Dear Parishioners of Christ the Redeemer,
This weekend, as we celebrate our thirty-fifth anniversary as a parish, we have the opportunity to give thanks to God for each other and for the many blessings of our community. Anniversaries are blessed times in our lives. To bless God is to discover him in our public thanksgiving and praise.
The activities of the weekend afford us the times and places to find God within ourselves, within others, and within the activities of the parish. At the Eucharist this weekend, as parishioners have done for thirty-five years, we hear the scriptures and we share at the Lord’s Table. This is who we are and this is what we celebrate – God with us. Literally thousands of Masses have been celebrated in diverse places, with different people, and on many occasions. The Lord has gathered us Sunday after Sunday. We have baptized our children and adults at these celebrations. Many have come for First Communion and for Confirmation.
At other times we have rejoiced at marriages and at other times we have cried together at funerals. At this anniversary, we celebrate new married life begun and remember those who have celebrated through the years. We certainly remember with faith and affection those who have gone before us in death. They are the foundation of our community of faith and our hope for life in the Lord.
Today is not only about yesterday, but about today and tomorrow. We continue to educate nearly one thousand young people in Church life through our two programs both in Spanish and in English. We gather to welcome families and adult believers in our Catechumenante programs. Adults continue to search out God in study and in prayer.
In many ways, our anniversary is not about us. It’s about God and it’s about other people. Since the beginning, Christ the Redeemer has been a center for mission and service. Parishioners allow the parish to be the starting point of the care and feeding of the poor, the visiting of the lonely, and outreach to various local needs.
As we gather for our dinner-dance and for our picnic, let’s look around at the wonder of God’s People. God shows himself in our diversity. While we embrace the moment, let’s us confidently face the future. Christ yesterday, today, and tomorrow. To him be glory in the Church today and the days to come.
Sincerely,
(Fr.) C. Donald Howard, SA
Pastor
