From the Desk of Father Nathan

A Message from Father Nathan

Welcome Back to Mass in Our Church

Last Friday I was a bit anxious and perplexed as well about the weekend Masses. Our Lord, as the good shepherd did help us greatly through the assistance and sacrifice of many. Praise God, I was extremely delighted about the response of our people. Thanks be to God. Thank you to all the people who put in their hard work towards it, in particular Mr. Patrick Sellati and staff, Joe Barcheski, and all of the ushers… God bless them.

I extend a warm welcome to all of you. Please come over to worship the Lord as a community. ALL SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED. I am open to that. Whatever is good for the community, we will do it.

Mass Continues in the Parking Lot

I feel so pleased to know that lots of people are still coming to church to partake in the Mass in the parking lot making use of the AM radio frequency 1440. So happy. We will continue to do that. We had close to 20 – 25 cars for the vigil Mass. Let us continue to do that.

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul – Monday, June 29,2020

This Monday is one of the important days for our Holy Mother Church. We are going to celebrate the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The GREAT co-founders of the Church. This Feast honors the two apostles who were responsible for laying the foundation of the Church of Christ. St. Paul the apostle, claims first place, for in his letters he has given to the Church a rich revelation of God and a wealth of divine teachings.

Saints Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero in the year 67. Peter was crucified upside-down at his own request. Paul was a Roman citizen and, therefore, could not be crucified according to Roman law. He was beheaded.

The Church unites them in a common celebration on June 29th and gives them identical honor. Peter was a simple fisherman who realized the holiness of Jesus the first time he saw Christ.

There is no doubt that Simon enjoyed a special relationship as the leader of the Apostles. Christ called him the “Rock”(Peter) and said that upon this Rock He will build His Church.

Peter moved around in the apostolic work, consecrating bishops of villages and cities wherever he went. An important role of Peter and the Patriarchates founded by him was to speak on matters affecting the entire Church, including teaching and doctrine both East and West, North and South. Saint Paul, on the other hand, had a different calling and role within the Church. His various letters to the Churches make him the patron of the Local Church.

Paul was raised in the strictest possible tradition of Pharisaic Judaism and was a Pharisee himself. He severely persecuted Christians until Christ met him in a powerful and intimate way. He went from being the most unlikely person to adapt Christianity to non-Jews, to be the Apostle of the Gentiles!

For St. Paul, the Church existed at different levels. The most basic level was the “Home Church” run by his parents and grandparents. This was where Christianity was taught and experienced. In times of persecution, the Home Church was often the only place where Christianity could be lived and passed on.

The next level, the Local Church, is where the Gospel was proclaimed in a way the local community could understand and celebrate it according to its own culture and experience. The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul represents the relationship between the Universal Church (Peter’s work) and the Local Church (Paul’s work).

We are part of the Universal Church where we find life in the Holy Mysteries (sacraments) and the teachings of Christ. We belong to the Universal Church by being members of the Local Church.

The Local Church gives meaning to the Holy Mysteries and the teachings of the Universal Church in the light of the cultural understandings and world-view of the particular Local Church.

Saints Peter and Paul are honored together since they bring together both understandings of the Church. The one brings light to the message of the Gospel and others make the light shine more brightly for us by adapting the message to our world-view.

May the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul be on the Church. May they continue to guide the Church.

Let us also pray for our Holy Father who is the successor of St. Peter.

May God Bless You All.

Please Stay Safe and healthy!

Ever at your service.

– With lots of love and blessing,

—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan