Today’s bulletin contains an insert of a pastoral letter from Archbishop Perez. This letter is an invitation to attend an information session about our future and our ability to “navigate forward together toward that future as the Church of Philadelphia.”
The letter, and the information sessions are built upon a pastoral change of heart which acknowledges the 17% of the faithful who worship on a regular basis while simultaneously structuring a ministry of hope for the 83% who do not. As the Archbishop writes: “We need to inspire a pastoral change of heart that focuses on those who are absent and that aligns our collective efforts across parishes, schools, and charitable ministries to listen, rebuild trust, and invite people home.”
This pastoral change of heart views a parish as a “flexible center for ongoing missionary outreach.” This flexibility center “maximizes the resources of current Catholic human services and educational institutions to connect these ministries to a broader community focus.” The goal of the flexibility center, or Missionary Hub, would be to utilize the strength of the ministries that a local community does well to reconnect those who are not currently engaged and to provide a steppingstone for more frequent encounters with Jesus and the Most Blessed Sacrament.
These information sessions will be conducted from February through June at each of the five counties of the archdiocese. There is a QR code at the conclusion of the Archbishop’s Letter for registration or visit www.trustandhope.org. The Delaware County sessions, conducted from 6:30 – 8:30 pm (unless otherwise noted), are at the following locations:
St. Katharine of Siena, Wayne: Monday 10 February
Cardinal O’Hara High School: Wednesday 12 February & Wednesday 2 April
St. Joseph, Aston: Saturday 22 March (10:00 am – Noon)
St. Mary Magdalen, Media: Thursday 3 April
St. Laurence, Upper Darby: Sunday 27 April (1:00 – 3:00 pm)
St. Katharine Drexel, Chester: Tuesday 29 April
Bonner & Prendergast High School: Tuesday 13 May, Wednesday 21 May, Thursday 22 May
Archbishop Carroll High School: Tuesday 20 May
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of The Lord. As we celebrate the Baptism of our Redeemer it may be helpful to recall our own baptism. Looking at photographs or videos, praying for our parents, godparents, and the minister who baptized us, lighting a candle for their intentions, wearing white on this day and on the anniversary date of your baptism are all appropriate ways to rekindle that flame of faith that was instilled within us at the font of our baptism.
We have been baptized with water and with the fire of the Holy Spirit, as today’s second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to St. Titus reminds us:
“ When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.”
(Titus 3:4-7)
The Christmas season closes with today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Thank you for your most generous offerings for our Christmas flowers. The beauty of both of our Churches this Christmas season, and throughout the liturgical year is possible through your thoughtful generosity. Peace and blessings for this New Year!