Category: Fr. Abraham’s Weekly Column

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Our super-charged culture tells us to work, work, and work. We put a premium on peak performance as a mark of success and approval. Do we ever get a real break? We know that summer is the time for rest and rejuvenation. Some are lucky enough to get away for a well-deserved vacation; many others are not so lucky. An unknown writer has said, “Summer is when Hair gets lighter. Skin gets darker. Water gets warmer. Drinks get colder. Music gets louder. Nights get longer. Life gets better.” Is your summer any or all of these and more? No matter what the answer, summer is a time of relaxation, so that we will be refreshed and rejuvenated in mind, body, and spirit. Knowing our human nature, many will focus on the body; less will focus on the mind; and even less will focus on the spirit. The challenge for all is to have a balance in all three areas of our lives.

This Sunday’s gospel about Mary and Martha can give us some food for thought about this balance. Unlike Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus listening to him, “Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part” (Luke 10:40). Jesus’s response was perhaps not what Martha expected. He pointed out to her that she was troubled and anxious about many things and then added: “Only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

Martha is a task-person who gets carried away by all her responsibilities, getting over-stressed and over-worked easily, losing sight of the why of all these. Does that sound like some of us? I have felt that in my own life and in my ministry here at St. Matthias. But Mary was a people-person who listened to Jesus, extended hospitality by her presence, and gave full attention to Jesus. We may have seen many such people-persons and wondered at their ability to socialize with guests, make them feel at home, and give their whole attention.

We need to be both. Many of us are out of balance in favor of more work and less rest. So I believe most of us need to make a transition to self-care. One easy but difficult way is to remember that you matter! We know that God created us in His image and likeness. Hence, we do matter. But often we forget this truth, and we slog like Martha. Our own self-worth falls by the wayside. I remember reading somewhere to carry a picture of yourself as a child next to your driver’s license, so that you’ll see that precious child is just as deserving of love and care as your own children. That is a wonderful way to reaffirm that we matter.

Mary, symbolizing the self-worth and self-care, put herself at the feet of Jesus. She was letting her soul be fed and enriched. Can we do the same during this summer? Think of ourselves as individuals who matter to God and to ourselves. Claim some time to feed our soul. Find some quiet time to read, pray, rest and relax. Let the Mary within us be given more affirmation.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  We heard this twice last week: first during the Sunday Mass from Luke 10:1-2 and then at the weekday Mass on Tuesday from Matthew 9: 37-38. Jesus did not limit his mission only to the Twelve who were chosen and commissioned. Luke stated clearly in last Sunday’s gospel: “the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (10:1-2).  Luke wants us to know that the mission of Jesus is not restricted just to the 12 Apostles, but also to a much larger group. The 72 thus represents us all who are baptized Christians whose duty it is to pass on our Faith, as Pope Francis wrote in his first Encyclical ‘The Light of faith’ (Lumen Fidei): “… from one person to another, just as one candle is lighted from another. … It is through an unbroken chain of witnesses that we come to see the face of Jesus.”

As Jesus instructed, we do pray for more workers for the harvest in the vineyard of the Lord. We do pray for more vocations to priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. But we need to expand that to include the so many non-ordained or non-consecrated lay men and women who do ministry in church – as paid ministers and as volunteers. In the U.S. Catholic Church, there are over 40, 000 lay ecclesial ministers working in paid positions. Additionally, there are over 2,000 volunteers who also work at least 20 hours per week in parishes.  The US Bishops’ Conference recognized these ministers as “Lay Ecclesial Ministers.”

But these do not include the countless men and women who volunteer for liturgical ministry, assisting the clergy and contributing to the liturgical celebrations. These roles include serving as lectors (readers), extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, musicians, ushers/hospitality, sacristans, and other tasks that support the smooth and reverent celebration of Mass. Here at St. Matthias, we are fortunate to have many such wonderful, committed parishioners helping in each of the above roles.

One ministry that is less visible is the one that brings Holy Communion to the Homebound. These Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) who regularly visit persons in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living facilities or Homes, are acting as a bridge between our parish and the homebound. You may remember reading some of their testimonies that were serialized in our bulletin for a few weeks. Inspired by those touching stories, some of our parishioners showed interest in joining this ministry and they were officially mandated by our Bishop Checchio. They are: Edna Yumang, Marianne Viaud, Johanna Martielli, Kathy Johnson, Beverly Gilliam and Miles London.

This ministry is coordinated by Doreen Panick, assisted by Joe Percoco – both of whom are very passionate about this ministry. As I congratulate the new EMHCs, I wish to thank all who are bringing Holy Communion to the Homebound for their dedication and commitment. I also wish to thank all other ministers who are giving their time to make our Mass – every Mass – a meaningful experience for us all. I hope others will be inspired to follow their good example and become ministers.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy July 4th weekend to all! On this anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776, we celebrate the freedom we cherish. It was interesting for me to read that the first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from John Adams to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776. He described “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations” throughout the United States. As we celebrate the positive aspects of the United States on this patriotic holiday, let this also be a time for us to express and give thanks for the freedom and liberties fought for and won by the first generation Americans.

America is often referred to as a land of diversity and welcome. This diversity is celebrated as a source of strength and enrichment, with a long-standing tradition of welcoming those seeking freedom and opportunity. This attitude of welcoming all with a universalist outlook is an echo of Jesus sending out 72 disciples on a mission in today’s gospel. That begs the question: Did Jesus send out 12 or 72 disciples? Luke, the only gospel writer who mentions this, has a universalist outlook. He wants us to know that the mission of Jesus was not restricted just to the 12 Apostles, but also to a much larger group. The 72 thus represents us all who are baptized Christians whose duty it is to pass on our Faith, “… from one person to another, just as one candle is lit from another. … It is through an unbroken chain of witnesses that we come to see the face of Jesus” as Pope Francis wrote in his first Encyclical.

We are part of that beautiful chain of witnesses, binding us, all the way back to Christ and the first 72 he sent out. Whether others become part of that chain depends on whether we do our part like those ahead of us have. It is wonderful to see some of our parishioners doing precisely that. Some have told me that they joined St. Matthias because someone invited them. That’s a beautiful example for the rest of us. If more of us were to do that…. well, you know the result!

But there are difficulties too. Some parishioners have shared with me their struggle to answer some of the questions people put to them about our faith, our church, our doctrine, and about the Bible in general. We feel less confident to share or speak about faith matters. How do we equip ourselves? The many small groups of Bible sharing we have are one such program that has helped many people speak about the Bible. The GIFT is another wonderful program that anyone can attend. Debbie Schurko and her dedicated team of catechists are very welcoming: even if you have no kids in the GIFT program, you are most welcome to join the adult segment which will be beneficial for anyone who wishes to educate himself/herself about what we believe. It will enable you to engage other adult acquaintances and friends on religious topics.

It is good to be reminded that the Lord sends out each one of us with a mission to bring His love to our own people.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. It is rare that the designated date of this feast – June 29- falls on a Sunday. Usually when a feast falls on a Sunday, the feast gets skipped. But not for Peter and Paul whose feast is taking precedence over a Sunday. By giving this feast such prominence the Church is telling us something about Peter and Paul and their importance in our lives and in the lives of the entire Church. Both Peter and Paul are considered apostles, Peter because he was called by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee (Mt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18; Lk 5:10) and commissioned with the keys to the kingdom (Mt 16:19) and as the shepherd of the sheep (John 21:15-17); and Paul because he was called by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4-6) and commissioned “to be an apostle and set apart to proclaim the gospel” (Rom 1:1). Peter is known as the “Prince of Apostles” and the first Pope, and Paul is known as the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” Both are revered as the founders of the Church of Rome and are honored for their contributions to spreading the Christian faith. Both apostles were martyred in Rome, with Peter reportedly crucified upside down and Paul beheaded, symbolizing their ultimate sacrifice for their faith.

