FM's Message | Sunday, May 21st, 2023

One of the promises of Jesus is something we hear in Today’s Gospel. It is the promise of the Advocate, or the Holy Spirit. The title has its roots in the Latin words “vocare ad” to call towards. The implication is that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate will call us and will come toward us. It is another way that Jesus was reassuring the people of his presence in the post resurrection experience. We have the same advocate whom we also call the Holy Spirit.
This weekend we are blessed to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation with our parishioners who have been taking classes and preparing for this moment with their parents, and sponsors.
Led by Steve and Charlie, they have prepared themselves to go towards the Lord prompted by the Holy Spirit. After receiving this third of the sacraments of initiation, (Baptism and First Eucharist are the other two) they are considered fully initiated and can take their place in service to the Church and continuing to grow as disciples. Our faith is one that helps us to understand that we are followers of Jesus and that means that we live out lives in the light of his will for us. They are being “called toward the Holy Spirit to receive another outpouring of the spirit to strengthen the Grace they received in Baptism. As they are confirmed, i.e., blessed with the Sacred Chrism oil, they hear the words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you”. The last sentence is the one Jesus used as he greeted the Apostles after his resurrection. It is a reminder that we are called to be bearers of his Spirit, wherever we are. A major fruit of the Spirit is peace. It is the peace that comes from the knowledge that God loves us and is with us in all things.
When I was in high school and college, I had the privilege of being part of retreats (TEC’s) both as a participant and as a table leader. Part of the task was to share what I knew about Jesus to that point. We had a variety of people of different backgrounds and  ages that helped us on the retreat, and I have many memories of retreat experiences that brought me closer to Jesus and to the friends I was with on the retreat. It was wonderful to see how people my parents age and older, younger adults, and teenagers  formed a community to serve the community of the retreatants. In just the same way our parish has students and adults, teens and retirees working alongside one another to “call towards” others to follow Jesus, I hope that you will see new people joining in the ministries that we have and starting new ones. We are always looking for help in the Sunday liturgies.  The goal  is to  have enough ministers so that each minister serves once a month or every five weeks, We are looking for parking lot greeters, door greeters, Eucharistic ministers and lectors. We could also use someone to walk around the church after each liturgy returning the benches to their pre- mass condition with the goal that each mass crowd walks into the same neat church. We are calling you towards these ministries so that you might give witness through your service.
Peace,
Father Murray

Building news; We have a small number of dedicated gardeners who are looking for support. If gardening is your hobby or passion, please see me and we can get you connected to the garden team. There is plenty of work at both churches and we can also use help with regular watering of the indoor plants. (the fake ones, while receiving water survive without it)