21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Epiphany Family, 

What a joy it was to celebrate First Communion with three of our children today! What an amazing gift to witness them encounter Jesus and His love in such a profound way. In my homily I shared that every time we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, He says to us in a special way, “I love you”. He gives Himself completely to us and invites us also to give ourselves to Him, responding with our own, “I love you” with our “Amen”. By the time you read this our RCIA candidates and elect will have been brought into the Catholic Church as well as our young people will have been strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation. What a blessing it is for me to witness and be an instrument of Jesus’ special encounter of love with our parish through the sacraments. 

I invite you to join us Saturday, September 5th, at the 4:00 Mass at St. Thomas when Bishop Thomas will install me formally/liturgically as the pastor of our Epiphany of the Lord. It is such a humbling ceremony, as I am all too mindful of my limitations in living up to all the responsibilities of being a pastor and caring for all of you. Yet I place my trust in God who has called me here and will provide. I will make a profession of Faith and take the Oath of Office for Pastors. Throughout the words and actions of the rite I will echo Jesus’ words to all of you, “I love you”. Please pray for me daily as I pray for you, 

In Christ, 
Father Eric