Father
Robert Blyman
A
Jubilee Year
1953-2003
A
Jubilee Year is a special year. It only comes once every fifty years.
I won't be here for the next one. Let us use this year of grace wisely
as only the young will get a second chance at it.
My
vision for the parish is that we begin our year on September 24, 2003
and end it on September 24, 2004. There are many activities planned
during the whole year. Some of the activities are: the opening Mass
with Bishop Murphy, the blessing and sending forth of our Jubilee statue
of Our Lady of Mercy into our homes, the Dinner-Dance at the Crest Hollow,
the events of each society, a greater sense of hospitality and welcome,
a welcoming tea for our new families, an ecumenical service, a parish
picnic, a day to honor our beloved founders, the "barn" people.
There are many other activities planned and some will be born as the
year progresses. I believe we need to be open to the Spirit.
Activities
are not enough. My greatest desire is that we grow spiritually. My prayer
is that we recapture a sense of the holy, a sense of the sacred. My
dream would be a reality if at some time in the future we had daily
adoration of the Eucharist. I keep speaking of the Eucharist because
it is the source and summit of our lives as Catholics, as Christians.
We have the greatest gift God could ever give us in the Eucharist and
all too often we take it for granted. I know you're tired of hearing
it, but it baffles me that people can leave the Church after receiving
Holy Communion without staying to say "Thank you" to God.
Someday He will be all we will have.
I
would hope we will continue to frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I try to go to Confession about every three weeks. I could not live
without it. It helps me grow spiritually.
We
are planning a series of spiritual talks for Advent and Lent. These
will be held on Sunday evenings at 8 PM. Leave your calendar free during
Advent and Lent.
I
am planning that we have regular Masses for the Anointing of the Sick
monthly. This way if you face surgery, are chronically ill, or are seriously
sick, you can easily avail yourself of this special sacrament.
I
am increasing the number of Bible Study Groups and sessions for adult
education. Our R.C.I.A. will have a prominent place in our parish life.
Our
new Youth Minister will be working with our young people to enhance
our 5:30 PM Masses on Sunday. This Mass is geared to the youth and will
become more vibrant. We hope to have an evening for the young adults
of our parish, post-high school to roughly age 25. I hope we can catch
the enthusiasm of our youth and help them accept Christ's challenge
to be His disciples. We need them.
Our
new Prayer Garden near the renewed Pastoral Center will hopefully enrich
our hunger for grace, for Jesus more fully in our lives.
There
are so many things to do, let us not forget to be. As I said before,
it should be an exciting year for Our Lady of Mercy - we will grow as
the Spirit leads us.
My
basic prayer is that we walk with Jesus, we walk in faith. Let us lay
aside old hurts, prejudices, intergenerational tensions. We are one
in Christ. Let us rejoice. It is our Jubilee Year!
God bless you,
Father
Blyman
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