Sacramental life of the Church

04-14-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Fred Adamson

Dear Parishioners,

The Easter Season is one of celebrating the Sacramental life of the Church. We have been blessed with eleven Baptisms, seven Confirmations and Holy Communions at the Easter Vigil. This weekend we celebrate with Fr. Don Kline, the Dean of our Vicariate, over fifty Confirmations and Holy Communions. What a gift it is to share in God’s graces.

The Catechism shares the following:

“The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity."(1212)

For the Catholic Christian faithful the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are what sustain and guide us in our lives. In Baptism we are reborn in Christ, we enter the mystery of His suffering, death and resurrection. We are united with Him and set free of the mark of original sin. In Confirmation, we are confirmed in God’s saving love with the Sacred Chrism that seals and protects us to live as Christians in the World. This grace is one that strengthens Baptism and prepares us to live bold lives of faith, like the early disciples. The Holy Eucharist, the bread from heaven, is our ongoing nourishment. In the Mass, God gathers us to be one with Him, and one another, to remember that we walk together on a journey of faith. The Mass reminds us that God’s love sustains us always. We feast on the Bread of Life. The Mass is a participation in the New Covenant sealed in the Lamb of God.

I encourage you to ponder the Sacraments you have received and what they mean in your life. Share with your family when you were baptized, what Church it was in, your Confirmation name and why you chose it, your memories of your first Holy Communion and how your faith has grown over the years.

I invite young families to bring their children to the Church to be baptized and enter the life of Christ. We want to be part of your journey of faith. Please pray for increased numbers of young people coming to the Sacraments. We have a gift to share in the Divine life of God and this grace aids them in living holy lives.

This Friday, April 19th, is our Annual Appreciation dinner. A night to give thanks to God and show appreciation to all those who are involved in ministries in the parish. Ministry leaders were invited to extend invitations to their groups. The night will be have a “Route 66” theme, an evening of fun, fellowship, giving thanks and showing gratitude for this community of faith. Both Fr. Ryan and I are amazed at the way people respond as faithful disciples in so many ways. Thank you. You can RSVP to the office, but please do so by the end of the day, Monday, April 15th.

May God’s continued Easter Blessings be upon you and your families.

Easter Peace and Joy,

Fr. Fred