January 7, 2024
As the proud product of an Augustinian Catholic education both in high school and for a portion of my priestly formation, many of the saintly bishop’s quotes have become ingrained in my mind throughout the years, most especially: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord.” With the Eucharist, he reminded us often as he held the Host aloft: “See what you believe and then become what you see – the Body of Christ.” And the favorite Augustine saying of many high school boys at my alma mater: “Give me chastity, O Lord, but not just yet.”
Beginning this New Year, there’s another Augustine quote that is profound in its simplicity: “You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.” At the heart of this statement is the understanding that faithfulness to completing the unpopular tasks or doing what very few acknowledge or give thanks for is the way to humility, to holiness and to God. The world is often made better by those who are never afraid to start by doing the little things with great love.
To that end, may I take this opportunity to thank the countless parishioners who in any way contributed to the beauty and sacredness of our Advent and Christmas liturgies by doing all the little things that often fail to be recognized. To our musicians, our decorators (both inside and out), our servers and lectors and ushers, your love for worship led all of us deeper into the Mystery of God’s Love. To all of you who contributed financially to the parish or Outreach, as well as to all those who sent greetings and gifts to Fr. Jerry, the deacons and myself, thank you for your generous heart and your care for us. We are all blessed by your loving presence in our lives.
May the Star of Faith shine brightly throughout the year ahead for all of us and those we love, and may we never be afraid to aspire to greatness by beginning with the little things that bring humility and virtue to the world around us. Many blessings in 2024!