Our First Life Teen Mass

We started a new initiative at St. Michael's this week ... the Life Teen youth ministry program. I celebrated the first 6 PM Life Teen Mass in something like six or seven years.

 

We had a LOT of support for this idea, from many of you around the parish. Many, MANY people said this was the greatest faith experience they had ever had and it made them want to go to Mass. They fondly remember a joyful, excited, involved, and dedicated congregation at the Life Teen Mass. And that's awesome!

We certainly had a good crowd for Mass tonight (to which you're all invited ... every Sunday, at 6 PM, at St. Michael's). And that makes my Priestly heart jump for joy.

But, folks, let's not take our eye off the prize here -- the whole purpose of the Life Teen program, or of any ministry at a parish, is to help us be holy. It looks like this is going to be an awesome tool to help us develop our parish life, but no program is an end in itself. Let's commit to following the Lord's call to us -- no matter what tools we use to do it -- or, to use His own words, "Be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 20:26, 1 Peter 1:15-16).

In the Beginning ...

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:1-2).

Even from the first words of the Bible, we can see that any true work begins with the presence and action of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, as I begin to share my humble thoughts and meditations with the wider world, I recognize the need to dedicate every word that is said here to the power of the Holy Spirit, Who perfects all of our actions and Who presents our humble offerings as acceptable to God.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful,

and enkindle in them the fire of Thy divine love.

Send forth Thy Word, and they shall be created,

and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray --

O God, who instructed the hearts of the faithful

by the light of the Holy Spirit,

grant us in the same spirit to be truly wise,

and ever to rejoice in His consolation,

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.