Dear Friends in Christ, Through the eloquent gesture of marking our foreheads with ashes on Ask Wednesday we began next liturgical season - Lent. Receiving ashes reminded us the truth about our existence on earth, and inevitable frailty of our lives - "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3,19).
It is hard to believe that school and Faith Formation have been in session for almost eight weeks already. Life is in full swing here in our town communities and parish. I want to take this time, on behalf of myself and our Pastoral Staff, to express our appreciation for your spirit of dedication and hard work.
To say the least, I am very concerned personally how, as a Catholic community, we respond to the recent Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage. I know it is a very sensitive and important issue that demands prayer, understanding, wisdom, dialogue and respect for all parties. I would like to offer a few interesting and thought provoking articles for us to read to be better informed on the complexity of the issues and why the Roman Catholic Church teaches as it does.
The Scripture readings for the First Sunday of Lent always speak of the Covenant that God forms with us through the people of Israel and the temptations Jesus faces as he enters into the desert. In this Covenant, we are called and empowered to be one with our God and one with all of the human family.
As of Jan 12 the Church entered into what is known as Ordinary Time on the Church liturgical calendar. Besides a return to a more simple and green environment in the Church, the Scripture readings speak of how we are called to discipleship and live the Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ.
In this fall season we see the world around us grow colder and darker yet we know as the leaves fall they will produce new life when the light and warmth of spring return. The readings of this season offer us the opportunity to reflect upon our own mortality and our faith in Resurrection and eternal life.
Early in August Pope Francis made the decision to alter his NYC itinerary to include a visit to the 9/11 WTC site to pray, offer support and participate in an interfaith prayer service for peace. Shortly afterwards the families of the 9/11 victims were offered the opportunity to participate in a lottery for tickets for the event. I was blessed to be one of the winners. Each person could take one guest. I made the decision to offer the ticket in a lottery for our parish staff and Fr Kamil was the lucky winner.