A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR: Celebrating Mary and All Our Mothers in May

Dear Parishioners,

Come, Holy Spirit!” is one of my favorite prayers. Inviting the Holy Spirit into a particular situation or decision is a smart way to pray.

I share this with you because we’ve recently had a beautiful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on several new Catholics and 20-plus teenagers. This outpouring occurred at The Easter Vigil and our recent Confirmation by Bishop Konderla. With the Holy Spirit comes the sevenfold gifts of the spirit. They are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Each is beautiful and necessary in the walk of a Christian. Let us thank the Lord for his goodness in pouring out His Spirit upon these individuals. There are many more awaiting this outpouring, let’s continue to invite, invite, invite!

Speaking of inviting, MOMS INC is a wonderful group for moms in the parish. Being a mom in today’s world can be difficult and so these moms gather regularly to pray for and support each other in this beautiful vocation. They meet IN THE NAME OF CHRIST (INC) and it’s in Christ that motherhood and fatherhood find their meaning.

As St. John Paul II wrote in his Letter to Women, “Thank you, women who are mothers! You have sheltered human beings within yourselves in a unique experience of joy and travail. This experience makes you become God’s own smile upon the newborn child, the one who guides your child’s first steps, who helps it to grow, and who is the anchor as the child makes its way along the journey of life.”

In May, a month dedicated to a deeper devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, let’s pray for all mothers and all mothers to be. What a beautiful vocation! Have a great month ahead.

In Christ,

Very Rev. Brian O’Brien Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

Very Rev. Brian O’Brien Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church