Ablaze

This week, we conclude our message series for the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was called Ablaze. Summer means vacation for many. But just as you would not vacation from breathing, you cannot vacation from the Mass, the center of our Christian life which unites us to God, transforming and protecting us on our journey in an uncertain world. This summer we encourage you to be set ablaze by your faith and the Mass. Remember the power of the Church burns in us, but only if we unite ourselves to it through the Mass. And while we can pray to God alone, our prayers are more powerful together. We conclude this week with “Sent Forth”, remembering how we are instructed as God’s children to bring His light to a darkened world.

This weekend is my last weekend at St. Albert the Great. It has been a blessing to serve as pastor here for the last six years. We have been through challenges and received a lot of blessings. For any of my failures due to my humanity and sinfulness, I ask for forgiveness. For any of the ways I acted as God would desire, I give thanks to God. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and I know that under Fr. Aloy's leadership that the parish will continue to grow and prosper. Fr. Aloy is a good priest and will be a good pastor for St. Albert the Great but he will not be me. Please appreciate him for his own gifts and never compare the two of us. God chose me to do my mission for St. Albert the Great these last six years and God chose Fr. Aloy for the next stage of this parish's journey. Fr. Aloy will be aided by Fr. Alberto Garcia, Fr. Michael Rhodes, the deacons, the leadership team, parish staff, parish council, finance council and all of you. You all will be in my prayers and I ask you to keep me in yours. Thank you.

May we go forth to set others Ablaze with the fire of God's love this summer,

Fr. Charlie