Sunday
Jan032010
New Decade
Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 9:41AM
Our Minnesota weather enforced a reluctant transition upon us as the year 2009 finally gave way to the decade of the 10’s. The snow, and wind and ice and snow tested us in a way that we have seldom experienced. It is a new decade and it is a time to look back and a time to look ahead.
I would like to look back with you on the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in 2009. The spiritual life of a parish is at the center of our interest and even our concern. Much of that life takes place in our church building. The restoration of our church has been moving forward in the last few years. The major work of that restoration was completed and we returned to using our accustomed space for worship. Again and again people spoke to me about the beauty of the church and the joy they experienced while worshipping within its walls. People of all ages and from many churches in our local metropolitan area visited. They usually departed with gratitude and appreciation.
The Church is our spiritual dwelling place, and we strive to treat it with great reverence and care. That is accomplished by the efforts of all who worship here.
The people are the Church. At the end of another year we look back on those men, women, and children who have been that stable group of people who worship together in our church, week after week.
We baptized twenty-four new Catholics in the year just ended. Seven of them were adults who participated in the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.” Baptism is our welcome into the Church, and it is the foundation of the rest of our lives as followers of Jesus. Parents and Godparents were given the charge to help these new Catholics to live out their faith.
Seven of our teenage members received the sacrament of Confirmation at the Basilica of St. Mary this year. Bishop Schweitz from Alaska conferred the sacrament on these young members of the parish. They had been well-prepared to be open to receive the Holy Spirit in this sacrament and to take seriously their place as full members of the Church.
Holy Communion was received for the first time by fourteen of our members. Eleven of these were young children. It was a joyful day for them and for the parish as they received Christ in the Eucharist for the first time.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church continues to be a church where many people want to have their marriage celebrated. Deacon Mike Wurdock has taken over the responsibility of making sure everything is properly in place for these weddings. He receives very many calls. Our marriage policy continues as it has been in the past. That is, At least one of the couple must be an active member of the Church and they must be in contact with us at least six months before the wedding is to take place.
Our hope is that we help these couple prepare spiritually for the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage. In 2009 eighteen marriages were celebrated at our parish.
Our journey of faith continues now into the new year. May it be a blessed year for us all.
I would like to look back with you on the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in 2009. The spiritual life of a parish is at the center of our interest and even our concern. Much of that life takes place in our church building. The restoration of our church has been moving forward in the last few years. The major work of that restoration was completed and we returned to using our accustomed space for worship. Again and again people spoke to me about the beauty of the church and the joy they experienced while worshipping within its walls. People of all ages and from many churches in our local metropolitan area visited. They usually departed with gratitude and appreciation.
The Church is our spiritual dwelling place, and we strive to treat it with great reverence and care. That is accomplished by the efforts of all who worship here.
The people are the Church. At the end of another year we look back on those men, women, and children who have been that stable group of people who worship together in our church, week after week.
We baptized twenty-four new Catholics in the year just ended. Seven of them were adults who participated in the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.” Baptism is our welcome into the Church, and it is the foundation of the rest of our lives as followers of Jesus. Parents and Godparents were given the charge to help these new Catholics to live out their faith.
Seven of our teenage members received the sacrament of Confirmation at the Basilica of St. Mary this year. Bishop Schweitz from Alaska conferred the sacrament on these young members of the parish. They had been well-prepared to be open to receive the Holy Spirit in this sacrament and to take seriously their place as full members of the Church.
Holy Communion was received for the first time by fourteen of our members. Eleven of these were young children. It was a joyful day for them and for the parish as they received Christ in the Eucharist for the first time.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church continues to be a church where many people want to have their marriage celebrated. Deacon Mike Wurdock has taken over the responsibility of making sure everything is properly in place for these weddings. He receives very many calls. Our marriage policy continues as it has been in the past. That is, At least one of the couple must be an active member of the Church and they must be in contact with us at least six months before the wedding is to take place.
Our hope is that we help these couple prepare spiritually for the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage. In 2009 eighteen marriages were celebrated at our parish.
Our journey of faith continues now into the new year. May it be a blessed year for us all.
tagged Feast of the Epiphany in Bulletin
Feast of the Epiphany in Bulletin 
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