From the Desk of Father Nathan

St Gabriel Catholic Church | Pompano Beach

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people closest to my heart!

God bless you and your generous heart.

According to Pope Leo XIV

To miss Mass without a reason is not a small matter. It is a mortal sin.

I am just writing to you the pastoral guidance of our Pope Leo XIV. He says: To miss Mass without a reason is not a small matter. It is a mortal sin, and I say this not to frighten you but to wake you, to call your soul back to the one who waits for you every week at the altar with open arms, is just not an obligation. It’s not a burden. We carry to please God.

Mass is the source and Summit of our life as Christians.

No, it is the source and Summit of our life as Christians. The summit of our life as Christians. It is the very place where Heaven touches Earth, where Christ offers himself for you again in an unbloodied way. Where the sacrifice of Calvary is made present. The same Jesus who died for you on the cross is here longing to feed your soul. How quickly we say I’m too tired or I have errands, but there’s a game or it’s been a long week.

No Excuses

We skip Mass for comfort, convenience or distraction and in doing so we turn our back on the one who never turned His back on us.

Let me speak to your heart.

Let me speak to your heart. Let me speak to your heart, God doesn’t need your attendance at Mass, you do! Your soul needs it, your strength comes from it, and when you miss Mass by your own choice, not because you were sick or caring for someone, not because you were truly prevented, but simply because it wasn’t a priority, then you have chosen something less over someone Eternal.

People often forget that love is shown not just in what we say, but in what we sacrifice when we choose other things over God on Sunday, we’re saying with our actions, you are not first in my life. That is why the Church, guided by Christ himself, teaches that knowingly and freely missing Mass on a Sunday or holy day without a grave reason breaks our communion with God and is a mortal sin that must be confessed before we partake of Communion.

Let us be present for Mass and grow in our relationship with Him.

With lots of love and blessings.

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan