Monday, August 21, 2017

Parish Bulletin Article: "Listen!": 8-6-17

            This morning (Monday, July 31st, 2017) I had a fun time with some coffee and gentlemen after daily Mass and this evening we had a wonderful gathering for our Evangelization Team.  I would like to offer some cool thoughts that some of our powerful parishioners shared:
·      One said, “We must be alive again!”  He encouraged us to invite brothers and sisters to our parishes—we must welcome people to our parishes, not only in the church, but also to the point from peoples’ vehicles!  I agree and I believe that we must learn from our brothers and sisters in other denominations as many of them do much to welcome and/or invite more than us!  He also mentioned that we should remember our history in which we had a choir.  Can we not do that again?
·      Similarly, someone said, “To remember a person, we must remember the person’s name.”  How many parishioners do you know at your parish?  (Remember the test I wrote about several weeks ago?).
·      Another exclaimed: “Each of us have a mission to share our faith!  This year, can we encourage, invite, welcome and converse with one person in your life?”  That encouraged me and I hope it does to you too!
·      Another mentioned that, “We Catholics have the full truth of Jesus Christ.  We have the Eucharist.  We have the sacraments.”  Yes, indeed.
I am always impressed how God works through each of your lives.  And, through the sacrament of baptism has given each of you the power, the talents, the gifts and your witness to follow God.
St. Theresa of Avila once said, “If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us.  He is a true friend.
And our savior said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…”
            Listen to your brothers and sisters.  Listen to St. Theresa of Avila.  Listen to Jesus Christ himself!  Get to work to keep our parishes to be alive to be active and to be joyful!

God Bless!

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