Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today in the Gospel reading from Matthew 4, we see Jesus calling some of the 12 disciples to join him and follow him. He calls Peter and Andrew and James and John. When thinking about the apostles, one thing to consider is how they didn’t just get a pamphlet and read about Jesus’s teachings. They didn’t just understand his beliefs; no, they went and stayed with him and lived with him. They shared his time and his life.
What does this say to you and me in our faith lives? Well, I think about how my faith really grew when I engaged with other people who had faith: In a religious ed class as a youngster, in a youth group, in a music group at Mass in college, and in a Bible study with other young adults when I was young. Certainly, reading about topics (and I read the Bible just about every day when I was young) has been helpful to me over the years. My daily private prayer is essential to staying on track and following the Lord. Still, if we are going to be modern-day disciples of Jesus, we might think about how those FIRST disciples ENGAGED WITH JESUS AND THE OTHER FOLLOWERS OF JESUS IN A COMMUNITY.
To help us all think about BEING MORE INVOLVED in a group at St. Philip Neri and St. Clement, we have two weekends when we will have groups from our two parishes available after Masses on Sunday mornings in the Sister’s Academy across the street from St. Clement on Sun, Feb 5, after the 8 am and 10 am Masses AND in the gym at
St. Philip Neri after the 8 am, 9:30 am, and
11:30 am Masses on Feb 12. Please think about coming to these events, where you can find opportunities to help our parishes and grow in your faith.
• Married and engaged couples, please consider attending an upcoming retreat for you called “UNITED AS ONE.” It is on Feb 3-4 at
St. Philip Neri Parish, with an evening session on Friday night and running during the day that Saturday from the morning through the late afternoon. There will be speakers, time for prayer, time for couples to talk with each other, a social on Friday night, and a continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
We hope and pray you THINK ABOUT being part of this retreat. For registration information, etc., for the UNITED AS ONE Feb 3-4 Couples Retreat, please go to the SPN and SC Facebook posts.
• Also, at the 4 pm and 6 pm Masses on
Sat, Feb 11, at St. Clement and at the 5 pm Mass on Sat, Feb 18, at St. Philip Neri, we will have a RENEWAL OF MARRIAGE VOWS for all married couples attending those Masses.
• The next Youth and Young Adult Mass will be on Sun, Feb 5 at 5 pm. Following will be breakouts for young adults and youth, along with dinner. All are invited.
Peace, Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Andy