If you came to church today all excited and in anticipation of the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, I am afraid you are going to be disappointed as we are not observing that day. Don’t be too disappointed, because instead we are celebrating the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the Patron Saint of the Paulist Fathers! In addition, Pope Francis has designated this day as the “Sunday of the Word of God!” This weekend is doubly special.
It seems fitting and appropriate that the day we celebrate St. Paul, and by extension the Paulist Fathers, would also be dedicated to the Word of God. The connection is that Paulists like to, and are generally good at, proclaiming the Word of God. It seems a natural fit. All Christians are commissioned by Our Lord as proclaimers of the Word. But we, members of St Austin Parish and School, as a Paulist Parish, are especially called to proclaim the Word in new forms that are relevant and appropriate to our day and time.
There will, of course, be a special collection for the Paulists. All of us Paulists are most grateful for your generous monetary gifts, for your personal support and friendship, and all that you do in your own life to further the mission of evangelization, reconciliation and ecumenism.
While you may miss celebrating the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, I hope that you will enter into the spirit of celebrating the great Apostle, St. Paul. And that you will remember the Paulists in your prayers and in your giving. Many thanks!
God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment