Prayer of Sending for the Rite of Election 2011

"My dear elect, you have set out with us on the road that leads to the glory of Easter.  Christ will be your way, your truth, and your life.  Until we meet again for the scrutinies, walk always in his peace."  The Dismissal prayer for the elect captures in a wonderful way what Lent is all about for each of us and amazingly for us as a parish family.  This year we will welcome seven new members to our parish family!  Not since Fr. August was here have so many chosen to join us at the Eucharist!  Each is a wonderful person and an inspiring story of God's providence and grace!  On the first Sunday of Lent it is customary for Catechumens and Candidates to travel to the Cathedral and to be presented to the Bishop for "election" to receive the rites of initiation.  What a powerful ceremony it is!  Bishop Etienne represents 2011 years of continuity with Jesus Christ and the Apostolic Church that Jesus founded.  Thus when one stands in his presence the office of Bishop so clearly manifests just how true our faith is!  The bishop is the principle priest, teacher, and governor of the Diocese.  That is why those who are seeking to enter the Church, after careful preparation and formation at their parishes, are presented to the bishop.  He guarantees that they will receive the saving graces intended by Jesus and won for us by His suffering, death, and resurrection.  Graces that are uniquely given through the seven sacraments.  So we as a parish rejoice with: Cipriano Vega, Delaney Campbell, Nyah Campbell, Wade Newton, and Chase Anderson.  These five will be baptized at the Easter Vigil just 5 weeks from now!  Kristi Vigil and Kaeli Campbell will also enter into full union with the Church.  They are called Candidates since each has already been baptized.  Kristi will be confirmed and receive the Eucharist for the first time; Kaeli will make a profession of Faith and receive full communion with the Catholic Church then be confirmed and receive the Eucharist.

What a wonderful group of people!  I am truly inspired and amazed at the good work that God has begun in each of these Elect and Candidates and also in each of us!  In a real way each of us will be different when we renew our baptismal vows this Easter.  How this will happen is up to us:  our penance, prayers, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to dispose us to the great grace of Easter!  Let us rejoice and encourage each other as we continue the great pilgrimage of Lent!

Lent a pilgrimage to the victorious cross!

Lent is a pilgrimage!  A couple weeks ago I took a hike with the World Youth Day pilgrims from our parish.  We carried 40 lb. backpacks, or their equivalents, and hiked the bike path to simulate what we will experience in Spain this coming August.  We shared an inspiring talk by Tyler and a "yucky" lunch together.  I spoke to them about Lent and how we as a Church are constantly moving toward the Second Coming of Jesus!  The liturgical year has as its highpoint the great season of Easter when we renew our baptismal promises and experience the new life of the children of God!  The season of Lent is characterized by discipline: acts of penance, self denial, and service: "This rather is the fasting I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.  Then your light shall break forth like the dawn..."  This discipline ought to become for us a new way of life.  We are not to return to the slavery to sin from which Jesus liberates us during this grace filled time!

Last night I had the privilege of blessing the girls basketball team on their "last supper" prior to leaving for State tournament.  It occurred to me that the seating arrangement for the dinner looked very much like a triclinium, the table at which Jesus ate his last supper before going to His glorious victory on the cross. 

I think that sports can be a really healthy image of Lent.  Sports like basketball require us to play as a team.  In order for this to happen we have to learn to be selfless and to be attentive to those who play with us and who's efforts are necessary for victory.  This takes lots of practice, lots of sacrifice, hard work, study, and a commitment forged in the fires of desire.  The same is true for Catholics.  We in baptism are made part of God's people:  we too are called to daily prayer, liturgical prayer with our parish family, we have to make sure that what we do on Saturday and Sunday corresponds to the way we live the rest of our lives.  Discipleship as a Catholic is a lifelong team effort!

Discipleship as Catholics takes good coaching!  Just like our boys and girls who would never have qualified for state without the wisdom, guidance, discipline, and encouragement of their coaches so we too must rely on God (this pic aptly captures a team of three kinda like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the Pope, our Bishop and our pastor.  We need each other too.  We have to be ready, young and old, to lead by example as we journey together toward Easter joy.

This is my first Lent with you as a Pastor!  I am conscious of this in a powerful way.  Hard to believe that I did not know any of you 9 months ago, let alone last Lent!  I believe that God brought us together for a reason.  I am not completely clear what that reason is but I know that God is forming us as a parish family.  In just the 8 months that I have been here as your Pastor, I have seen such amazing examples of faith and community.  I eagerly look forward to the fruits that our Lenten penance, prayer, and service will yield!

As you may have noticed we have a new floor and a new paint job in the entryway of the church!  It was such joy to see the faces and to hear the surprise in so many people's eyes.  I need to credit my committee that picked the tile and paint color!  Plus a good Samaritan who did the painting and McKinnon flooring who worked so hard to get this done from Sunday to Tuesday!  Also the flooring in the Rectory entryway is also complete!  I see in this a metaphor for Lent as well!  Just as there is a floor in the new entryway to our public worship and parish office so too do we as a parish family have to make these days of Lent an opportunity to re floor and repaint our interior entryway for Christ and others!  St. Leo the Great, Pope  wrote: "Initially, men are made new by the rebirth of baptism.  Yet there is still required a daily renewal to repair the shortcomings of our mortal nature, and whatever degree of progress has been made there is no one who should not be more advanced.  All must strive to ensure that on the day of redemption no one may be found in the sins of his former life.  Dear friends, what the Christian should be doing at all times should be done now with greater care and devotion, so that the Lenten fast enjoined by the apostles may be fulfilled, not simply by abstinence from food but above all by the renunciation of sin."  

May this Lent be a true pilgrimage for all of us!  Know of my prayers for you and your love ones as we continue this journey toward holiness and the joy of Easter!