FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK JANUARY 16 & 17, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
How are you today? Even without hearing your voice, I can say with confidence that you are blessed and highly I highly favored. You can see that this Sunday’s readings talk about the call of God. Some of us may say, I already know my call. I am a wife, mother and a lawyer or I am a husband, father and an accountant. These are true but may we never forget two other calls: the call within a call and the call to holiness. The call within a call is something the Lord wants you to pay attention to within your state in life. For example, bringing into your home your mother-in-law who is now sick, lonely and unable to take care of herself. It could also be spending more time with your wife whom you know is lonely. It could be offering to baby-sit a grandchild whose mother is going to school. It could be as a health-care provider to give attention to self-care that you may help your clients better.
Regarding the vocation to holiness, this Sunday’s second reading reminds us that we belong to Christ. Hence, our bodies are members of Christ. To be holy is not for a select few. It is for all. The Second Vatican Council teaches us: “Everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness, according to the saying of the Apostle: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification". However, this holiness of the Church is unceasingly manifested, and must be manifested, in the fruits of grace which the Spirit produces in the faithful; it is expressed in many ways in individuals, who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity, thus causing the edification of others; in a very special way this (holiness) appears in the practice of the counsels, customarily called "evangelical” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, L.G. 39).
The awesome thing about this universal call to holiness is that it is holiness within your state in life. If you are a teacher, your holiness is in your teaching, if you are a mother your holiness is in your life and work of motherhood.Nobody will expect you to live like a Carthusian monk. If you are a priest your holiness is in your priestly life and duties. In sum, “Every person must walk unhesitatingly according to his own personal gifts and duties in the path of living faith, which arouses hope and works through charity” (L.G. 41).
YOUTH MINISTRY
Please encourage your child who is the youth ministry age to be fully engaged and involved with educational and uplifting events organized by Dr Mary McConner, our youth Director. That is a process of inculturation and growing in faith.
BRING SOMEONE BACK TO THE PRACTICE OF FAITH.
Reach out consistently to someone who has fallen away from the practice of faith. Invite and encourage this person to rekindle the fire of love in his or her heart.
IS THERE ANY MINISTRY YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE?
Please do not hesitate. Do what the Lord put in your heart. Is there anything you want to correct or improve, please do not be bashful. Please offer your corrections and suggestions.
OUR FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION: Do not let anything that can wait not take away from your time with the Lord in a well-spaced out environment in the sanctuary of St Augustine. Please come and spend time with our Lord. The date is February 5, 2021 and the time is 10:30 am.
BLESSING OF THE THROAT: The memorial of St Blaise comes up on Wednesday 3, 2021. We shall do the blessing of the throat within the noon Mass and on Sunday.
E-GIVING
With great sense of gratitude in my heart, may I announce to you that our e-givers have risen to seventy five persons! This is a happy development because it helps our fewer counters during this time of pandemic to spend less time together counting. Our goal is to reach hundred e-givers before the beginning of the end of January! I know we can do it. May the Lord bless and reward you for your continued support of our parish Church. God loves cheerful givers!(2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
DO NOT FORGET:
The Lord knows you and calls you by name. Together we can say, “We have found the Messiah: Jesus Christ who brings us truth and grace” (John 1:35-42).
Love,
Father Francis Chiawa
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
How are you today? Even without hearing your voice, I can say with confidence that you are blessed and highly I highly favored. You can see that this Sunday’s readings talk about the call of God. Some of us may say, I already know my call. I am a wife, mother and a lawyer or I am a husband, father and an accountant. These are true but may we never forget two other calls: the call within a call and the call to holiness. The call within a call is something the Lord wants you to pay attention to within your state in life. For example, bringing into your home your mother-in-law who is now sick, lonely and unable to take care of herself. It could also be spending more time with your wife whom you know is lonely. It could be offering to baby-sit a grandchild whose mother is going to school. It could be as a health-care provider to give attention to self-care that you may help your clients better.
Regarding the vocation to holiness, this Sunday’s second reading reminds us that we belong to Christ. Hence, our bodies are members of Christ. To be holy is not for a select few. It is for all. The Second Vatican Council teaches us: “Everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness, according to the saying of the Apostle: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification". However, this holiness of the Church is unceasingly manifested, and must be manifested, in the fruits of grace which the Spirit produces in the faithful; it is expressed in many ways in individuals, who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity, thus causing the edification of others; in a very special way this (holiness) appears in the practice of the counsels, customarily called "evangelical” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, L.G. 39).
The awesome thing about this universal call to holiness is that it is holiness within your state in life. If you are a teacher, your holiness is in your teaching, if you are a mother your holiness is in your life and work of motherhood.Nobody will expect you to live like a Carthusian monk. If you are a priest your holiness is in your priestly life and duties. In sum, “Every person must walk unhesitatingly according to his own personal gifts and duties in the path of living faith, which arouses hope and works through charity” (L.G. 41).
YOUTH MINISTRY
Please encourage your child who is the youth ministry age to be fully engaged and involved with educational and uplifting events organized by Dr Mary McConner, our youth Director. That is a process of inculturation and growing in faith.
BRING SOMEONE BACK TO THE PRACTICE OF FAITH.
Reach out consistently to someone who has fallen away from the practice of faith. Invite and encourage this person to rekindle the fire of love in his or her heart.
IS THERE ANY MINISTRY YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE?
Please do not hesitate. Do what the Lord put in your heart. Is there anything you want to correct or improve, please do not be bashful. Please offer your corrections and suggestions.
OUR FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION: Do not let anything that can wait not take away from your time with the Lord in a well-spaced out environment in the sanctuary of St Augustine. Please come and spend time with our Lord. The date is February 5, 2021 and the time is 10:30 am.
BLESSING OF THE THROAT: The memorial of St Blaise comes up on Wednesday 3, 2021. We shall do the blessing of the throat within the noon Mass and on Sunday.
E-GIVING
With great sense of gratitude in my heart, may I announce to you that our e-givers have risen to seventy five persons! This is a happy development because it helps our fewer counters during this time of pandemic to spend less time together counting. Our goal is to reach hundred e-givers before the beginning of the end of January! I know we can do it. May the Lord bless and reward you for your continued support of our parish Church. God loves cheerful givers!(2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
DO NOT FORGET:
The Lord knows you and calls you by name. Together we can say, “We have found the Messiah: Jesus Christ who brings us truth and grace” (John 1:35-42).
Love,
Father Francis Chiawa
