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7/25/21 Father Owen's Bulletin Message
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Dear Parishioners,
On Monday, July 26th, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of our Blessed Mother, the grandparents of Jesus. St. Anne and St. Joachim are wonderful role models for every grandparent. As parents through the grace of God, they brought Mary into the world. Mary, without their knowledge, was born without Original Sin. In honor of the fact that she would serve God well, St. Anne and St. Joachim trusted in the Lord’s will for their daughter and when the angel visited their teenage daughter with an invitation directly from God, they trusted in the Lord’s will for her, them and for the world. They became adoring and beloved grandparents of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. As we remember Jesus’ grandparents, we also honor every grandparent for the gift of grandparenting. I pray that every grandparent in our parish of St. Luke will trust God’s will as they lead their grandchildren in the living of our beautiful Catholic faith and empower their grandchildren to know, love and follow God’s plan for them. I look forward to celebrating National Grandparents’ Day which this year will take place on September 12th. Fr. Hubert and I will offer mass intentions for all our beloved grandparents both living and deceased. We will have more information on this in the middle of August.
Every year, each parish in our diocese hosts a mission. It is a pleasure to welcome Fr. Tom of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God to our parish next weekend July 31/August 1. Fr. Tom will give a brief reflection on the wonderful work they do and the people they serve. We will have a second collection to benefit the Order of St. John of God. Below is a short description about their mission. I look forward to meeting and welcoming Fr. Tom to our Parish.
Fr. Owen
The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God
As a Hospitaller Brother of Saint John of God working in our ministry in Southern New Jersey, where we have services for children and adults with disabilities, I am looking forward to being with you and sharing the good things that are happening not only here locally but what is being done in the name of Saint John of God in other areas. More specifically, I will share the life and work of Br. Francis Gillan. Br. Francis was a Hospitaller Brother of Saint John of God where he was remembered as a man of compassion, a man of simplicity, and a man dedicated to the needs of the sick and poor. Such was his deep faith that he felt he was called to begin a new congregation. This congregation would have the spirituality of our Founder Saint John of God, which was dedicated to the care of the abandoned poor. The Brothers of Mercy of Saint John of God was raised today. They serve the needs of the poorest of the poor in Manila with many challenges. God continues to use these Brothers as instruments of healing. I look forward to sharing more deeply with you the work of Br. Francis who although in his internal reward is still alive in his Brothers and many coworkers who live his mission and care for God’s poor.