The Ascension of the Lord has always been an interesting Feast for me- it’s one of those events in the life of Christ where I find it so easy to get caught up in trying to understand exactly how things happened, that it becomes very easy to miss the deeper message that this Feast is trying to teach us.
That message comes to us in the words that Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.” These words of Jesus, spoken just before his Ascension into Heaven, form the cornerstone of our mission as Disciples of Christ. This is a mission that Bishop Fabbro has continually reminded us of, especially as the Family of Parishes model is implemented across the Diocese.
This is a mission that we are all called to share in, which can seem overwhelming at times! However, I think we can take comfort in the words of St. Paul in today’s second reading. St. Paul talks about how we are all given different gifts, in order to equip the Saints for ministry, and to build up the Body of Christ. No one person has to do it all, but together we can do great things!
We will begin to speak much more about Intentional Discipleship, and our mission as followers of Christ, especially as our Family Pastoral Council begins to meet and discern the Pastoral Plan for our Family of Parishes. I encourage you to read the report of their first meeting on our website, or on the Parish Facebook Page.
I also want to let you know that Bishop Fabbro has extended the Dispensation from the Obligation to attend Sunday Mass through September 5, 2021. We join Bishop Fabbro, and the rest of the Church throughout the world, in praying for an end to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
May the Lord bless all of you as we celebrate his Ascension into Heaven, and as we prepare to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Come, Holy Spirit!
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB