“Well done, my good and faithful servant!” ~Mt 25:21
There is nothing more beautiful than these words from the Gospel! These are the words that every soul explicitly or implicitly longs to hear from the Lord at the end of our days. They are words that affirm not so much a person’s accomplishments but more precisely their identity as a disciple. Christ’s parables repeatedly emphasize the themes of stewardship, accountability and fidelity but they do so in an encouraging rather than in an imposing way. We are quite simply invited into a participation in our master’s joy and though there will be a test as to whether we are worthy of this, it will not be arbitrary but rather indicative of who we are and how we choose to live our lives. Jesus emphasizes that the preparation for being entrusted with greater responsibility and thus recipients of greater blessings is to be found faithful in small things. This is part of the ‘Little Way’ that St. Therese encourages us to find and follow. And we already know that our fidelity to Him will not be perfect, but we take courage in knowing that the Lord invites us to humble repentance through the Sacrament of Penance. Advent is coming and it is a perfect time to make a heartfelt confession and begin again.
This coming weekend we arrive at the final Sunday of the Liturgical Year, the Solemnity of Christ the King. We also celebrate St. Clement of Rome, one of our parish patrons, whose Feast Day falls on November 23 . I invite you to stop by the St. Clement Hall on Saturday evening, November 21 for a festive Irish-themed Open House or Sunday, November 22 for 11:15 am Mass followed by special hospitality and fellowship. My thanks are due to our team of committed organizers and all our volunteers for their active involvement in preparing for this special weekend. Prayers for a Novena to St. Clement which begins on November 14 can be found at each of our churches.
Save the Date for a potluck dinner gathering in Kolbe Hall on Sunday afternoon, December 13. The reasons for gathering are three-fold: First of all, the Lord’s Day is a great day for parish fellowship, especially Gaudete Sunday! Secondly, we are overdue a reunion of those who came on Pilgrimage to Italy, and this will be a good occasion to share some photos, stories and testimonies from the trip. Lastly, December 13 marks 25 years of my reception into the Catholic Church together with my father, whom we continue to remember in prayer throughout his illness. (Please, no gifts!)
Looking ahead to next August, I invite you to join a friend, Fr. Rolf Tollefson, pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish in St. Paul, and me on a Pilgrimage to Ireland, August 3-14, 2027. Come and explore the beauty of the “Emerald Isle of Saints”. Learn about St. Patrick and how he spread the Faith in Ireland, including a special visit with Mass at his gravesite. Visit and celebrate Mass at Knock Shrine, one of the world’s most popular shrines where the Virgin Mary appeared to fifteen people in 1879. We will discover the stunning natural beauty of Ireland as we visit highlights including the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway. Accompanied by an excellent local guide we will deepen our faith as we learn about the spiritual and historical significance of Ireland. Please visit https://cvent.me/0zm7Xm for details and registration. Call Magi Travel at 952-949-0065 with questions.
~Fr. Howe