June 29, 2008

Dear Cathedral Parishioners,

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. With this solemnity Pope Benedict XVI is inaugurating a “Year of Saint Paul.” It is intended to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of his birth. Some ecumenical events are being planned locally for the coming year. If you are interested in seeing what is happening on an international level, go to <www.annopaolino.org > and click on the British flag to get it displayed in English.

Yesterday our diocese was blessed to celebrate the ordination of three new priests: Father James Altman, Father Keith Kitzhaber and Father Justin Kizewski. May they have a long and fruitful ministry in the vineyard of the Lord. While we rejoice to receive these three new priests, we must continue to pray for vocations. Note the announcement of the monthly Holy Hour for Vocations at the Diocesan Center. Jesus himself commended this prayer to us: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

On Friday we will celebrate Independence Day. This is a great opportunity to celebrate what is good about America, too much of which we take for granted. Why not start the day with Mass at 6:30 or 9:00 to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and to pray for peace in the world! Let us remember to pray for our military personnel putting their lives on the line for the sake of peace and the brotherhood of mankind. Let us pray, too, for our countrymen near and far who are suffering the effects of flooding or wild fires.

Pray this week for our new priests and for our seminarians, including the seminarians from our parish, Scott Curtis and Joseph Richards, Jr. Pray for two priests in our deanery who are experiencing serious health problems, Father Thomas O’Neill and Father Patrick Umberger.

Remember also the religious sisters and brothers who serve the Church in our diocese. Pray, also, that more young people will respond to the call to a church vocation. Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of the Clergy, pray for us! Mary, Patroness of our Nation and Queen of Peace, pray for us!

May God bless his people with peace.
Father Gorman