From Pastor's Desk
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My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on November 6th our diocese celebrated her 46th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Bishop Wack released “Sharing the Gift,” his first pastoral letter. In this letter, he shares his vision for the diocese moving forward and challenges the faithful to evangelize. “Evangelization” may sound intimidating, but it is simply a way to awaken in people’s heart a love of God and an adherence to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Last weekend, hard copies of the pastoral letter were distributed to parishioners. I kindly ask you to visit ptdiocese.org/pastoral-letter for an online copy.
The pastoral letter is divided into nine sections: introduction, biblical basis for evangelization, early church, origins of christendom, the death of christendom, renewal, what does evangelization look like today, evangelizing in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Mary and the saints who will guide and assist us. We shall be impelling this pastoral letter in our parish and each parishioner is invited to fully be part of it. “I humbly ask everyone in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee to read the letter, pray with it and put into practice Jesus’ call- ‘Go and make disciples of all nations…’ (Matthew 28:19).”- Bishop William Wack. November 7 to 13 marked the National Vocation Awareness week. This annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States promotes vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. We give thanks to God our Father, for caring men and women to serve in his Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons and consecrated persons. We ask the Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to God’s call. May our community of faith, St. Eugene Catholic Mission and Student Center support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults. Amen. I wish you a blessed week, Fr. Paschal Chester, svd Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday. It is our yearly opportunity to honor our life as Catholics through the special call we received at Baptism to be missionaries. It also reminds us of the service offered by the Church’s missionaries in bearing Christ’s message of salvation to all people in all lands. In line with this you can do three things to help a missionary to carry our his or her work, you can pray for a missionary, you can send a word of encouragement to a missionary, and you can support the work of a missionary.
The Gospel for this Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time is wonderfully appropriate in revealing the lifechanging joy that can come to us as followers of our Lord and Redeemer. We meet Jesus as He is traveling with His disciples and a crowd of people who want to stay in His company as long as possible. They pass a blind man sitting by the side of the road begging. His name is Bartimaeus. Obviously, he has already heard of Jesus’ message and miracles; so, he shouts out, acknowledging Jesus as the Son of David and asking for His pity. The people try to quiet him; after all, he is loud and annoying and trying to get Jesus’ attention. But Jesus hears Bartimaeus and tells the others to send him forward. “He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him… ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to Him, ‘Master, I want to see.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go on your way; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Him on the way” (Mark 10:50-52). This man, a blind beggar, would have been of little account to his neighbors. Yet he was able to see more clearly than many who followed Jesus. He already believed that He was the Messiah and trusted Him to heal his blindness. The way he jumped up to run to our Lord and then instantly followed Him when he received his sight reveal just how much Bartimaeus rejoiced, not only in having his eyes opened, but also in his faith. Unlike many who believe, he did not hesitate to express his gratitude with exuberance. Let us willingly show our belief in the Christ who heals spiritual blindness as joyfully as Bartimaeus – for all the world to see. On this World Mission Sunday, let us also “speak” of our faith, through our prayers and financial help to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Our generosity on this Sunday, combined with what is offered in churches and chapels around the globe, join us to the efforts of missionaries who proclaim the Gospel and serve the poor. Fr. Paschal Chester, svd Pharisees who wanted to test him. They asked Jesus to pass a judgement on the Mosaic Law. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Moses had permitted divorce because of the hardness of heart of the chosen people. The condition of a woman was at the time ignominious. She could be put aside by her husband for virtually any reason. Moses requires the husband to give the wife a certificate of reputation (‘a bill of divorce’) so that she might be free to marry again. The Prophets spoke out against divorce when they came to the Promised Land.
Jesus took this opportunity to affirm the indissolubility of marriage, as God originally intended at Creation. He quotes the words of Genesis which we find in today’s first reading. “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.’ So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” When Jesus elevated matrimony to the dignity of a sacrament, He was doing something completely unprecedented. Christ elevated the natural reality of Christian marriage to an extent that the spouses receive divine life through the sacrament. It is what sustains their work of mutual perfection. This is what has to inspire their children from the moment of Baptism. Those who marry begin a new life in the company of the Lord. God himself has called man and wife to follow this path of holiness. For a Christian marriage is not just a social institution, much less a mere remedy for human weakness. It is a real supernatural calling. A great sacrament, in Christ and in the Church, says St. Paul (Ephesians 5:32). May the Lord bless marriages, and all couples who are in difficulty. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Fr. Paschal Chester, svd My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, National Hispanic Heritage Month is held annually from September 15 through October 15 and celebrates the culture and recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off in mid-September because it’s when more than a half-dozen countries celebrate their independence from Spain. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate on September 15 while September 16, or Sixteenth, is when Mexico celebrates its independence and September 18 is Chili’s independence day. Let us celebrate and enjoy the National Hispanic Heritage Month. We as a church blessed with the cultural diversity of people from all over the world, and we thank our brothers and sisters with Hispanic Heritage for your contribution in diverse ways to the church. In today's gospel Mark tells us how the disciples responded to the second prediction of the passion of Jesus Christ. But the disciples did not understand what he said and they were afraid to ask him instead they started their own discussion group about power and prestige. When they got to Capernaum, Jesus asked them “what were you arguing about on the way?” they remained silent. It is in that silence that Jesus takes a little child, sets him in front of them, puts his arms around the child, and challenges his disciples to accept the little one. When they can welcome that little child, they can welcome the real Jesus.
