Welcome to St. Matthew
Pentecost Sunday
**************“In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
**************“In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
-- 1 Corinthians 12:13 a
REFLECTIONS FROM FR. DENNIS
“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” This passage, taken from the second reading for the Solemnity of Pentecost I Cor. 12:3b-7, 12-13, reminds us of how each of us has received varied gifts from the Holy Spirit. In the extended version of this passage, we are given an image of the body having different parts. It would be foolish for an eye to try to hear, or an ear to try to see; each part should be content with its own role and fulfill its purpose as well as it can and not try to be something that it is not.
Corinthians is not really concerned about how our physical anatomy functions but rather how we as members of our Church are called to offer our own gifts for the building up of our community of faith. We often focus on the gifts needed to maintain our local parish community – the many leaders of individual ministries and organizations that give life to our Church. Without these dedicated volunteers who share their time, insights and talents, we would not be able to sustain the various ministries at our active parish. We are also called to see our connectedness to the larger Church, especially our Archdiocese, as we prepare to listen to Archbishop Gustavo’s revealing of the five year pastoral plan at the special Pentecost Vigil Mass this Saturday, May 18th, at Main Plaza. We pray that our parish may respond to this pastoral plan and so contribute to the building up of Christ’s body, the Church.
Corinthians is not really concerned about how our physical anatomy functions but rather how we as members of our Church are called to offer our own gifts for the building up of our community of faith. We often focus on the gifts needed to maintain our local parish community – the many leaders of individual ministries and organizations that give life to our Church. Without these dedicated volunteers who share their time, insights and talents, we would not be able to sustain the various ministries at our active parish. We are also called to see our connectedness to the larger Church, especially our Archdiocese, as we prepare to listen to Archbishop Gustavo’s revealing of the five year pastoral plan at the special Pentecost Vigil Mass this Saturday, May 18th, at Main Plaza. We pray that our parish may respond to this pastoral plan and so contribute to the building up of Christ’s body, the Church.
Fr. Dennis
RESTORE & RENEW PHASE III
Update on Fundraising Phase 3: Main Foyer and Baptismal Font (as of April 8, 2013)
We are so very grateful for those donors who have brought us to 90% of our goal.
Restoration on the Main Foyer and Baptismal Font will begin April 22nd. Each family is being asked to donate $40 by June 9th towards our goal of $285,000 for this effort. Currently, we have received $257,374 in donations for Phase 3. A second collection will be held on the weekend of April 20-21 and, if necessary, in May and June.
Please continue to use the blue tithing Restore and Renew envelopes, or Project Restore and Renew envelopes are now available in the administration building, the Guadalupe foyer of the church and the foyer of the McDonald Center. You are also welcome to donate using the Parish Pay online option.
Thank you for your generous support.
