it.
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