From The Pastor's Desk:

Throughout the country, the Roman Catholic Church is in the Year of the Parish Revival.  I have been asked, “What does that mean?”  Each parish, each diocese is to focus on the Eucharist.  In our humanness, we so often take those we love for granted.  The same hold true for our loving savior who gave His life that we may have eternal life.  Jesus left the Eucharist, His Body and Blood to spiritually nourish us.  The celebration of the Mass, the time spent in quiet prayer during Adoration is the real heart of our Catholic Faith.

         We will begin our seven-session series this October 9th in the afternoon and October 10th in the evening.  Each session is built upon a video featuring a different bishop, followed by prayer and scripture, followed by a story from a Catholic from different parts of our country.  These are the seven sessions.

Session 1:  What’s our story?   The Bible is the story of God’s love for us.  He created us out of love, redeemed us by his love and transforms us in his love.

Session 2:  Who is Jesus?  Jesus is both God and man, therefore he reveals who God is in relation to us.  Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Who do you say that I am?”  He asks this same question of us: who do you say Jesus is?

Session 3:  Am I Saved?  Salvation is a gift from God through Jesus Christ that requires our “yes”.

Session 4:  Why a Church?  Jesus didn’t simply leave us a written message or instruction manual to follow.  He gave us a living, dynamic Church where we encounter him personally and allow ourselves to be transformed into his likeness.

Session 5:  God is with us.  God’s presence in the Old Testament foreshadows the gift of the Eucharist, one of the seven sacraments of the Church.  Jesus established the Eucharist to give us strength and accompany us at every moment of our earthly journey.

Session 6:  The Story of the Eucharist.  The story of the Eucharist can be traced throughout Scripture.  From Genesis to the present day, this session explores how the Cross is the new Tree of Life, and the Eucharist is its fruit.

Session 7:  Bread for the Journey.  The Eucharist sustains us on our spiritual journey.  Our participation at Mass through the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist is an offering of thanksgiving to God.  We are then sent forth to share what we have received.

I invite everyone to attend at least one or two sessions, to help you/us grow in our faith.  To grow closer to God.