A new beginning
This past Tuesday, I met with Bishop Zubik to receive the formal decree merging the four parishes into one. On July 1 there will be one new parish serving the Greenfield, Hazelwood and Oakland communities named Saint Paul Cathedral parish. The former parishes of Saint Paul Cathedral, Saint Regis, Saint Rosalia and Saint Stephen will cease to exist and we become a new parish. Our parish boundaries have changed and encompass the former boundaries of all four parishes. We have a quite a large territory to cover! And what a patron saint to have - Saint Paul. Called by God to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, Paul was fearless, passionate, courageous, persistent and always hopeful. He is the co-patron of our diocese. What a blessed that we are, as well, the Mother Church of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the seat of the bishop - a special privilege indeed.
As I received the decree creating our new parish, I was so very mindful of the treasure and legacy of all that has gone before. We stand here today because of the work of our ancestors. People who built our churches, who gave everything they had to create parishes that allowed them to worship God, to grow in their faith, to serve others and to gain eternal life - the only goal worth striving for. There were more than four parishes in these communities over the past generations, but slowly they were joined into four. Now we have become one. There is strength in our shared bond of faith. Now the task is ours to do what others have done before us. We are called to give everything we have - our time, our talent, our treasure, and our love in service to God and to neighbor.
There is no salvation outside the Church. The Church is the holy Body of Christ, given birth at that first Pentecost - a feast we celebrate this Sunday. Through the outpouring the Holy Spirit on those first disciples, the good news of God's saving love was made known to the ends of the earth. It is the Church that brings us into intimate communion with our Head, Jesus Christ. We all know that our experience of Church is connected to buildings - places where we have been baptized and married, where we have gone to school, where we bury our loved ones. These are special places filled with many memories. But buildings come and go. The Church will last until the end of time. Perhaps if anything good comes from this coronavirus pandemic it will be a renewed sense among the faithful of what really matters. Our hearts long for the things we so often have taken for granted - the celebration of the Mass, reception of Holy Communion, going to confession, being able to pray quietly before the Blessed Sacrament.
On Tuesday, I also received my appointment letter from the bishop, naming me pastor and rector of our new parish, Saint Paul Cathedral, for a term of six years. I am more than excited to receive this assignment. It is with humility and love that I desire to continue that walk of faith that we have been on for more than two years now. I know I can count on the support and prayers of so many in our new parish. I have seen your love for Jesus Christ and the Church, your desire to serve God and to help others. We have much work to do and we must still face many changes. But we do so enlivened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthened by the witness of those who have gone before us, guided by our patron Saint Paul, united in our love for one another, and mindful of the only thing that really matters in the end: gaining eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Yes, these are exciting times as we begin a new chapter in the life of the Church in Greenfield, Hazelwood and Oakland. Let's seize the moment and do all we can to make Saint Paul Cathedral parish a vibrant, faith-filled, loving faith community in service to God and to others. Saint Paul, pray for us.
As I received the decree creating our new parish, I was so very mindful of the treasure and legacy of all that has gone before. We stand here today because of the work of our ancestors. People who built our churches, who gave everything they had to create parishes that allowed them to worship God, to grow in their faith, to serve others and to gain eternal life - the only goal worth striving for. There were more than four parishes in these communities over the past generations, but slowly they were joined into four. Now we have become one. There is strength in our shared bond of faith. Now the task is ours to do what others have done before us. We are called to give everything we have - our time, our talent, our treasure, and our love in service to God and to neighbor.
There is no salvation outside the Church. The Church is the holy Body of Christ, given birth at that first Pentecost - a feast we celebrate this Sunday. Through the outpouring the Holy Spirit on those first disciples, the good news of God's saving love was made known to the ends of the earth. It is the Church that brings us into intimate communion with our Head, Jesus Christ. We all know that our experience of Church is connected to buildings - places where we have been baptized and married, where we have gone to school, where we bury our loved ones. These are special places filled with many memories. But buildings come and go. The Church will last until the end of time. Perhaps if anything good comes from this coronavirus pandemic it will be a renewed sense among the faithful of what really matters. Our hearts long for the things we so often have taken for granted - the celebration of the Mass, reception of Holy Communion, going to confession, being able to pray quietly before the Blessed Sacrament.
On Tuesday, I also received my appointment letter from the bishop, naming me pastor and rector of our new parish, Saint Paul Cathedral, for a term of six years. I am more than excited to receive this assignment. It is with humility and love that I desire to continue that walk of faith that we have been on for more than two years now. I know I can count on the support and prayers of so many in our new parish. I have seen your love for Jesus Christ and the Church, your desire to serve God and to help others. We have much work to do and we must still face many changes. But we do so enlivened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthened by the witness of those who have gone before us, guided by our patron Saint Paul, united in our love for one another, and mindful of the only thing that really matters in the end: gaining eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Yes, these are exciting times as we begin a new chapter in the life of the Church in Greenfield, Hazelwood and Oakland. Let's seize the moment and do all we can to make Saint Paul Cathedral parish a vibrant, faith-filled, loving faith community in service to God and to others. Saint Paul, pray for us.
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