Jesu compares himself to the little child, the one who cannot resort to power tactics when threatened or maltreated. Jesus’ protection is his father; his trust is placed in the God who will ensure his protection. When suffering comes, Jesus refuses to abandon trust in the Father. That trust makes him vulnerable, like a little child, but unless the disciples can come to welcome that vulnerability they will never understand the way of Jesus. Jesus offers a permanent challenge to his followers to welcome the powerless, to take to heart the weakest members of the community. He places himself in their company. Special hospitality should be offered to those from whom we can benefit the last. Their vulnerability is something that Jesus not only shares but values. May the Lord bless us with his presence, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Fr. Paschal Chester, svd Readings: Job 38:1, 8-11, Psalm 107 “Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.”, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, Mark 4:35-41
Happy Father’s Day “Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you.” (Exodus 20,12) “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6,4) Today we honor our fathers and recognize the contribution that fathers make to the lives of their children. We salute all the wonderful fathers who have made the difference the lives of many in the family. We appreciate your existence and the impactful and significant role you have played in our lives. Father is a person who Let’s you experiment life in your own way and pulls you up when you fall. Let’s you get angry on him and loves you more after that. Is with you always, especially when you need him! They have always been the one reliable man in our lives, and they have always treated us with a stern yet loving hand. We will never cease to follow their footsteps and will always make the right decision like they have taught us. No matter how famous or successful we are, but our first identity is that of someone’s son or daughter. Thank you for being great fathers. A day to remember our Heavenly Father. Father’s Day is a day to remember, acknowledge and appreciate the “World’s Greatest Dad,” OUR HEAVENLY FATHER (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6) Who is our spiritual Daddy, actively involved in all areas of our lives. It is He on Whom we lean in times of pain and hurt; it is He on Whom we call in times of need. Many of us pray the “Our Father” day after day, without paying attention to, or experiencing, the love and providence of our Heavenly Father. Let us pray the Our Father during this Holy Mass, realizing the meaning of each clause and experiencing the love of our Heavenly Father for us. May all earthly fathers draw strength from their Heavenly Father! On this Father’s Day, please don’t forget to pray for us, your spiritual Fathers, men who are called to be Fathers of a large parish family through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. We congratulate and pray for all the father’s parishioners collaborators of St. Eugene Catholic Mission and Student Center. God Bless You All. Rev. Dilip K. Soreng SVD Readings: Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104 “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13, John 20:19-23
My dear brothers and sisters, what we celebrate at Pentecost is the coming of the Advocate, the one who enables the apostles to be witnesses to Jesus’ claims in the world. Before the coming of the Spirit, the apostles were incapable of acting as witnesses; they were frightened men who were too confused and hurt to act as effective witnesses on behalf of Jesus. With the help of the Spirit they are graced with a new courage. The Spirit continues to be the Advocate, calling on generations of Christians to come forward as witnesses to the Good News. We read in 1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace”. We are reminded to share our gifts with others in building the community of God. On this day of Pentecost, as a parish we the members of St Eugene Catholic Mission and Student Center are having a stewardship or ministry day. During which we request parishioners to sign up for various ministries in the church. Projects and grounds, choir, outreach, youth group, Catechists, grief support, altar servers, catholic student association, Ushers, Lectors, fundraising and events flower arrangement, men’s group, and marriage, Christmas decoration, our lady of Guadalupe celebration, help of the sick and those in need or any other ministry that a person is called to for the good of the community in fulfilling our mission. May the Lord bless as we pray the year’s catholic sharing appeal prayer. “Lord, hear our prayer as we seek to be good stewards of the many gifts you have bestowed on us. Give us wisdom to discern Your will for us, strength to meet the challenge, and the grace to be steadfast in our commitment to you. Let us use our time, talent, and treasure for your greater honor and glory. In Your name we pray. Amen Fr. Paschal Chester, svd Readings: Acts 4:32-35, Psalm118 “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting”, 1 John 5:1-6, John 20:19-31
