As I begin the 58th year of my life it is a great blessing to share my ministry with so many wonderful people. It is always interesting to look back to see where God has led you to be and to look forward in the hopefulness of blessing and peace that Jesus Christ offers to us.
The month of May always starts with my birthday and the recognition how the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker fills my life with joy. And the greater joy for the Diocese of San Jose was the transition to a new bishop, Bishop Oscar Cantú, who began the shepherding of our local Church on the 1st of May. As I have talked about before, the whole of my priesthood and my training in seminary has been under the watchful eye of Bishop Patrick and so for the very first time in my priesthood I will have to remember a different name in the Eucharistic prayers but also learn the new blessings that come with a new bishop in the diocese. But a few things will remain the same, in the Decree from the Second Vatican Council, “Christus Dominus: Concerning The Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church” we are reminded that pastors and priests, under the guidance of the bishop have two important missions. First and foremost is care of souls, “In exercising this care of souls, pastors and their assistants should so fulfill their duty of teaching, sanctifying and governing that the faithful and the parish communities will truly realize that they are members both of the diocese and of the universal Church…Moreover, the care of souls should always be infused with a missionary spirit so that it reaches out as it should to everyone living within the parish boundaries. If the pastor cannot contact certain groups of people, he should seek the assistance of others, even laymen who can assist him in the apostolate.” (#30)
There is a lot of church speak in the above passage but the main thrust is as our Holy Father Pope Francis puts it, to “smell like the sheep” to “go out to the boundaries” and especially to listen and proclaim the Gospel message with joy and hope. To be “infused with missionary spirit” is the invitation to be open to seeking new ways to talk with our brothers and sisters, both Catholic and non-Catholic in the example of Jesus Christ. In doing this we fulfill the second mission, “In the exercise of their teaching office it is the duty of pastors to preach God’s word to all the Christian people so that, rooted in faith, hope and charity, they will grow in Christ, and as a Christian community bear witness to that charity which the Lord commended.’ (#30)
But wait, there is more…”Christus Dominos” as do so many of the Church teachings, reminds us of the call to all baptized Christians to do the work of evangelization. It is perhaps the greatest joy that I experience is this work of evangelization with the people of the parish as their wisdom, enthusiasm and joy fill the Church with the breath of life and the hope of a more peaceful future. The whole point is of course a universal truth that has been lived out through the ages in our Catholic Church: it is made up of the living stones of individuals and families called to serve God. Popes come and go. Bishops come and go. And yes, pastors and priests come and go. But who remains is Jesus Christ…yesterday, today and forever…as we pray so very often. The gift we each bring, no matter our place within the Body of Christ, is a gift of blessing and love. Each of us is invited and called to share in the building of the Kingdom of God’s holy Catholic Church. How are you going to use your gift(s) today?
God bless…He is Risen Alleluia
Fr. Mark