Sunday, November 3, 2019

A Word from Your Pastor November 3



November begins with the days of remembrance of the Communion of Saints.  We are the Church, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, sons and daughters of the Living God, empowered by the Spirit to live lives of holiness on a journey to the Kingdom.  We who live in hope of Eternal Life share a Communion of Life and Grace already with those who have gone before us, the Saints in Glory and the Holy Souls undergoing the final purification to enter into the Kingdom.

All Saints’ Day reminds us that there is a cloud of witnesses spurring us on to share the victory.  All Souls’ Day reminds us that we must continue to offer prayers and sacrifice for loved ones in Purgatory.  Each encounter with other members of the Church who are still on the journey of Faith reminds us that as followers of Jesus Christ we are entrusted to one another.  May we continue to seek Union with God and with all through Faith, Hope and Love.  Responding to the universal call to holiness, may we one day share the glory for which we are destined in Jesus Christ.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared the first findings of our annual October Count.  I am happy to report that there was an increase in the numbers the last two weeks of the month.  We are still down from last year. Last year, we had an average of 537 persons at Sunday Masses each weekend.  This year, the average is 510.  This is down from 900 in 2008 and 1059 in 2000. Conversation with the other pastors of our Deanery suggests that nearly all parishes have had a decrease.  Our parish database, which may or may not be complete, indicates that we have around 600 households registered in the parish.

Numbers never tell the whole story.  However, we do have a responsibility to bring the Good News to the whole world.  Our task is to work together to find the best way to share it with the portion of the world entrusted to us: those who have chosen to throw in their lot with us by registering in the parish and those who live within our parish boundaries, whoever they may be.  All are candidates for unity.  May we be one in the Spirit and one in the Lord!

Stewardship Notes: Disciples as Stewards


Let us begin with being a disciple—a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. As members of the Church, Jesus calls us to be disciples. This has astonishing implications:
§  Mature disciples make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost.
§  Christian disciples experience conversion—life-shaping changes of mind and heart—and commit their very selves to the Lord. 
§  Christian stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the   power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives and the way in which we live.

Jesus' disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards.

Focolare Word of Life for November 2019

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”  Romans 12:15



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