Everyone is Looking for You

GAMEDAY! I hope you are doing well and ready for our GAMEDAY – that is Sunday! As the Catechism reminds us, it is the day where we gather together to listen to the Word of God and prepare ourselves for Holy Communion.

1167 Sunday is the pre-eminent day for the liturgical assembly, when the faithful gather “to listen to the word of God and take part in the Eucharist, thus calling to mind the Passion, Resurrection, and glory of the Lord Jesus, and giving thanks to God who ‘has begotten them again, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ unto a living hope”.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1167

Our Lord continues to call us around the family table, the altar, to celebrate our faith in Him. I look forward in seeing you all very soon. Though it is difficult to gather, let’s continue to keep Sunday holy by taking time to rest, pray, and be with family, … and possibly to watch the SUPERBOWL!?!

It’s GAMEDAY! Will the Kansas City Chiefs repeat. Or, will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win on their home turf? I’ll be watching. Both teams will compete for the Lombardi trophy, named after one of the greatest coaches, not only in NFL history, but of all sports. He was was a faithful, practising Catholic.

The Gospel this Sunday, the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, shows us our Lord healing the sick. Once the sick are healed, they are invited to service – love God and love neighbour! Indeed, everyone is looking for you! We need you! Lombardi was a great leader, and often spoke of the importance of being part of the team. On GameDay, the most important day for football players, everyone needs to show up!

”The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”

(see more Lombardi quotes)

What are some of the problems we face today? What are our own personal challenges, within our families, or within the Church? Our GAMEDAY is Sunday, our mission continues to be God in our Lord Jesus Christ! It has been difficult in these past few months to gather, and to share our vision, to understand our mission! Everyone is looking for you! We all have gifts, talents, and treasures, and we all have something to bring to the team. Our team needs you! Our North Glengarry Parishes need you; without you there is no team, without you we will not survive.

A few years ago my classmate was invited to celebrate mass for the Buffalo Bills, while they were playing an exhibition game in Toronto. Though not all players were present, some coaches, staff, and players did attend. Again, we return to the theology of sports! Fr. Gallagher, [chaplain for the Colts], says that paramount in the Colts’ spiritual preparation for the Super Bowl XLI (which the Colts won!) is the realization that when all is said and done football is a game, and win or lose, life is going to continue with its higher challenges and expectations.

Let us continue to pray for one another! Let us continue to pray for our team, the North Glengarry Parishes. The NGP Finance Council will be meeting again February 16th, preparing to share with all of our team members, all parishioners on last year’s finances, as well as discerning new projects going forward. The NGP Pastoral Council will also be meeting in the next few weeks, continuing our discussion on the vision of our team, and our common mission to make God in Our Lord Jesus Christ known and loved by all. (again, the Leadership section of the website will be completed shortly) Let us continue to pray for one another, because we are all part of the same team, and we need you. Have a great week. Peace!