TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY –

02^nd /03^rd SEPTEMBER 2023

Dear Parishioners,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. We are used to say this when we pray the doxology “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit”. The plights and cries of the Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading could easily be the realities of most of us, who try to stick to our faith in God and to the rules of life that the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ preached and died for.

Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ, in our today’s world needs extra courage, wisdom, prudence and sacrifices. We cannot but speak out against structures and cultures of oppression that fight against the Gospel values. Structures and cultures that try to reduce humanity to material and social being alone.

Just like the psalmist, St. Augustine whose feast we just celebrated few days ago, reminds us that ‘God has made us for Himself and our soul will not be at rest until they rest in God.’ “For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God” (Psalm 62,) St. Paul in the second reading is urging us to model our behaviour according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as opposed to the behaviour of the world. By modelling ourselves in God’s way we shall discover God and bring the Gospel values to our world.

In the Gospel, Jesus made it clear to his disciples, that the call to discipleship is opposed to the realities of our world, that we need to die to self and be ready to pay the supreme sacrifice, for there is greater place and everlasting bliss awaiting us.

We should not get it wrong that to get to heaven entails sufferings and pains, no the fact is that God created everything great, good and in an absolute perfection. But through our disobedience and sins we bring evil into the world and we must make extra efforts through disciplines, sacrifices and trust in God’s mercy to regain what we have lost through disobedience. Christ made that supreme scarify first and as his followers we are also call to follow his footsteps.

I will like to implore you to pray for me and my Brother, Fr. Vincent, for a fruitful and Spirit filled mission among you. Our Special thanks go to God and to you all, who keep the Catholic aflame in this beautiful parish all these years. Bravo to Fr. Joe, for his great works and for giving us a very soft landing, as a good father he came during the week to see that we are Okay.

Thanks to Germaine who has been putting us through the administrative rudiments, be sure we shall not stop to disturb you until we get things right. To Sisters Anabel and Ann Marie, thanks for vacating your comfort zone for us to settle in well. We say a BIG THANK YOU to Fr. Marcel and other Priests who keep the flame alight during the transition period.

Once again thank you and we pray to work together to build a solid Catholic Christian community to the glory of God and service to humanity. May St. John Mary Vianney intercede for us.

Have a blessed week, Fr Jerome