A Letter from Fr. Paul - June 3, 2018

This coming Sunday is the “Combined Collection for the Church in the United States.” This very important collection supports the following ministries: Black and Indian Missions, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Catholic Communication Campaign, the Catholic University of America, and the Fund for Retired Religious. You should have received an envelope in the mail from the Archdiocese. If not, there are some extra envelopes on the small table in the vestibule by the middle doors as you leave church. You can mail in your donation or place the envelope in our regular collection. Please be as generous as possible in supporting these worthwhile ministries.
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Two Sundays ago we celebrated Pentecost, last week the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, and today the last feast of our trifecta: the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

This year our readings emphasize the use of blood to seal a covenant with God. Just as Moses used the blood of an animal to seal the covenant between God and Israel (putting half of the blood on the altar and sprinkling the people with the other half), Jesus used His own Blood to seal the New Covenant between God and us. And what is that covenant? On Jesus’ part it is “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” On our part it is “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

Two special ways Jesus fulfills his side of the covenant are through His Spirit, whom we celebrated last Sunday, and the Eucharist, which we celebrate today. Jesus wants to be with us, Jesus wants to help us grow in our ability to love, but we need to give Him the chance. That is why quiet listening time with the Lord and frequent reception of the Eucharist are so central to our growth as loving disciples who bring Christ’s love to other.

​Let us thank God for the gifts of His Spirit and Eucharist, resolving to make sure we use them well, so that we keep growing in our ability to love. And let us support each other in our efforts with prayer.

-- Paul James Portland, SDS