A Message from
our
Pastor
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Dear Friends,
Peace and all Good!
The readings today call our attention to the need to be grateful to God for all the gifts we have received. Naaman, a Syrian, is healed of leprosy. And in the gospel, Jesus heals 10 lepers and one of them gives thanks. Is that how we approach God for the gifts bestowed upon us, or do we only turn to God in times of need? We should have an attitude of gratitude. Thanksgiving is not only reserved for times of difficulty but, as the preface of the Second Eucharistic Prayer puts it: “always and everywhere”. I invite us to reflect on what we are doing at Mass—at the Eucharist. Simply put, we are giving thanks! The Eucharistic Prayer is the center piece of the Mass and our greatest act of thanksgiving. Unfortunately, many of us do not see this grand prayer as the most important prayer of the liturgy. The Eucharistic prayer is often experienced as a low point in the liturgy rather than a high point. We who preside at Mass have a responsibility to make this whole prayer, which includes the consecration of the Mass, stand out by the way we sing or proclaim it. We will be hearing more about the Eucharistic Prayer over this next year. As you may know, a new Roman Missal has been approved for use in the United States. With this new missal, there will be changes in some of the prayers and chants of the Mass. All will go into effect Advent of 2011. In the meantime, we have an opportunity to prepare through study and discussion. We read in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: “Furthermore, the meaning of the Eucharistic Prayer is that the entire congregation of the faithful should join itself with Christ in confessing the great deeds of God and in the offering of Sacrifice”.(#78) Give thanks “always and everywhere”.
This afternoon, the Diocese of Phoenix will celebrate Rosary Sunday at the Convention Center at 3rd and Washington Streets. Each year, a highlight of Rosary Sunday is the grand procession of thousands of pilgrims from throughout the diocese. St. Mary’s Basilica is always represented and so I invite you to join me and the other friars and parishioners for this indoor procession. Please look for us inside the hall. The procession begins at 2:00 p.m. We will carry the statue of Our Lady and receive a blessing from Bishop Olmsted. See you at Rosary Sunday!
Don’t forget to make our St. Mary’s Fall Festival your family time together next Sunday afternoon in our plaza. Our festival will feature games for the kids, a cake walk, great food, music and a magic show, a fabulous silent auction of delicious wines and other special items, and the “Munich Oktoberfest Beer and Wine Garden!” Tickets are on sale after Mass today or you may buy them at the festival. Bring your family and friends and spend a delightful afternoon in the garden. You will also be supporting your parish as well.
And speaking of “thanksgiving”, we thank Bishop Eduardo Nevares for being with us today to celebrate with the youth of our parish and of parishes throughout the diocese! We are also grateful for the Squires of the Knights of Columbus, the colorful dancers, and for the young people from many parishes who are here to celebrate the Eucharist—our prayer of thanks to God—for God’s loving call to holiness and for the openness to a vocation to priesthood and religious life. We welcome all of you to St. Mary’s as we begin this delightful Rosary Sunday. Bienvenidos a todos!
Love,
(from left to right) Fr. Luis Baldonado, Fr. Vincent J. Mesi, Fr. Micah
Muhlen
and Brother Tito