The feast emphasizes the unity of the Church despite the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its members, mirroring the unique roles and journeys of Peter and Paul. This diversity is very clear in the differing personalities of Peter and Paul. It may come as a surprise to many of us to know that Peter and Paul had quite a bit of conflict. The biggest conflict they had is narrated by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. It revolved around whether or not people needed to convert to Judaism before they could become Christians. Becoming Jews first would mean that the men would have to be circumcised and they would have to follow the Jewish dietary laws, including not eating pork, among other things. Paul insisted that people could become Christian without becoming Jewish first; Peter and a whole group of traditionalist Jewish Christians disagreed.

Paul seems to have had a stronger personality. He publicly confronted Peter on this matter. Listen to Paul’s own words in Galatians 2:11-15:  “When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.  For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”

In the end, Luke describes, in Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council where Peter, listening to the elders and to the Holy Spirit, decided that the non-Jews could become Christians simply by being baptized and not by following Jewish laws.

The great lesson we can all take from these great pillars of the Church is that no matter how different we may be in personalities, ideologies or ethnicity, we can work together for the Kingdom of God as long as we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is to live in charity and fellowship with all.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today is the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (more commonly known by its former name: Corpus Christi Feast). It is a powerful reminder of the why of our Sunday Eucharistic gathering: celebration of the Real Presence of Christ in our midst! It is very easy to think of the presence of Christ limiting it to Holy Communion primarily. But the Church teaches us clearly that there are four ways in which Christ is present in the Eucharist.  They are:

1)    in the gathering of the people, because “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst;”

2)    in the presider of the Mass because every priest is acting “in persona Christi” or in the person of Christ;

3)    in the Word proclaimed during Mass because it is God speaking to us about His saving message;

4)    and in the Holy Communion because it is the real Presence of Jesus in the sacred species of bread and wine.

May this Feast make us more conscious of His manifold Presence at every Eucharistic celebration and appreciate it more, to participate more consciously.

Corpus Christi feast is also an invitation to reflect on the social dimensions of the Eucharist. It calls on the faithful to recognize Christ in the marginalized and needy and to be nourished by Christ’s body and blood to serve them effectively. This echoes the Vatican II document “Lumen Gentium,” which describes the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Christian life.” Our Community of St. Matthias is particularly known for our attentiveness to this social dimension of the Eucharist. Our Vincent De Paul Society is the visible face of our commitment and concern for the less fortunate in our midst.

Last week, our parish hosted the annual gathering of all the Social Ministers of various parishes of our Diocese of Metuchen. Maria Hunter, the Diocesan Director of the Office of Parish Social Ministry, organized this as she has been doing for some 25 years. Social ministers from different parishes came for getting to know each other, sharing a meal and their experiences, and for exploring ways and means to help the poor more easily and efficiently. I found that this gathering provided “nourishment” for mind, body, spirit, and ministry!

Bishop Checchio and Mr. Tony Kearns, the Chancellor of the Diocese, were with us to share their thoughts and give us encouragement. It was very encouraging for us all to hear the stories that many social ministers shared about so many individuals receiving help during challenging circumstances in their lives. Our own Vincent De Paul Society leaders shared very touching stories of helping those in need in our area. I wish to thank our Vincent De Paul Society for their very hard work to care for those in desperate need for our help. Thanks to our parishioners who give so generously to this important ministry of social concerns. We are truly living out the social dimension of the Holy Eucharist. We become the Body of Christ, not only when we say Amen while receiving Holy Communion, but also when we accept and care for the larger Body of Christ – the least of our brothers and sisters around us. 

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Most Holy Trinity Sunday

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and grandfathers. Coming a month after Mother’s Day, it is only natural for some to compare these two wonderful events. You may have heard the response of a child when asked to describe Father’s Day: “Father’s Day is like Mother’s Day, except the gift is cheaper.” If that is true, then it is a sad truth, because it is not easy being a dad. There are many fine Dads in our congregation, and we want to honor them today. Many fathers are role models like St. Thomas More and St. Louis Martin (the father of the Little Flower), heroes of our Faith.

