Friends, Advent is not our annual invitation to winter slumber and daydreams about white Christmases and chestnuts roasting on open fires. There are “days to come,” Isaiah reveals, when peace will replace the violence of our churning, restless world.
As we conclude the Church’s liturgical year and celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, we are encouraged to proclaim in our lives “Viva Cristo Rey!” “Long Live Christ the King!”
The underlying message that I hope you take away from this year’s report is this – while our individual steps as parishioners may seem small, together those steps amount to significant leaps forward towards our successful future state.
Of the many successes from these past few months, I would like to highlight that the parish exceeded this year’s Archdiocesan Annual Appeal goal!
Jesus surprised and upset his listeners when he told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee thanked God he wasn’t like the tax collector. But in fact, he was like the tax collector. WE ALL ARE.
Friends, listening to God leads us to act as God would have us act, even (or maybe especially) if we are tempted or even foolish enough to do it our own way.
Without a doubt, last weekend’s Centennial Commencement was a high point in our beloved parish’s life. Personally, I am grateful and humbled that the Centennial Committee recommended that the Installation be a part of the Centennial Commencement.
When a priest is called to take on the role of pastor of a parish, his vocation takes on a radical relationship of love and service to the
people he is called to serve, much like when a husband becomes a father.
To be honest with you, I don’t know a lot of people who are really happy. It isn’t as common as one may think. People are much sadder than they seem. Oh, and a lot of us – I know – put on a happy face. Most of us know how to look happy, but are we really happy?
Humility is the kind of virtue that doesn’t have a good name in our culture. That’s because it may conjure up images of degradation and abjection. Or we may think that it means becoming a doormat for others to step on. But those ideas are both off-target.