A Message From Our Pastor
Dear Parish family,
I find every word in this year’s theme, Forming Families of Disciples, delightfully challenging. It’s easy to be religious but challenging to be conformed to Christ. It’s easy to be a parishioner without the commitment to be a family. It’s easy to be a believer without the commitment to become a disciple.
First of all, “forming” is not something that the pastor or the parish staff do. Only the Holy Spirit can do it. Our part is to open ourselves to being formed, and this is considerably more challenging than simply planning and doing. It is infinitely more exciting too! In the last few years, the Holy Spirit has lit a fire in our Young Adult ministry, and they are opening themselves to formation in amazing ways. RICA and OCIA are also overflowing, more than ever, with people who are spiritually thirsty.
The second word is “families.” Have you ever noticed that Catholic parishes do not count individual members but families? For decades now Church leadership has been asking us to form, not just children or individuals, but families. To this end, our parish school of religion has helped many parents and other adults to become more involved in learning, and in teaching the faith to their children.
Finally … Disciples! A “disciple” is not just a believer, but a committed follower who learns from and imitates the master, Jesus. You do not have to be perfect to be a disciple or a missionary. None of Jesus’s first disciples were perfect before he commissioned them saying, “Go and make disciples”
(Mt 28).
Some Catholics think we should not talk much about money, but we follow Jesus’s lead who held finances and how they are stewarded as an essential part of discipleship. To that end, I want to express my gratitude to everyone in our parish for giving like disciples. I especially want to congratulate all the generous disciples of our parish who, this year, paid off our debts to the archdiocese – making us debt-free disciples!
Indeed, this theme, Forming Families of Disciples, is challenging, but every year you, beloved disciples, have more than risen to the invitation. May God bless you all, and your families.
Peace to all, in Christ,
Fr. Tim Hepburn