Even in these days when mothers are doing so much for the family, fathers are expected to be the providers for and the protectors of the family.  They are also supposed to be attuned emotionally and spiritually to their wives and children and to be able to balance careers with family life.  Fathers struggle to overcome temptation and conflict.  They make sacrifices day after day for their families.  They try to give their youngsters the kind of model that surely they deserve above all else, a model of goodness, holiness, faith, trust in God, and fidelity to the teachings of the Church.  This is what Father’s Day should remind us of.   This is a time for all fathers to reflect upon their duties as responsible and well-integrated men.  True fatherhood demands commitment.  Commitment demands maturity, sacrifice, and love.  Fatherhood also demands responsibility.  Every true father will take responsibility for all of his actions.  Our nation has an urgent need for good fathers.

But while the idea of fatherhood is a good one, the reality we see on earth is sometimes quite different.  Some fathers abandon their children, beat them, ridicule or ignore them, abuse them, and damage them psychologically for life. Even good fathers have their limits.  Unfortunately, we unduly sentimentalize fatherhood, the media often ridicule and make fun of it, and some treat it with contempt.  We are reminded time after time of the number of children growing up fatherless because their fathers have abandoned them or their fathers have been unfaithful. This day is a reminder of what all fathers should be.

Yet, the very term ‘Father’ is what we use both for earthly fathers and for our heavenly Father. A favorite gift for Father’s Day is the cap emblazoned with the words “World’s Greatest Dad.”  You may see more of them on the heads of proud fathers everywhere.  There is one dad, however, who doesn’t always get a lot of honor on Father’s Day.  That is the “World’s Greatest Dad,” OUR HEAVENLY FATHER (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6).

William Wordsworth said: “Father! – to God himself we cannot give a holier name.” God 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; it is He Who provides for us in all ways — practical, emotional, and spiritual.  He wants us to think of Him as “Dad.”  This being so, let us take this Father’s Day to honor Him, the REAL “World’s Greatest Dad.”  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 always 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!

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Pentecost Sunday

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy Feast of Pentecost! Pentecost is considered the watershed event in Christianity. The Acts of the Apostles recounts the story of the original Pentecost when the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary, gathered in the Upper Room, were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different tongues (Acts 2). Peter’s speech that day brought about three thousand people to the way of Jesus. (Acts 2:41).  A small body of believers was empowered to be evangelizers as the Holy Spirit filled them. And the Church began to grow.

During my homily last Sunday, I mentioned a group of Jesus Youth who had asked me for permission to use our Church today for prayer and worship time to celebrate Pentecost. Some of our parishioners asked me about this group. So I thought of writing briefly about them.

“Jesus Youth” (JY) is an international Catholic movement that challenges young people to live a meaningful, creative, and fulfilling life. This life begins with a personal, loving encounter with Jesus and continues as they grow in a joyful spirituality within a community of like-minded friends. It had its beginnings in Kerala, India, and evolved as an active part of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the state in the late 1970s. In 1985, the International Year of Youth, a number of youth groups came together under a single name, Jesus Youth. Jesus Youth is approved by the Vatican and is present in over 40 countries.

JY is known for its spirituality that promotes an active Catholic lifestyle that is relevant to a young layperson facing the challenges of life. The movement follows a lifestyle modelled on the life of Jesus Christ, based on the Six Pillars of Spirituality:

  • Prayer: At the heart of the movement is a daily ‘quiet time’ with the Lord that leads to an experience of a loving friendship with Jesus and fosters a joyful attitude to life.
  • Word of God: A regular time for a meditative reading of the Sacred Scripture helps to shape one’s life according to God’s will.
  • Sacramental Life: Frequent and active participation in the seven Sacraments, with emphasis on the Eucharist and Confession
  • Fellowship: Christian life is a call to live the life of the Trinity in communion with one’s brothers and sisters in Christ through mutual support, encouragement and gentle correction.
  • Evangelization: Fruit of an active life with Jesus is a joyful commitment to witnessing, sharing the person and message of Jesus with others. This commitment to evangelization is central to the life of every member of Jesus Youth.
  • Option for the Poor: Willingness to serve those in need and a preferential option for the poor are the signs of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

