St. Joseph the Worker

Dear Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker:

This coming week is the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis from July 17-21.  Catholics of all ages will gather to celebrate the culmination of many months of focus on the importance of the Eucharist in the lives of Catholic men, women, and children.  The Eucharistic Revival in our country has hopefully awakened us as disciples of Christ to the great gift given to us by Jesus Christ.  As I said in my article last week, nothing should keep us from gathering as the Body of Christ to receive the Lord’s Body and Blood.

I especially want to speak to all who are parents.  You know the importance of setting a good example for your children.  They learn what to do or what not to do by watching you.  They mimic what they see. 

What if you told them not to smoke as you held a cigarette in your hand?  What type of message would that send to them?  Or, if you said to them that they should not curse, when you use curse words all the time.  Again, what message?  Shouldn’t we give a genuine example and not be hypocritical?

So, when it comes to Mass, what type of example are you passing on to your children?  If you are not coming to Mass as a family when you know you should be, are they learning from you that Mass is not important or that it is optional or that it is only for Christmas and Easter?

I want to thank those parents who faithfully bring their children to Mass.  As parents, you are fulfilling the promise you made at the baptism of your children to raise them in the Catholic faith. Know that our parish is here to support you.

As our country celebrates in a special way the power, beauty, and value of the Eucharist this week in Indy, may each of us celebrate that we, as Catholics, are privileged to receive THE Body and THE Blood of Jesus Christ.  He didn’t want us to ever forget His suffering, death, and resurrection which are all remembered at Mass. 

Your Pastor, Father Joe