Some of you suggested that I include last weekend’s introduction in the bulletin. I thought that a good idea so I’m putting an abbreviated version here for all of you to reflect upon and consider.

I’d like to share with you four quotes that give you some glimpse of my spiritual life and the focus of my prayer and priestly service. First is a quote from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians that Pope John Paul II used when he first visited the United States in 1979. St. Paul writes, “I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For him I have accepted the loss of everything and I look on everything as so much rubbish, if only I can have Christ, and be given a place in him.” I describe Pope John Paul II as someone “dripping wet” with Christ and so the importance to be saturated with Jesus and focusing all our life on him and his will. The reality of knowing Christ Jesus is the meaning of life.

The second quote comes from a great saint of the Church, Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. He coined the Latin phrase, “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam.” These words translated mean, “To the greater glory of God.” He believed and taught that all things we do and say should be to the greater glory of God. And so we strive to please God in all things and give Him the glory for all things.

The third quote comes from Mother Theresa of Calcutta who based these words on her own love of the spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Mother Theresa said, “We are not called by God to do great things, but to do small things with great love.” God sees all things and, I believe, He rejoices in the small things that are done quietly but with great love and sacrifice. These include above all the acts of charity we do for our spouse, our children, our parents, and our family.

The last quote comes from a catholic documentary called Champions of Faith. In it, a coach for the LA Dodgers by the name of Rich Donnelly says, “I believe there are two types of people in the world, those who are humble and those who are about to be.” This highlights what I believe to be the premiere Christian virtue: humility. Jesus praised it when he saw it in others and he encouraged it as a virtue throughout his teachings. Humility fights against the original sin of pride and it reminds us of who we are and that we are not God but rather are children of God called to serve him, honor him and praise him.

So, my brothers and sisters, what are my initial hopes for our parish? I hope that we are a people of prayer and the sacraments as individuals and as families so that we all know Jesus Christ and are “dripping wet” with him. I hope we love with generous hearts, especially in the small, everyday things of life in order to give God glory and praise by our love. I hope we are humble enough to serve God first and foremost, to do His will before our own, to say we’re sorry and to forgive others from the heart. If these and the other virtues of the Gospel take hold of our lives than we know the joy and peace of Christ, we will become a missionary and evangelizing community and when asked by someone, “Where are you from?” you won’t say, “Brewster” but “St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish.”