During Lent our Pastor Father Patrick and our Associate Pastor Father Paul bless us tremendously every Friday following mass. We all gather in the main sanctuary as a church family to recite together the Stations Of The Cross. The Stations of the Cross, are special prayers. They bring to our attention our Lord's suffering. Yes, greatly did He ever suffer so that you and I can have life eternal. My prayer life is in fact a very important part of who I am. Every one of my ancestors who have left this earth, I am reminded of their important role given to them by God during my upbringing. And when I think of them, I cannot help but smile because although Jesus has already come for them, a special part of them still remains within me and I am an important reminent of my families lineage. I can honestly say this because of the holiness I feel in my heart, being such an important part of my Polish -Italian Ancestry. It it so very often that I am remind to stay true to my calling. Yes and I continue with great force the force of my ancestors before me, encouraging me to continue forward with every goal and aspiration pertaining to my spiritual growth in Christ and in His most Holy Mother Mary through every single prayer, and act of obedience towards my God. To be united to those we love, to those we miss, we understand fully as Catholic's there will be a day when we will see all of our loved ones again in Christ and that is a day we will all look forward to experiencing. For now we have this great task at hand, and we have to stay true to the course of life we are on and are sharing with our Lord. If God has you spending more time reading scripture and great religious books and attending mass and going to confession once a month, by all means please continue on that great path!
If God is asking you to step up and serve Him through a ministry, be obedient and step up to this important calling. If you are called to be a Father or Mother, take that role very seriously and not let down your family. If God is calling you to become a sister, a deacon, priest, pray very earnestly and speak with a spiritual director to help guide you properly in the faith. If God is asking you to care for a family member step up this is your time to shine with every gift within you to bless your Mother, your Father, your Child. If God is asking you to serve your church as a volunteer, step up and inquire further within the church, there are so many opportunities to sing in the choir, altar serve, lector, whether you volunteer as a minister or coordinate a ministry such as in Bereavement, or Adoration, Legion of Mary, or maybe God is calling you to serve in one of our many lay groups as a (Dominican, Franciscan, Oblate, or Carmelite).
Those fraternities inspire the faithful to grow further in their faith through reading Holy Scripture and Praying The Liturgy of The Hours. They also attend monthly group meetings, and serve as board members. There is room for everyone in Jesus! We just have to find out exactly where He wants us to grow and serve Him best! There is an old saying which I love, "Bloom where you are planted". Sometimes we do this and Jesus sends us off into another place, and that too is a part of ministerial life. We are sent to serve eachother in the capacity we are given by God. He wants us to say, Yes Lord, I come to do your most perfect will.
He has a mission for all missionaries, pray to God and He will reveal "Your True Purpose In Life", and it will become much more meaningful to you and to God and to those whom you were meant to serve, when you know for sure your true purpose.
May our Lord and only our Lord be your true compass! Happy Saint Patrick's Day.
