From The Pastors Desk
Dear Parishioners
Each of our three scripture readings for Mass today speak to us of the Kingdom of God. I love the image of the Kingdom of God as a feast. All are invited to the feast, where we will dine sumptuously. The feast prepared for us will be unlike any other feast we have ever taken part of. In that Kingdom, we will gaze upon God’s infinite goodness and love, breaking bread with all of our brothers and sisters. The Lord reminds us in today’s gospel that all are invited, but some choose to ignore the invitation. Some believe that there are other feasts that they would rather partake of, rather than the feast prepared for us by our Heavenly Father. The question that I would like for all of us to reflect upon is, “are we ready and prepared to accept the invitation given to us by God”? There is so much in this world that is thrown at us, that we forget about the invitation given by God. We must continue to spread the Good News of Jesus here on this earth, extending to our brothers and sisters the invitation to come to the banquet prepared for us by God. We know how important invitations are! Let us pray that we will have the courage to bring Christ to all of our brothers and sisters.
2023 Annual Catholic Appeal
I thank all of you who have generously contributed to this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. As you know our goal for the appeal is $63,586. We have pledged over $50,000 thus far! Thank you for your prayers, support and generosity.
School of Faith Formation Registration
New registration and re-registration for our parish school of faith formation has begun. Children who need receiving the Sacraments of Initiation must register their children for faith formation classes. Registration fee is $55 per child. You may register online via our parish website or pick up a registration form at the parish office. Classes have begun.
Allow me to end this letter by invoking Our Lady Queen of Peace to bring God’s peace to our world, most especially in the Middle East:
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen.
Wishing you a joyful and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox
