Dear Friends,
I have already informed you that Mr. Bob Birmingham is retiring the beginning of September 2019 after having served our parish for 6 years. I take this opportunity to thank Bob for being such a wonderful and resourceful staff and a very congenial and warm and cheerful presence in our parish. He is heading for a well-deserved rest. On behalf of all of you I say: Thank you Bob. Our hearts and doors will always be open to you.
On the 21st Sunday Year C our Scripture invites us to reflect on these startling words of Jesus: “I do not know where you are from.” We have prayed in the last few weeks about the need to persevere in the face of challenges and obstacles we face in living our Christian call to be disciples of Jesus. It is so very easy to buckle down in the current anti-religious atmosphere. Our history of worship and of all the disciples of Jesus right from the beginning had been one of struggle and it will continue to be so. As in the past there were heroic men and women who held on to their faith and trust in Christ so are valiant men and women even today cheerfully living out their faith despite various and newfangled challenges. The ultimate goal for all humanity is to be prepared to answer this quintessential question of whether or not we will be known by Jesus. It will be a shame for us to be told: “I do not know where you are from.”
It seems perhaps that the evil is rearing its ugly head more frequently and more rigorously than previously ever imagined. Despite technological advancements and ever so great achievements we have made in making our lives so comfortable, finding time to be nourished in the one thing that is so vital for Catholics, the Eucharist, seems an enormous challenge. The calendar of school going children and their parents are particularly full especially on Sundays. Supposedly the only thing we were to do on Sundays namely to go to Church has now been pushed out or even worse cancelled out of our computation. Please do not give into such tempting offers ever so appealingly presented to you in the name of games and sports and travel and entertainment. Give God His due honor by allotting at least one hour in celebrating the Eucharist as a community of believers. It certainly needs commitment and a willing heart to make it work. If you think that it is hard or it is too much of a discipline, then you are not alone. Many consider going to church so inconvenient. There are excuses galore.
The letter to the Hebrews (12th chapter) provides a fitting response and a time-honored suggestion: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by Him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” Endure your trials as “discipline.”
At this time I do want to congratulate our parents and grand parents who make it a point to insist on this aspect of their family’s spiritual journey. Despite so many challenges they make it a point to be present with their children/grandchildren to give God due honor and praise. Keep doing it cheerfully. For you are getting ready to answer that one vital question: “Do I know you?” You will certainly be not the ones who will be told: “I do not know where you are from.”
Our parish continues to offer so many programs that will “strengthen your drooping hands and your week knees to make straight paths for your feet” (Hebrews 12: 13). One such is our new adventure titled: Hearts Afire. It is a parish-based program from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. This program is changing lives and transforming parishes around the country. It is a bold and fresh approach to small group faith renewal programs. It is designed to help us live the complete Catholic life of faith, charity, and the sacraments. It's designed to set our hearts on fire with love of God and neighbor and to inspire us to works of mercy in our families, parishes, and communities. It is claimed to be easy to implement and short in length. It is affordable and is solidly based on Catholic faith. There are various steps and each will consist of a 6 Week Program with one class each week. It is a free event. You only have to pay for the material cost. I am so grateful to Mary Adams and Bernie Yandura for leading this program. The First Session is set to begin on the 19th September 2019. Please rush to register and benefit from this opportunity. Remember what St. Catherine of Siena said: “If you are what you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire.”
Have a Blessed Week!
Love,
Fr. John