Before getting into the subject of my pastor's column, let me say the following. Politicians and elected officials on both sides would generally agree that we need comprehensive immigration reform. Unfortunately, not much has been accomplished or even proposed over the years to get this done and we need to pray for it and promote it to those who are and/or who seek to be in our legislatures.
I want to use this space this week to share pastoral reflections and my experiences about those who come to the Church in Arkansas seeking the loving embrace of God and others either as Catholics or those who are interested in joining the Catholic faith and way of life. My response to all who come to us, whether they be native born Americans or immigrants who are seeking a better (and often a much better) life than they had in their native land, has been to greet an embrace them with love and as they are, fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. In my priestly ministry, I have been in parishes that have had a fair amount of immigrants as parishioners and I have been blessed to minister to and get to know them outside of liturigical ministry to them. I have been enriched in my life to come to know them as being strong in the areas of faith and family. I have experienced them as hard working people who are seeking to make what they can to support their families with the basics of life (which many were unable to do in their native land). I have witnessed a strong love for the Lord and honor paid to the Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I have viewed them as I believe all people of faith are called to see them, as children of God and brothers and sisters in the Lord. I embrace them as priests of many years ago did towards immigrants to our country (as my great-grandparents were), in a loving way.
As we begin this weekend, the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal, I am very much aware that one of the beneficiaries of my (and hopefully your) financial support of the ministries and activites that are funded through this appeal in Hispanic Ministry in our state. I hope you will take the time to read in detail in the periodical sent to you by mail or given to you in person this weekend ALL that is happening in the name of Jesus Christ and his Church all over the state of Arkansas which needs EVERYONE'S support including Hispanic Ministry. Besides supporting volunteer and paid priest, religious and lay ministers who care for the spiritual needs of our fellow Catholics, it also promotes and provides faith formation programs for young Hispanic Catholics preparing them to spread the Good News of the Gospel and growing in their own baptismal commitment to the Lord. Jesus in last week's Gospel (Luke 4:21-30) expressed the reality of God's love for all people and the call for us to do the same, especially in a practical way towards those who are in our midst, including those who come to us from afar who are needy of the basic necessities of life and of support from a faith family. I pray we will be true to our baptismal call in this and in every way as we journey together to the universal and everlasting home of heaven!
I want to use this space this week to share pastoral reflections and my experiences about those who come to the Church in Arkansas seeking the loving embrace of God and others either as Catholics or those who are interested in joining the Catholic faith and way of life. My response to all who come to us, whether they be native born Americans or immigrants who are seeking a better (and often a much better) life than they had in their native land, has been to greet an embrace them with love and as they are, fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. In my priestly ministry, I have been in parishes that have had a fair amount of immigrants as parishioners and I have been blessed to minister to and get to know them outside of liturigical ministry to them. I have been enriched in my life to come to know them as being strong in the areas of faith and family. I have experienced them as hard working people who are seeking to make what they can to support their families with the basics of life (which many were unable to do in their native land). I have witnessed a strong love for the Lord and honor paid to the Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I have viewed them as I believe all people of faith are called to see them, as children of God and brothers and sisters in the Lord. I embrace them as priests of many years ago did towards immigrants to our country (as my great-grandparents were), in a loving way.
As we begin this weekend, the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal, I am very much aware that one of the beneficiaries of my (and hopefully your) financial support of the ministries and activites that are funded through this appeal in Hispanic Ministry in our state. I hope you will take the time to read in detail in the periodical sent to you by mail or given to you in person this weekend ALL that is happening in the name of Jesus Christ and his Church all over the state of Arkansas which needs EVERYONE'S support including Hispanic Ministry. Besides supporting volunteer and paid priest, religious and lay ministers who care for the spiritual needs of our fellow Catholics, it also promotes and provides faith formation programs for young Hispanic Catholics preparing them to spread the Good News of the Gospel and growing in their own baptismal commitment to the Lord. Jesus in last week's Gospel (Luke 4:21-30) expressed the reality of God's love for all people and the call for us to do the same, especially in a practical way towards those who are in our midst, including those who come to us from afar who are needy of the basic necessities of life and of support from a faith family. I pray we will be true to our baptismal call in this and in every way as we journey together to the universal and everlasting home of heaven!