A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, May 16th, 2021

Finally, we can say “Blessed Francis Jordan,” after his beatification in Rome early in the morning (for us) of May 15th.  I pray that Jordan will intercede for us, that we may grow in our ability to be disciples who bring God’s love to the world.  Blessed Francis Jordan, pray for us.
 
Thank you to those who contributed items to the Wauwatosa Catholic’s project for homeless youths.  The student who was collecting the items was “blown away” by the amount of support. 
 
On July 1st, Mary Nold-Klett will replace Ron Skelton as the Trustee Treasurer.  I thank Mary for her willingness to offer her time and talent in this role.  I also thank Ron Skelton for his years of service. 
 
After a discernment session last week, the Pastoral Council asked Chris Graham to take a second term on the council and Susan Baglien to join the council, effective July 1st.  I thank them for their willingness to serve.  I also thank Megan Gonzalez, whose term expires on June 30th, for her service to our community.  At its June meeting, the council will elect leadership for the coming year and
discern council and committee liaisons.  I thank all members of the council for this important leadership service to our community.  Please support our Pastoral Council and all our ministry groups with your prayers.
 
Our chapter in Living the Gift of Sunday this week is Sunday is a Day of Loving Sacrifice.  Please take time to reflect on it, as a family.
 
Today we celebrate the feast of the Ascension (which actually fell on this past Thursday). There are three big feasts in the Easter Season: Easter, the Ascension, and Pentecost.  It is important to see how they are related and how they apply to us.
 
The Easter season begins with the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead and stayed with his disciples for 40 days, showing them by word and example how they were to live.  Now they were to go forth to the ends of the world and spread the Good News.  But they would not do it while he was around: all their focus would be on Him.  So, Jesus got out of the way, so to speak: he returned to His Father. We celebrate the Ascension 40 days after Easter.
 
How difficult it must have been for the disciples to see Him go again!  He had died, then He was back.  One of them even asked: NOW are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?  But He was gone again.
 
Despite their encounter with the risen Lord, the disciples still could not go out on mission.  They are asked why they are standing looking at the sky, paralyzed, in a sense.  They needed the help of the Holy Spirit to empower them to go forth and share the Good News.  So, next Sunday we celebrate the final feast in this trilogy: Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit.
 
St. Luke, who wrote a Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, addresses his words in both books to “Theophilus,” literally “lover of God.” That stands for each of us who loves God.  We are called to bring the Good News to the world around us.  Alone, we can’t do it.  But, like those first disciples, we have the gift of the Spirit to help us.
 
In one sense, this is sort of an “in between” time: Jesus has ascended to His Father, but has promised to come again.  Our task, as a “Theophilus,” is to help bring about the Kingdom by the way we live.  How are we doing?  I invite us to reflect on that this week, as we wait to celebrate this coming Sunday the great gift of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us to bring God’s love to others.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: Adam and Eve: first ones to ignore Apple terms and conditions