The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Mk 4:35-41
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This weekend’s Gospel is a summary of the parable of life. “He asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’” Do you really trust God? Is God your first choice or last resort? Is your faith something you just do on Sunday or do you live the Gospel message every day of the week? Many of us know about God. How many of us have a personal relationship with Him? Start now, open your heart to receive our Lord. Talk and listen to Him throughout the day, in all circumstances. (from the Archdiocese of St. Louis)
As you know the current three priorities this Summer are the Pastoral Calendar, renewing the Sacramental Preparations in the lens of Evangelization, and finally our new Parish Office and Welcome Centre. The Leadership Team has also begun to focus on the language of Belong, Believe, and Behave, when it comes to all our ministries! Many of our brother priests are currently discerning what it means to welcome people back to Mass, now that restrictions continue to lift. Indeed, our current priority is Belonging – let’s all be ready to welcome our brothers and sisters back Home. That is one of the goals of our new Parish Office & Welcome Centre.
The partnership with Shalom House is well underway, and renovations and painting have begun. We are upgrading the Internet high-speed service, as well as changing the phone system. Our current phones numbers (St. Finnan’s, St. Anthony’s, and Shalom House), will still be active. Our current goal is to begin moving furniture, book shelves, and filing cabinets, parish registers, etc., the first week of July. We hope to have the office open on a daily basis as well. Please stay tuned for more information on these hours. Again, our current goal is one of Belonging – what would you like to see happen at your new office? Open Houses have been suggested, Family/Parish picnics, St. Finnan’s Basilica Gift Shop, day conferences, talks, Youth Ministry, Family Retreats, fundraisers, etc., all are ideas that have been shared with me in the past couple months. Please let me know if you have more ideas! We are currently looking for a few specific items as well. If you would like to donate lawn chairs, benches, tables, for outdoor use, I would love to hear from you. Also, please pray for the Shalom House Management Board meeting this coming Wednesday night, continuing the discussion and operating plans for opening up post-Covid19.
Finally, this weekend is Father’s Day weekend. God the Father gave up his only Son, Jesus Christ, so that we might be saved through him. He provides an example of the very vocation of fatherhood. Fathers are to sacrifice their lives for their families.
They do this by:
- Being the spiritual leaders and guardians of their families.
- Praying for and with their families.
- Being a courageous witness to the Gospel.
- Providing care and support for their families.
- Serving as an example of goodness and truth.
- Leading with courage and accountability.
- Laying down one’s life for the other.
Today, in a special way, let us be grateful for:
- Our fathers, by birth or adoption, who love us and support us through life.
- Our priests and bishops who act as spiritual fathers.
- God our Father, who will always teach justly and grant us boundless mercy.
As we continue the Year of St. Joseph, we ask his intercession for all fathers! From Fr. Gilles, Deacon Steven, and I, thank you very much for supporting and encouraging us in our ministry! We are joyful to be walking this pilgrimage with all of you. As St. Augustine once said, “we are priests for you, but Christian with you”. Have a great week. Peace.
