As I announced, I will be away from South Bend at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA from June 10 -21 at the Chapter Meeting of the US Province of Priests and Brothers of Holy Cross. I was elected after the elected delegate and his alternate were unable to go. This Chapter Meeting is held every three years and helps in the direction of the Province. We will also elect a new Provincial for a six year term. The Provincial is the boss of this Holy Cross Province. I will be driving over and back with two other Holy Cross priests. Please keep us in your prayers. This is not a vacation. We will meet for prayer, food, and discussion every day, we are there. The drive over is about 600 miles. I want to thank Fathers Tom McNally and Jim Ferguson for filling in today. In case of an emergency, please call Deacon Mel. His number is below. I should be back for next Sunday.
The diocese is upgrading the computer program that all the parishes use here in Fort Wayne-South Bend. This includes our computer list of parishioners as well as our recording of contributions to the parish and diocesan collections. For us to keep track of your contributions, you must be registered. We know and appreciate the many visitors we have each Sunday. Many seem to come very often but have not signed up in the parish. We are not pressuring anyone to sign up, but if you want or need a tax statement at the end of the year, we need you in our computer.
Our first reading and our Gospel today use farming examples that the people of those days understood. In our first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, the prophet tells us that God can take from good or withered trees and make might cedars bloom that will give life to everything around them. But this is always done in God’s time, not the instance gratification that we sometimes seek. We hope are good works will pay off for God’s kingdom.
Jesus uses the same type of farm example in the Gospel talking about planting seed and waiting for it to grow. Sometimes the smallest seed planted, like the mustard seed, grows in God’s good time into a huge bush, similar to the cedar in the first reading. Once again, we hope and pray that our good works will pay off.
In our second reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians and us that while we wait to see God face to face, we work for his kingdom here on earth. Once again we hope our good works produce good fruit.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father Tolton.
A Father Tolton Prayer:Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (mention your request) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.