I have personally known many JY members some of whom are members of our own parish. They are like leaven in the bread that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20–21. I have always been edified by these youth and young adults who live a life of discipleship in their families and work place. In the name of the parish community of St. Matthias, I’m very happy to welcome the Jesus Youth of New Jersey to use our church for their Pentecost celebration of prayer, praise and fellowship.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Seventh Sunday of Easter – Ascension

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Hearty congratulations to our St. Matthias Graduates of the Class of 2025! Each year as we celebrate graduation, we all–parents, school administration, faculty, staff, the Principal, and the priests-go through mixed feelings. Joy and pride at the successful school life completion of these young boys and girls, whose holistic formation was entrusted to us. Sadness and even grief at missing their constant presence as they leave us for their next phase of life’s journey. But we wish them God’s blessings and pray that each of them will become the best version of what God wants them to be.

As we know, this is the graduation season for hundreds of thousands of students all over our country.  But many of them will not have the unique way of celebrating graduation as our 8th graders had here at St. Matthias School: celebrating it with the Holy Mass, followed by the graduation ceremony. The involvement and participation of the graduates in reading, singing, and leading the prayer of petitions brought joy and pride to their families, the faculty, and the administration of the school. The Pre-K and Kindergarten graduation ceremonies also will have the unique Catholic touch, though without Mass. This way of celebrating the graduation gives a distinct identity and message to our children and parents. The catholic identity makes us realize that we continue to further the mission of Jesus Christ through Catholic education. St. Matthias School’s motto, “Faith, Caring and Excellence,” puts our Catholic faith first without diminishing the importance given to caring for the person and striving for excellence in all aspects of school education. Many students received awards for academics and for various other achievements. St. John Paul II rightly said: “The mission of the Catholic school is the integral formation of students…”

We are also aware, as mentioned in earlier editions of the bulletin, that Mrs. Mary Lynch, our Principal, who has been nurturing these graduates as well as all the students of St. Matthias, will be leaving us. Though I had requested her to reconsider her decision to resign, I respect her decision and I wish to thank her, in the name of all, for her dedication to St. Matthias School. She has been associated with this school for over a decade in various capacities. After a beautiful surprise farewell party for her, she wrote to the faculty and parish staff: “The last 12 years being a part of St. Matthias has been a blessing for me.  I will always attribute my life being changed by Sister Jean when she called and asked if I wanted to be HSA president.  Who would have thought that would have led to me subbing here, teaching here, and then becoming principal.  I love giving my all to everyone here at St. Matthias School… I will definitely miss being here every day….” Thank you Mrs. Lynch, and may God’s grace continue to accompany you.

It is also well known that my own transition was announced as I will take up my next assignment at Our Lady of Peace parish, Fords, on August 1st. Hence I too experience the mixed feelings of joy of fulfilment in the pastoral ministry, and sadness at leaving this beautiful community of St. Matthias. But no matter where we all will move to, we are all part of the People of God and so we will carry our Catholic faith and heritage as well as keep the flag of St. Matthias flying high.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is the feast of Philip Neri, who is the patron saint of joy and laughter. I wish to reflect with you on this important theme. On May 14, the Feast of our patron Saint Matthias, the gospel reading had this line from Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” (John 15: 11). In the following chapter, Jesus said, “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:22). Jesus was a joyful person (though this topic is not often highlighted nor preached about sufficiently) and Philip Neri followed that joyful spirit in his own life. So let us look at each:

Do the gospels contain indications that Jesus was joyful or humorous? Yes. The verse I quoted above (John 15:11) was said by Jesus at the last supper, just before his agony in the garden, all the while aware of his impending betrayal, torture, and crucifixion. He was conscious of the personal joy in his heart, and he wanted to pass it on to his disciples and to us.

