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From the Pastor's Desk: May 29, 2022
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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
It is with great joy to share with you that Pope Francis appointed a new bishop for our diocese. Bishop-elect Erik Pohlmeier is a priest of the Diocese of Little Rock, and currently serves as pastor at Christ the King parish in Little Rock, and as director of the diocese’s continuing education for clergy, the permanent diaconate formation program, and the office of faith formation. Please join me in prayer to welcome the new shepherd of our diocese.
Today the church in the United States celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension. The Feast itself commemorates when, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven. The Ascension is an important Christian feast attesting and celebrating the reality of the God-Man Jesus Christ's returning to the Father, and His second and final coming. The Ascension is the final part of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ- His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Along with the Resurrection, the Ascension functioned as proof of Jesus' claim that He was the Messiah. Although Jesus ascended into heaven, it does not mean Jesus is gone. The scriptures assure us of this when they testify that He would not leave us "orphans” and that "I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world.” In the time between the Ascension and Second Coming, our task is to recognize Christ all around us and that our service is indeed a key part of our Gospel mission. Today's Feast, should not leave any impression that Jesus is gone; it should in fact remind us that we are to be Christ's disciples and with the power given to us to continue the work of Jesus and be His presence in the world.
With Jesus’ power today, you and I continue the work He began. He leads us, He shows us the way. Today we have to bring, to make known, and to proclaim His message with our lives to our world and to the people of our day that Christ is our living Lord. Today we “who believe” have to embrace with joy the message of the Gospel to be preached effectively, to become the “very sign” of the Gospel, of belief and new life. We are the sign of the Resurrected Lord as we continue with His saving mission. We are the sign of belief in the message of the Gospel, by the way we live. We are the sign of the visible power of the message of Jesus at work transforming us and our world. What is the “sign” that accompanies you as the faithful, effective, joyful and authentic messenger of the Gospel?
This Monday, May 30th, we celebrate Memorial Day. On this special day we remember those who offered the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. In the gathering area of the church, we have a special place where we honor all who died for the sake of freedom and liberty of the country with the special Book of Remembrance.
I want to take the opportunity to congratulate the Graduation Class 2022 from Annunciation Catholic School, Bishop Snyder High School, and seniors from various public schools in our community. May our loving God continue to shower His blessings upon you as you advance in a new chapter of your lives. May you be an authentic disciple by embracing the values of the Catholic Education you received and apply them generously in your lives daily. To all graduates – I offer my deepest and most sincere assurance of my prayers, support and best wishes of success in your future endeavors. Please keep your faith and always remain faithful in your commitment to bear witness to Jesus Christ with joy.
“Spiritual joy is a serenity of temper in the midst of the changes of life, such as a mountain has when a storm breaks over it.” -The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen
I wish you a blessed, peaceful, and joy-filled week!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy
