My heart is still very full from the amazing Sunday we shared with so many here in the small corner of God's realm which is Saints Peter and Paul.
Bishop Michael made his first Sunday visit to us. As we have done for some time, we planned a bi-lingual Mass gathering all of us together at 11 AM.
15 Latino youth, 3 English-speaking youth and two adults were presented for Confirmation, one adult to re-affirm her faith. Families and friends turned out in droves to share this moment with the person they treasure. The church teemed with happy people, kids everywhere, a palpable sense of Spirit and of sheer life.
All we did back in 2007 was make a sandwich board saying that at 12 Noon on Sunday we would offer Mass in Spanish, then we showed up week after week, clergy and lay leadership. These lay leaders worked at developing a music ministry. We had small groups of acolytes who came and went as the years spooled out. Members of the slowly-gathering congregation also assumed roles in the service, and with time initiated projects of their own.
We are given bright moments of "harvest", not that people are plants but the only image that occurs to me when seeing a filled church is that living image of abundance and of gift. "Paul plants, Apollos waters, but God gives the increase."
+Michael's homily spoke of fences and gates--how life here is filled with fences, some helpful, others harmful as the separate people from opportunity and inclusion and access to full life. Jesus, on the other hand, is the gate in the fence.
Bishop Michael was quietly determined to pronounce each lovely name correctly. As each youth and adult came forward and shyly bowed their heads, he gently lifted their faces and, without exception, each smiled into his eyes. +Michael anoints when he Confirms, so as at Baptism "You are marked as Christ's own forever."
Lots of photo-ops, and +Michael stood while family after family took their photos with him. One father, whom I remember when celebrating his daughter's Quinceanera, took my arm and placed me in one of the photos. Turning, he looked over his shoulder and said in Spanish, "Thank you; thank you for holding open a gate. No fences, only the Gate."
I said "You're welcome" for something that was not my doing. When fences are opened it is the work of God. When a gate is found, Christ is there. No fences in the reign of God; only the Gate.
2 comments:
Truly a blessed day. Thank you for sharing a bit of your ministry with us.
When the spirit blows a calling to greater communion with God through one of the sacraments (possible gates to new life in Christ). It is the priest who discerns who participates in those sacraments. Sundays Service with the Bishop was indeed like walking into a deeper relationship with God for me. Most surprising and exhilarating! And full of Joy. So I too thank you, Fr. Kurt, for being HIS instrument.
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