This weekend we witness the Canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata); an Albanian nun whose life became totally devoted to relieving the suffering of the poorest of the poor on the streets of India and then around the world. If ever we need a latter day example of how to put the Corporal Works of Mercy into practice, Mother Theresa is the one. Her saying, “do small things with great love”, is very telling for us today. Our world will only improve if we attend to our daily living with love. “Charity”, we are told, “begins at home” so putting these two adages together is a great way for us all to make the Mercy of God alive in our homes and neighborhoods.
We are gearing up for the Parish Festival in October, so please offer to help out if you can, play the raffle ($5000 first prize this year) and sponsor the event if you can.
On October 2nd, Bishop Robert will be coming to celebrate the 11.30 Mass with us. The reason for his visit is to offer a Mass of friendship and ‘welcome home” for those who have fallen out of regular practice of the Faith, or for those who, for whatever reason, have lost touch or trust in the Church. We all know people who might like, or even need, to be asked to come. Please reach out to those who may be looking for a way back to Christ in the Church but are unsure of a real welcome. None of us are to judge, all we can do, all we should do, all we must to do is to welcome home the lost sheep of the flock. I ask you to be fearless in this. Many of us question when/how/when or even why? we should reach out for fear of being rebuffed, ridiculed or refused….that’s OK, that may be their choice; to sit back and do nothing is to fail to show the open hand of friendship, fail to reveal the face of the merciful Christ, fail to be Church, the Body of Christ, alive and active in our community. Let’s fill the benches!
God bless you, your families, and the week ahead.
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter