Dear Parishioners:
Advent begins a new Church
Year. So it can serve as a time for new
beginnings and resolutions. As Pastor, I
have to be honest that in many ways the past year has been a year of great
challenge in many ways. My own heart has
been stretched at times to the point of tears.
I am sure that many of you can say the same.
Let us begin again. Let us take the opportunity of the passage of
time to do what we can to leave old wounds behind and look toward the
future. In particular, let us prepare to
enter into the Year of Mercy, which will start December 8th.
One of the many blessings of this
past year for our parish and for the Diocese of Columbus Denver
Welcome has become a primary
theme. How can we welcome others into an
awareness of the Love of God offered through Jesus Christ? Who are we called to welcome? Who among us do not experience us as a true
community of welcome? What are the needs
of our members? What is the world’s
situation telling us about our responsibility to care for others?
Some basic questions we will need to
consider as a parish are these: What
makes us unique as a parish? What is our
responsibility given the mission territory entrusted to us? What are the activities we are involved in
that we need to continue? What
activities are no longer serving our mission and need to stop? What ought we to begin to do that we are not
currently doing?
These questions can also serve
individuals and families in an examination of their discipleship. How are you responding to our common call to
be a community of welcome?
Advent is the season that prepares
us to welcome Jesus. We welcome Him
first by welcoming the least among us.
Maranatha! Lord Jesus, come!
No comments:
Post a Comment