My dear parishioners, fidelity and devotion to the third commandment -- “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”  [Exo 20:8] -- is a testimony to your faith. You have many responsibilities. Nevertheless, you made a conscious decision to come to Mass. Know that your presence in God’s house is itself a gift to your loving Creator.  What you have set aside in order to worship God this day shows your love for him.
 
Your faithful habit of worshipping God on his holy day is a positive example which encourages your fellow Christians. Strengthen your habit so that the Body of Christ, of which you yourself are a part, may remain strong and healthy. Reach out to others! Everyone is strengthened by a good word and a cheerful smile. God blesses us one and all when we gather in his name.
 
“Earnestly desire the higher gifts”. This “still more excellent way”  [1Cor 12:31]  is the mystery of things that have both value on earth and in heaven. Ask the Lord to grant you a share of his divine life, a portion of the gifts that endure, the things that cannot be seen: "...so faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love".  [1Cor 13:13] 
 
Peace, righteousness and joy come to fulfillment in your very own heart when you share your love for God with others.  [cf Rom 14:17]  Let everything you do be to this end: "that times of refreshing may come (to everyone) from the presence of the Lord".  [Acts 3:19]  “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
 
Maintain your devotion to the Blessed Mother's Rosary and to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy of her son. In the Mass “you can speak freely to God, drawing near to him with confidence”.  [Heb 4:16]  Always offer a prayer of thanksgiving after receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, put your stewardship of the mysteries of Christ to the test. Our Savior declared, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  [Mt. 22:39] 
 
Pope Saint Paul VI, on the tenth anniversary of the close of Vatican Council II, declared that the true power of God's holy people is in the Holy Spirit: 
 
THE HOLY Spirit is the soul of the Church. It is he who explains to the faithful the deep meaning of the teaching of Jesus and of his mystery.  It is the Holy Spirit who, today, just as at the beginning of the Church, acts in every evangelizer who allows himself to be possessed and led by him.
 
THE HOLY Spirit places on his lips the words which he could not find himself, and at the same time the Holy Spirit predisposes the soul of the hearer to be open and receptive to the Good News and to the Kingdom being proclaimed.
 
Therefore “proclaim how exalted is God's name” and “make known his deeds among the nations”.  [Isa 12:4]  You begin by saying to others , Let me tell you what God has done for me. If you desire the salvation of your own soul, then save others!   [Psa 122:1]  Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Your pastor, Reverend Richard Barker.