A Franciscan Parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Browsing FROM THE DESK OF FR. JEFF

January 17-18, 2015

This weekend I will be speaking about the coming Christlife program at all the masses. Today's column is a "warm-up" for that sermon. I would like to begin by providing the broader context for offering the Christlife program.

At the request of the Archdiocese, our parish has faithfully recited the Prayer for a New Pentecost at every weekend mass, and we will continue to do so until we celebrate Pentecost early next summer. This prayer came about because the Catholic Church is experiencing a new awakening of the call to evangelize our world. The words of Pope Francis in "The Joy of the Gospel" give voice to this awakening.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the first Pentecost was a free gift from God. The people who received that gift prepared themselves for it by gathering together in hope and prayer. Implementing the Christlife program will not "earn" our parish a renewed gift of the Spirit, but it will dispose our hearts to welcome that Gift anew.

The Catholic Church has succeeded in providing a strong institutional presence throughout the centuries. We have benefited from a strong framework of teaching and sacramental life. The fullness of faith, however, comes into being when the truths of the creed become living realities in our heart and compelling realities in our lives. It is my hope that Christlife will breathe a new spirit into the faith of our parish.

Once again, from Pope Francis: "I am aware that nowadays documents do not arouse the same interest as in the past and that they are quickly forgotten. Nevertheless, I want to emphasize that what I am trying to express here has a programmatic significance and important consequences. I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are. “Mere administration” can no longer be enough. Throughout the world, let us be “permanently in a state of mission”.[par.22]

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