He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We come to the 21st Sunday in Ordinary time. The Church continues to celebrate in extraordinary ways the mysteries that we encounter throughout our liturgical year. We celebrate the faith that was confidently stated by Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16) This great declaration became the foundation of our Church. Founded on the rock of Peter, the Church has persevered throughout the centuries as a source of faith, hope, and charity, providing a guiding light for people of every nation. Even today as we are faced with this worldwide pandemic, the Church calls us to remain steadfast in our commitment to making Peter’s confession.
As we journey through the upcoming days and weeks, let us remember to confess who Jesus is. Through our words and actions let us make that declaration of Saint Peter real and alive. Although our interactions with others may be limited, let us take advantage of those times when we do interact with family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. These are precious moments that we can proclaim who Jesus is. Lost moments are lost opportunities to inspire in others the love of Jesus. Our Church would not be here today if brave men and women from all backgrounds in our history let those sacred moments get lost. This is how faith was spread and continues to touch the hearts of people of all generations.
Some of us are more cautious about in-person interactions. This is where creativity comes in to play to inspire moments of evangelization. From digital communications to an old fashion handwritten note sent by mail, we can create a sacred moment in the life of another. Even short conversations or notes provide a moment of human connection for which so many of us yearn. A simple handwritten note, email, or short phone call can offer mutual support and care, core principles of the Gospel message.
On behalf of Deacon Danny, Fr. Deo and myself, I extend our sincere gratitude for the respect demonstrated by the parishioners of Saint Clement and Saint James parishes, and the many guests that have visited our churches for Mass or other celebrations. We appreciate everyone following safety guidelines. Thank you for wearing face coverings, respecting social distancing, and not gathering in large groups after Mass. We still need to proceed with great caution. With your cooperation, I’m confident we can continue to praise our Lord with public Mass, while continuing to unite in prayer with those worship from home.
As you can imagine, with fewer people coming to church and a formal collection not taken, our offertory collection is low. Especially during this pandemic, the offertory is our main source of income. Please pray for a stable offertory as we enter the cooler months. Thank you for your continued support.
The Lord has blessed us in so many ways, let us share those blessings with others as we profess the Christ, the Son of God.
Christ’s Peace!
Fr. Workman