Beloved in Christ,
"Whom shall I send?" (1s. 6:8). In my presentation last Sunday on the state of the parish's financial health, I declared that we are generally healthy. Once again, I sincerely appreciate all of you; without your sacrificial and generous giving in a harsh economy, we would have significantly floundered. I brought your attention to a major area of concern: a massive drop in Sunday collection. I presented a couple of reasons to account for the reduction in contribution. One of the reasons is low attendance at mass. We noticed the trend in low attendance at mass from around the covid shutdown. I offered some suggestions to get us back on track. One of my recommendations is that we begin a mission of internal evangelization. Let us invite our friends and family members who have stopped coming to mass to return and take ownership of their parish by once again becoming active actors in the life of the parish. We must aim to invite old and new members to mass. The Lord's words to Prophet Isaiah are addressed to you here, "Whom shall I send?" Are we open to being sent on a mission to invite our absent brothers and sisters back to the pew?
And do not say, "I am not called to this mission." Please do not say I am unworthy or unqualified. Despite their flaws, God sent Isaiah, Paul, and Simon on a mission in our Sunday mass readings. Isaiah thought his lips were unworthy to speak God's words (Is. 6:5), Paul was a persecutor of Christians (1 Cor 15:9), and Simon acknowledged his sins, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" (Lk 5:9). I say to you who feel inadequate to answer God's summon to go and evangelize and bring back to mass our brothers and sisters who haven't be around in a long while, "Do not be afraid." These were the words of Jesus to Simon to encourage him to go out and become fishers of men. The Lord who summons and sends will grant the grace of fruitfulness. Let us be bold in announcing the Gospel of Christ to others (see Rom 1:16), and let us leave the effectiveness of our efforts to God. May God grant success to our efforts.
God's call to mission is a commission to ministry. Reaching out to invite and encourage is a ministry with diverse forms. We have a ministry just for you in the parish. Check things out. I repeat once again: God calls all to mission and evangelization. Let us "put out into deep water" in faith and be hopeful as we do so. In the Jubilee Year of Hope, we must learn to be optimistic that God will bless our initiatives. We only need to listen to God to know where he asks us to serve in the mission to build our parish. Just like he spoke to St. Francis to rebuild his church, he is beckoning us to renew and reconstruct St. Peter Catholic Church.
We celebrate World Marriage Day today. At the end of our Sunday masses, we consistently recognize and pray for couples on their wedding anniversary. We will continue to do so and encourage Christian marriages to endure. For all our married members, we wish you a happy union, and for those preparing for a wedding, we pray for God's grace to assist you as you take steps toward a major decision.
St. John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. This day falls on the feast of our Lady of Lourdes. We are called to pray for the sick among us and also learn to offer up our sufferings for the spiritual health of others, especially for the souls in purgatory. If anyone is very ill or going for major surgery, they should attend the mass on Tuesday to either receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick or prayer for healing by laying of hands in the name of Christ and His Church (Mk 6:6). Jesus wants to heal us more often than we imagine. We must continue to ask him in faith and hope for healing, and he will grant it if it is his will for the greater good of our souls.
God calls all of us to ministry. Let us respond to his call.
In His Service,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
"Whom shall I send?" (1s. 6:8). In my presentation last Sunday on the state of the parish's financial health, I declared that we are generally healthy. Once again, I sincerely appreciate all of you; without your sacrificial and generous giving in a harsh economy, we would have significantly floundered. I brought your attention to a major area of concern: a massive drop in Sunday collection. I presented a couple of reasons to account for the reduction in contribution. One of the reasons is low attendance at mass. We noticed the trend in low attendance at mass from around the covid shutdown. I offered some suggestions to get us back on track. One of my recommendations is that we begin a mission of internal evangelization. Let us invite our friends and family members who have stopped coming to mass to return and take ownership of their parish by once again becoming active actors in the life of the parish. We must aim to invite old and new members to mass. The Lord's words to Prophet Isaiah are addressed to you here, "Whom shall I send?" Are we open to being sent on a mission to invite our absent brothers and sisters back to the pew?
And do not say, "I am not called to this mission." Please do not say I am unworthy or unqualified. Despite their flaws, God sent Isaiah, Paul, and Simon on a mission in our Sunday mass readings. Isaiah thought his lips were unworthy to speak God's words (Is. 6:5), Paul was a persecutor of Christians (1 Cor 15:9), and Simon acknowledged his sins, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" (Lk 5:9). I say to you who feel inadequate to answer God's summon to go and evangelize and bring back to mass our brothers and sisters who haven't be around in a long while, "Do not be afraid." These were the words of Jesus to Simon to encourage him to go out and become fishers of men. The Lord who summons and sends will grant the grace of fruitfulness. Let us be bold in announcing the Gospel of Christ to others (see Rom 1:16), and let us leave the effectiveness of our efforts to God. May God grant success to our efforts.
God's call to mission is a commission to ministry. Reaching out to invite and encourage is a ministry with diverse forms. We have a ministry just for you in the parish. Check things out. I repeat once again: God calls all to mission and evangelization. Let us "put out into deep water" in faith and be hopeful as we do so. In the Jubilee Year of Hope, we must learn to be optimistic that God will bless our initiatives. We only need to listen to God to know where he asks us to serve in the mission to build our parish. Just like he spoke to St. Francis to rebuild his church, he is beckoning us to renew and reconstruct St. Peter Catholic Church.
We celebrate World Marriage Day today. At the end of our Sunday masses, we consistently recognize and pray for couples on their wedding anniversary. We will continue to do so and encourage Christian marriages to endure. For all our married members, we wish you a happy union, and for those preparing for a wedding, we pray for God's grace to assist you as you take steps toward a major decision.
St. John Paul II designated February 11 as World Day of the Sick. This day falls on the feast of our Lady of Lourdes. We are called to pray for the sick among us and also learn to offer up our sufferings for the spiritual health of others, especially for the souls in purgatory. If anyone is very ill or going for major surgery, they should attend the mass on Tuesday to either receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick or prayer for healing by laying of hands in the name of Christ and His Church (Mk 6:6). Jesus wants to heal us more often than we imagine. We must continue to ask him in faith and hope for healing, and he will grant it if it is his will for the greater good of our souls.
God calls all of us to ministry. Let us respond to his call.
In His Service,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
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