Pastor's Reflections on Festival Day 2010
While recently attending the Papal Audience on Wednesday, September 22nd, it was an incredible experience to be in the presence of the 'Church', the hierarchy, Religious Men and Women, Laity, gathered in unity to see, hear, and receive the words of Faith and Blessings from the Holy Father. This is a reminder of how Catholics gather on Sundays with each other and their priests, how diocesan events bring the people, clergy around the Bishop, and how this Universal expression of faith and unity is a quality that cannot be underestimated. Thus this weekend, as we all get together for the Parish Festival, it brings the local Catholic community together to a unified Altar, together to hear the Word, be fed by the Eucharist, and to gather for fellowship. I pray that all have an enjoyable time today. Since the tour company, NAWAS, notified the audience organizers that we were attending, the name of Our Lady of the Sierra Parish in Oakhurst, California was called to the Holy Father. Parish groups and other institutions are recognized from the pulpit that submit there intentions to be present at the Papal Audience.
Thank you to the many who have worked hard in bringing together this wonderful event. The many workers/volunteers that have organized, cooked, baked, set-up and taken down, the liturgical ministers and to the many, many quiet folks behind the scene who simply, out of love for God, Church, and parish, sacrifice time, talent and treasure. In future bulletins we will take more opportunities to name as many as we can.
We will also have time for reflection as we will be moving on to our new Sunday Mass schedule, commencing on the weekend of November 6/7th, 2010. The schedule found elsewhere in this bulletin is not to everyone's liking I know, but after much discussions with as many groups and with the Pastoral Council's blessing, this new schedule will serve the needs of those we are called to serve. I have found out how many, many Spanish speaking former Catholics there are in this community, now members of Protestant Churches and sects, like the Jevohah Witnesses, that have left the Catholic Church over many years due to the lack of outreach to them here in the mountain communities. Bishop Steinbock is exceedingly happy and has given us all the encouragement possible as we embark on offering a Mass in Spanish every weekend. His full support is deeply appreciated. I do appreciate all the comments, notes, and emails, even from those that are disappointed with the new schedule. I pray that we can work together for the good of all those we are called to serve, not just the few.
As you know, members of our parish and I recently went on pilgrimage to Rome, Florence, Assisi, Venice, Innsbruck, Munich, Oberammergau, and Lucerne. It was a wonderful experience which included the Papal Audience, Masses in Rome at St. Peter's and St. Mary Major, Mass at St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, a parish in Florence, and the cathedral in Lucerne. Probably the most incredible part of the pilgrimage was the Passion Play in Oberammergau, which will be something I will never forget. The German village is extremely charming, the play so well done, and some of us stayed in private homes, since there are few hotels in the area. Six roomed in a farmhouse that was charming and hospitable. Home cooked breakfast woke us up.
The last few days, after the pilgrims left Zurich for home, my mother and I continued on to the French Basque Country to spend time with my mother's three sisters and one brother, and with cousins and friends. We also went to the Spanish side to see my aunt who is in a rest home, who I had not seen in many years. It was a joy to be with family, friends, and in the land that I love very much. On October 7th, my family and I traveled to Lourdes. It was the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and nearly 200,000 people had gathered to pray that day. It was another great experience of faith.
The next pilgrimage is planned to the Holy Land in November of 2011. This seems to be a popular trip as I have begun to received numerous inquiries and reservations are coming in with deposits. If you are interested, I need to know before the end of December, as it is first come, first serve. We will be able to take up to as many as 40 people.
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