Gospels testifies that during his years of ministry, little children came to Jesus, and mothers brought their babies to him, and he took to them easily. If Jesus were to be a serious person, children would not have gone to him. Years ago I read a book titled “The humor of Jesus,” where the author showed how Jesus used the kind of humor prevalent in the Jewish society of that time, which was exaggerated comparison. Things like a “camel going through the eye of a needle,” “a blind leading a blind and both falling down,” or a “log in your neighbor’s eye” were very humorous to his audiences, and we can assume that they roared in laughter.

St. Philip Neri realized that Jesus was truly anointed with the oil of gladness and so wanted to make this joy of Jesus his own. St. Philip Neri was known as the “Second Apostle of Rome” for his extraordinary evangelical work in 16th-century Rome. He was well known to have had a remarkable sense of humor and a great love for laughter. He used to show up to important events with half his beard shaved or give incorrect walking directions to his disciples to have a laugh at their expense. He would read a book of jokes to enjoy himself as well as regale others with laughter. He believed that these behaviors helped him to connect with other people through being present and humble.

St. Philip Neri founded the Confederation of Oratories of Saint Philip Neri (Latin: Confoederatio Oratorii Sancti Philippi Nerii), abbreviated C.O. and commonly known as the Oratorians. Theirs is a Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men (priests and religious brothers), living in community. In our own diocese we are privileged to have the Oratorians at St. Ann, St. Joseph, and Blessed Sacrament Shrine – all in Raritan, and at Holy Trinity in Bridgewater. We wish them a very happy feast of their patron. We can ask ourselves: How can we be apostles of joy today? St. Philip suggests, “Have all the fun you want, but just don’t offend God.” We can also keep in mind the words of St. Paul: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4-6).

We will have a picture of a smiling Jesus in our church so that we can be reminded to keep His  joy in our hearts and be joyful as Jesus was.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

By now, we have heard a lot about our new Pope – Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. The excitement continues with the totally unexpected choice of an American pope by the Cardinals who attended the Conclave. Though the new Pope is American, now he belongs to the whole world. As one commentator said, one-third of his life was in the US, one-third in Rome, and one-third in Peru. His varied experience – missionary life in Peru, work in the Vatican Dicastry, and American upbringing – will have a bearing on his ability to steer the bark of Peter for years to come.

What is less known may be that he belongs to an order or religious congregation. As we know, Pope Francis was a Jesuit. Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian, and the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to become a pope. The Augustinian Order, fundamentally based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ and later of St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo (354 – 430 A.D.), was founded to live and promote the spirit of community as lived by the first Christian communities (Acts of the Apostles 4, 32-35). It was founded in 1244, when Pope Innocent IV united various groups of hermits in service to the Universal Church as a community of Mendicant Friars. The Order, from its very beginning, has recognized Saint Augustine of Hippo as its father, teacher, and spiritual guide, not only because it has received the “Rule” and the name of the Order from him, but also because it has received from him its doctrine and spirituality.

In his very address to the world as he first appeared at the balcony of St. Peter’s Vatican, Pope Leo said: I am an Augustinian, a son of Saint Augustine, who once said, “With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.”  In this sense, all of us can journey together toward the homeland that God has prepared for us.” That brings so much hope and good feeling about the new papacy. In his first homily the next day of the election, the pope pledged to be a “faithful administrator” of the Catholic church and outlined that the church needs to continue its “missionary outreach.”

These words resonated with me personally as I was a missionary back in India for many years. In our American context, we can easily relate to his exhortation to be a missionary church. “A lack of faith,” Pope Leo underscored, “is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.” Today, he observed, “there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.”

Acknowledging this happens “not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians,” Pope Leo warned that, as such, they “end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.” With this in mind, Pope Leo reassured the congregation, “This is the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Saviour.” “Therefore,” he continued, “it is essential that we too repeat, with Peter: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'”

We thank God for the gift of this pope, this son of our land, as the chief shepherd of the People of God for the whole world. May God continue to use him as the worthy successor of St. Peter.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal