Invitation is a great gift. It can invoke a great feeling inside of us. Being uninvited or unwelcome can invoke such sad feelings in us, no matter our age.

One of the new initiatives that I have been working on is with a committee within the Archdiocese of Boston. Together we are finding new ways to work with each other as we in-vite and welcome home our parishioners, our brothers and sisters.

This is so important in the times we live in, and as we all know, it is central to our celebration of the Sacraments, most especially our Sunday Liturgy of the Eucharist. The mission of the Church is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and re-veal how much God loves us. We do this by following His com-mand, Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptiz-ing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have command-ed you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.‖ Matthew’s Gospel 28:19-20. We know that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, so that everyone who be-lieves in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.‖ John’s Gospel 3:16. Catholics Come Home is follows the Gospel message and imperative, to invite and welcome. We need to do this work together, not so that we can simply sur-vive, but thrive in the Gospel imperative. The Archdiocese is working with a national initiative that promotes this invitation through public advertising and local initiatives. This is where we need to work together. Please help find and initiate new ways to bring this invitation alive. I ask you that you help me and work with me to revitalize the way that we welcome and invite our brothers and sisters to come home. Each week when we gather, we are lacking and we are missing those who have already been invited and have seats in the assembly. We need them & they need us. What is lacking in the world? The love of Christ. We all know and can see that love has been diminished or is crippled in our world. We are all called to work and work together. In the Body of Christ, as Saint Paul teaches us in Colossians 1:24, we are called to work for the Kingdom and participate in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, to build it up. To make up for what is lacking in the Body of Christ. Jesus tells us that when we celebrate do not just invite your friends or your brothers and sisters, those who can simply repay you. Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, then we will find blessing, a reward that does not please the body but one that moves the heart to and in the love of Christ.

I am happy to announce this week that Mrs. Mary Beth Flynn has agreed to take up the post and to follow the strong and compassionate example of our dearly departed friend Mr. John [Jack] O’Connor, as my Vice Chair of the Parish’s Pastoral Council. The council with its newly appointed members will be meeting anew in September as vacations come to their conclusions. Please pray for our leadership team and help us as a parish family to grow and to serve and witness to the Gospel.

In His love,

Fr. Sean