The Men and Women Who Love Jesus

Dear Parishioners,

Peace be with you! The peace I desire for you is the peace that Jesus brings to us at Mass especially at the breaking of bread in the Eucharist. This peace is important toward enhancing our individual lives and our community living.

At St. Mary's, I have seen the zeal in the hearts of men and women for Jesus. I have seen how they approach the sacraments with love and reverence in their hearts knowing that every step brings them closer to Jesus. At the confessional, they approach Jesus for strength to carry on with the journey of life. At the daily celebration of the Eucharist, they never fail to seek Jesus as their bread of life. They know that the Church is a place that connects them with the divine and this is the ultimate joy of serving as a priest.

To these men and women, I address my words of encouragement. The Church needs your zeal and constant desire for the sacraments. It is the reason why the priests are ordained for service in the Church. I hear stories of encouragement from many people who make our parish proud of their actions. Whenever I see these men and women, I feel that there is hope for us into the future with all the plans we have in the parish.

On 12 October 2019, the Bishop Thomas Olmsted will visit our parish and administer the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. This visit is important in strengthening not only the recipients of these sacraments, but to all of us. We need to support our children and their efforts to follow our path towards the sacraments.

As a community, we should strive to move towards Jesus in the sacraments. Our parish life depends on our commitment to the sacraments through practicing our faith. We need to view the Church as the place to be in order to experience the divine connection. When we feel hopeless due to the conditions of life, it is necessary to seek Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration to receive renewal and refreshment for our souls.

My prayer for every parishioner is that Jesus touches them with his divine love whenever we need his presence during moments of great trials. By coming close to the practice of the faith, we gain that connection which is necessary to establish ourselves in love as a community. I will love to see more men and women approach the sacraments with an ardent desire for this connection. And may the peace of Jesus abide in our hearts.

All my love,
Fr. Victor C. Yakubu