October 1, 2006

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

Greetings. Pat and I returned on Friday from a few days of enjoying the Maine Coast. Thanks to Pat's sister Bobbie and her husband Don for allowing us to share a short time with them.

A lot is happening in the parish this week including the confirmation of eleven of our young people on Wednesday night at St. Catherine's in Addison, NY. and an introductory get together on Thursday evening of people interested in potentially testing the waters (including baptismal waters) of Catholicism through the RCIA process.

We've also begun the diocesan wide Catholic Ministry Appeal. Today at Mass we viewed a very well produced video highlighting the Appeal and the importance of sharing our tradition of Faith with generations to come.

Have a good week. Serve each other well.

Ray

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Bulletin: October 1, 2006

October 1, 2006

Boxes and Doors

The today's Gospel, John complains to Jesus that some people - not of his immediate group, were casting out devils and healing people in his name.

"We tried to stop them!" John says.

But Jesus says, "Do not stop them! Whoever is not against us, is for us!"

How often are we like John? How often have we Christians tried to BOX IN GOD. In the past we used expressions like - "There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church." Today, some Christian churches falsely proclaim - "Unless you do this or that or speak in these words - you cannot be saved.”

But, God cannot be contained. No matter how we try, we can't box God in. For, God is too big to fit in any one religion, or words, or prayer style. The Spirit of God will not be limited by human tradition or even religious institutions. Are our doors opened wide to those who don't seem to fit into our traditional vision of a "good Catholic? Are our doors opened wide to the poor, to those who are mentally or physically handicapped, to those who have remarried without an annulment?
May St. Mary’s doors remain opened wide to these people as well as to you who worship without fail each week.

Have a good week. Serve one another well.