𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧 – 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

This Sunday we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. It is a day when we reflect upon the role of Jesus as our Good Shepherd who takes care of His flock. Jesus tells us in the Gospel this weekend that He is the sheep gate through which all his sheep pass and are protected from intruders. This week is also a week when the Church prays for vocations. It is becoming more difficult for the Diocese of Syracuse to provide priests for its parishes. There are less than 70 active priests for 115 parish communities. We all are called to work to provide an environment where our young people are able to listen to God’s call in their lives and to feel supported as they answer God’s call. We all are called to pray to God to bless His Church with more vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. When was the last time you asked a young person if they ever thought about being a priest or consecrated religious? If a family member told you that they were considering a call to priesthood or religious life, what would be your response? Would you support them or invite them to consider something else? During this week of prayer for vocations, let us ask the Lord to bless His Church with many more priests and consecrated religious. Let us all work to create an environment where our young people feel supported to consider these callings. Let us ask the Lord to bless His Church with many more vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life. Next Sunday our young people will be receiving Holy Communion for the first time. I would like to invite all members of our parish to say a prayer this week asking the Lord to bless our young people on their special day.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!

Fr. Jim