29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Dear Epiphany Family, 

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday. We are once again invited to prayerfully and financially support the Church’s mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the world through the Society of the Propaga-tion of the faith. We might often think of missionary work in other countries but the blessing of having Fr. Melwin here at Epiphany reminds us the “missions” have come to us. Everywhere throughout the world is mission territory, because the whole world needs to know Jesus and the free-dom, peace, love, and salvation He offers or be invited to encounter and embrace Him again in their lives. This of course includes East Toledo, Oregon, the whole of metro Toledo, our whole diocese of Toledo and beyond, as well as our personal lives, our families, friendships, workplaces, wherever we find ourselves. 

This year’s theme for World Mission Sunday is “Baptized and Sent: the Church of Christ on Mission in the World”. I conclude with a beautiful paragraph from Pope Francis’ message for World Mission Sunday 2020: 

Mission is a free and conscious response to God’s call. Yet we discern this call only when we have a personal relationship of love with Jesus present in his Church. Let us ask ourselves: are we prepared to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to listen to the call to mission, whether in our life as married couples or as consecrated persons or those called to the ordained ministry, and in all the every-day events of life? Are we willing to be sent forth at any time or place to witness to our faith in God the merciful Father, to proclaim the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ, to share the divine life of the Holy Spirit by building up the Church? Are we, like Mary, the Mother of Jesus, ready to be completely at the service of God’s will (cf. Lk 1:38)? This interior open-ness is essential if we are to say to God: “Here am I, Lord, send me” (cf. Is 6:8). And this, not in the ab-stract, but in this chapter of the life of the Church and of history. 

The Lord will strengthen us to go out if we open and give our hearts to Him. 

In Christ, 
Father Eric