Habemus papam!

Second Communion
This weekend we begin to celebrate First Communions with children in our parish. Do you remember YOUR first communion? When I ask people that, they respond with stories of the mishaps and apprehensions that come with first communion day -- there are veil stories, communion outfit stories, photo stories, stories of tears and stories of chicken pox. People remember “the nuns”, the priests, the relatives who showed up. Interestingly enough, few people ever tell me that they remembered communion! That’s why after the excitement of that first communion day dies down, it’s time for “second communion” ... and then the third and the fourth, etc. After all what’s really important is not “first” communion -- it’s constant communion. Being in union with Jesus and the church family week after week. Welcome to the table!

Catholic Ministries Appeal
I’ve pledged. Have you?
You can pledge online here!

At College?
At St. Brigid’s we like to stay in touch through
e-mail “letters from home.”
Once a person has an e-mail address at school (or if he/she uses a personal address), please let us know what it is so we can include them when we write.
Here's a handy college link so you can send this info online.

e-mail Father Ralph:

Past Columns:
April 17: The Spirit Abounds
April 10: Two men on a journey
April 3: He's baaack!
March 27th: Not the best news...yet
March 20th: What are You Doing For Easter?
March 13th: The Stench
March 6: To Tell or Not To Tell
February 27: Dry Mouth Dry Soul
February 20: Good to Be Here
February 13: And he was hungry?
Ash Wednesday '05
February 6: Ashes Already?
January 23: Catholic Schools Week
January 16: Continued Charity
January 9: Migration
January 2:All is bright?

Columns from 2004

Columns from 2003

Columns from 2002

Columns from 2001


		April 24, 2005 Fifth Sunday of Easter Habemus papam!
Second Communion This weekend we begin to celebrate First Communions with children in our parish. Do you remember YOUR first communion? When I ask people that, they respond with stories of the mishaps and apprehensions that come with first communion day -- there are veil stories, communion outfit stories, photo stories, stories of tears and stories of chicken pox. People remember “the nuns”, the priests, the relatives who showed up. Interestingly enough, few people ever tell me that they remembered communion! That’s why after the excitement of that first communion day dies down, it’s time for “second communion” ... and then the third and the fourth, etc. After all what’s really important is not “first” communion -- it’s constant communion. Being in union with Jesus and the church family week after week. Welcome to the table! Catholic Ministries Appeal I’ve pledged. Have you? You can pledge online here! At College? At St. Brigid’s we like to stay in touch through e-mail “letters from home.” Once a person has an e-mail address at school (or if he/she uses a personal address), please let us know what it is so we can include them when we write. Here's a handy college link so you can send this info online. e-mail Father Ralph: Past Columns: April 17: The Spirit Abounds April 10: Two men on a journey April 3: He's baaack! March 27th: Not the best news...yet March 20th: What are You Doing For Easter? March 13th: The Stench March 6: To Tell or Not To Tell February 27: Dry Mouth Dry Soul February 20: Good to Be Here February 13: And he was hungry? Ash Wednesday '05 February 6: Ashes Already? January 23: Catholic Schools Week January 16: Continued Charity January 9: Migration January 2:All is bright? Columns from 2004 Columns from 2003 Columns from 2002 Columns from 2001	"Dopo il grande Papa Giovanni Paolo II, i signori cardinali mi hanno scelto, un semplice umile lavoratore della vigna del Signore. Mi consola il fatto che il Signore mi ha chiamato a lavorare ed ad agire anche con strumenti insufficienti. E soprattutto mi affido alle vostre preghiere. Andiamo avanti, il Signore ci aiutera e Maria sua Santissima Madre sta dalla nostra parte." So said Pope Benedict XVI as he greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. If your Italian is a bit rusty, here’s an English translation.... “Dear brothers and sisters, after our great pope, John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God's vineyard. I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers. In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help. And Mary, his most beloved mother, stands on our side." “Insufficient tools.” Yes, each of us, by ourself, is an insufficient tool. That’s why we need each other. That’s why the new pope needs us and our prayers. And it’s why Christ needs our unity. Look at today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles -- the early church’s members were split between those who spoke Greek and those who spoke Hebrew -- there were prejudices, unkind words, and divisions until the apostles grappled with this division by choosing deacons to help minister to all. Today we live in a world that separated not only by language but also by wealth -- some have so much, some have so little. In today’s collection for people in the Sudan, in our daily work with the parishioners who live in poverty, in our coming together as one family when we pray together each Sunday, we take steps in charity toward unity, but it’s still insufficient. The new Pope reminds us that though we’re insufficient, we’re in the hands of God who can accomplish a lot with us. It’s true--look at all that God has done with us so far! Who knows what God will do with us in the days ahead?
You are Person to visit this page

You are Person to visit this page