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July 23, 2023
The Spirit in Our Midst!
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In this week’s bulletin, please find a special insert with an accounting of the various Fundraisers that have taken place over the past year or so. Please join me in thanking and honoring those many volunteers who put in countless hours in these fabulous fundraising opportunities. We honor and thank each and every one of you. You may not realize this, but you are true evangelizers and community builders!
A number of years ago, St. Pope John Paul II introduced the concept of what he called “the new evangelization.” He went on to explain that the “new” was not really new at all. It was just a new understanding that whatever we do in the name of Christ could be understood as evangelizing our world. It is not just the street preacher who is an evangelist.
All of you who volunteer your time, energy and effort providing meals and putting on events, and all who support by attending these creative fundraising projects are also evangelizing. How, you ask? Think of it; every time you come together, you are building community within our parish and expanding out to the wider population.
Actually, I believe that it has been through these fundraising dinners and social events that our seven parishes first started to come together as one. Over the past year, in my meetings with the bishop concerning the possible relegation of our church properties, I pointed out to him the fact that the consolidation and coming together of our parish kitchens is a true sign that our parish has indeed come together! In some ways, I believe the closing of a kitchen was and is like the closing of a church building itself.
Of course, this makes perfect sense since we are a Eucharistic people. We gather around the Eucharistic table every day and every week. The consolidation of the tables around which we gather to share food and fellowship, symbolizes and prefigures or foreshadows our coming together around the Eucharistic table in a more harmonious and collective way.
This is the Spirit of God working in our midst! The Spirit of God which first reveals itself in the heart and attitude of each and every one of us! In a special way, I pay tribute to those of you who have prophetically led our community in the way of the spirit and ultimately in the way of Christ!
May Almighty God continue to bless you all with good health of mind, body and spirit. May we rejoice in the good work that God has begun in our midst and may the Lord continue to bring it to fulfillment!
God love you,
