July 23, 2023 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony, Pouring Gasoline on the Flames: If lives are to be turned upside down by an encounter with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ, you and I can do our part by igniting the fire at Holy Redeemer. The fire finds its initial flame when we tend the hearth of our own heart. Remember G.K. Chesterson’s response to the “what’s wrong with the world” question? He answered, simply: “I am.” The more you and I become fully given to Jesus Christ, the better the world will be. Igniting the fire therefore requires a rededication in each of us to prayer, to the sacraments, and to serving the poor. Then, with the flames leaping up in our own hearts, we invite others to the bonfire. We invite them to bask in the light of Christ and the warmth of his love. Evangelization is not an unseemly word. Telling others about Jesus is the very mission of the Church (see Christ’s final instructions in Matthew 28)! We should not be afraid to give witness to the action of Christ in our own life. Like a summer wind, the Spirit of God will carry the fire in our hearts to another and to another, and so set ablaze a raging wildfire of love. Let us each work to ignite the fire at Holy Redeemer! Parish Restructuring in Erie County: Last Sunday, the parishes of Erie County were read a letter from Bishop Persico announcing an increased pace to parish restructuring in the diocese’s largest population center. As our priest shortage – and yes, our diocesan wide parishioner shortage – have intensified in the past few years, it can be argued that rural areas have born the lion’s share of the restructuring pain. The bishop now has his focus on merging or otherwise restructuring the parishes in the city of Erie and its environs. As he repeats often, Bishop Persico is trying his best to make sure that the gospel is preached in the most energetic and fruitful way possible. And our secular, darkened world so desperately needs to hear the gospel preached! The Precious Blood at Communion: Beginning with Masses on August 5-6, we will return to offering the Precious Blood at Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony. Especially during this period of Eucharistic Revival, being again able to receive our Lord’s Precious Blood will hopefully deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharistic sacrifice. Priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. To the greatest extent possible, they should be the ones distributing the Eucharist at Mass. Nonetheless, we will need to rely on lay Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to make reception from the chalice possible. At St. Anthony, the priest and/or deacon will stand in the middle aisle, and everyone will make their way down that middle aisle to receive the host. Ministers with the chalice will then be available to the right and to the left for those wishing to receive Christ’s Precious Blood after they have received his Body. At Holy Redeemer, the opposite plan will be in effect, as the Body of Christ will be distributed at the side aisles, and the chalices will be available in the middle aisle. Those receiving at their seat, will continue to receive only the Body of Christ, as it is not judicious to walk distances with the chalice. It probably sounds more complicated than it will be in actual practice. I have no doubt that we will do fine! Mary, Mother of the Redeemer – Pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us! St. Anthony – Pray for us! St. Joseph – Pray for us! Fr. Steve