My dear brothers and sisters, on this Second Sunday of Easter, the church celebrates the Sunday of Divine Mercy. The first reading and the gospel remind us of the importance of the community. We read in the first reading that “the community of believers was of one heart and mind and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.” A community founded on these principles did not go unnoticed and they were accorded great respect. This community was built on Christ, the risen Lord. The author of Acts wants to teach us how an authentic Christian community, led by faith in the Risen Lord should live. In the gospel, the meeting of the Risen Lord is always on “the day of the Lord,” Sunday. The Lord begins his greetings with the words: “Peace be with you”. What gathering of disciples is John referring to? It was the weekly meetings held by all Christian communities, that Jesus shows himself alive to his disciples. Whoever is not there will not hear the words of the Risen Lord, nor receive his peace, sample his joy or receive his Spirit. We experience this presence in the Risen Lord in our community assemblies. Where Jesus waits for us every week. What about the behavior of Thomas? Did he go wrong? He believed because they saw the Lord. All Thomas wanted was to see him too. Thomas is the symbol of those difficulties to be encountered by others before they believe in the resurrection of Christ. Being in the community helps a lot in this discovery. In the community we find support. On this Sunday of the Divine Mercy, we are reminded to feel part of the community of the Risen Lord and to lead others in encountering the Risen Lord. We can do that by being messengers of mercy: words and actions. Forgiving one another, praying for one another and trusting in the Lord. Jesus, I trust in you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Fr. Paschal Chester, svd Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9
Jesus is Risen! Yes, he is truly risen! On Friday, we gather ed her e to celebrate the passion and death of our Lord. He died the violent death of a criminal outcast. He died with a question and with a scream “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” After they buried Jesus in the tomb, they rolled a stone to seal the entrance and then guards were put there. The gospel tells us that on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning and found it empty. She was still sad about what had happened, she was wondering who was going to roll the stone for her. Then she got there and the stone was rolled away. My dear brothers and sisters, today, Alleluia is our song. Because the question of Zeus on the cross “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”; is answered by the empty tomb. It is God’s answer to his Son’s suffering and death. The empty tomb is God’s stamp of approval on all that Jesus said and did: his proclamation of the Kingdom of God, his treatment of the poor, sinners and outcasts, his acts of compassion, healing, liberation, his understanding of forgiveness, his preaching, his intuitions, and his parables, they became validated, vindicated! Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:14 that “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is useless and your believing is useless too”. And in Romans 10:9, “if you admit with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. So we have a reason to be happy. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to each one of you for journeying with us during the Lenten season and sharing in the resurrection of our Lord. Thank you for your continuous support to the St Eugene Catholic Mission and Students Center. May the resurrection of Christ permit every part of your life. May you and all your dear ones share in the joy of the risen Lord. Happy Easter!!! Fr. Paschal Chester, svd Readings: Mark 11:1-10, Isaiah 50:4-7, Psalm 22 “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 14:1 - 15:47 Dear brothers and sisters, May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you. May your heart sing with the joy and hope of the Lord as we enter the Holy week. This Sunday is Palm Sunday and our song is “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!” St Andrew of Crete, in his sermon 9 on Palm Sunday says “Come, and as we make our way up to the Mount of Olives, let us go out to meet Christ, who is returning today from Bethany, and of his own will makes haste towards his most venerable and revered passion, whereby he will bring to fulfillment the mystery of the salvation of mankind.” This week, we recall the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and we hear again the story of the passion. But why should we remember the passion of Jesus? Why keep alive the memory of such anguish and pain? Aren’t we supposed to forget about the past pain and hurt, and let them disappear if they can? As Christians we are committed to be a people who remembers the passion of Jesus. Remembering it encourages us to take the decision that this should not happen again. There should be no innocent victims. That memory also serves to make us aware of the crosses that are in our midst. It encourages us to pay attention to the suffering of others. But above all it reminds us of what God has done for us. As we enter into this Holy Week, I would like to encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities the Lord has gifted us. Receive most devout Our Blessed Lord in the Holy Communion on the great days of the week, Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and surely on Easter Sunday, that your peace and joy may be as full as possible. I wish to thank you sincerely for your kindness and generosity at this time. Have a blissful Holy Week. Fr. Paschal Chester, svd |
