In the Letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded that Christ himself had to suffer, enduring even the shame of the cross. We are urged to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we run our own race and to let go of sin, which weighs us down. Jesus endured opposition from those who did not believe in him. We can expect the same. But why does belief in Jesus cause us to be divided from the world? Because the difference between a life in the world and a life in Christ strikes at the heart of who we are. The world tells us that we should be the center of our own lives. Faith tells us that Christ is the center of all things, and calls us to center our lives on him. How will we answer this call to be one of those who “might no longer live for themselves but for him? (2Cor: 5:15) We must choose to be on one side of the divide or the other. Our response will determine whether we lock ourselves in a cold, little world of our own making, or stand with Jesus to set the world on fire!

Next weekend will be our Religious Education registration Sunday! If you haven’t enrolled your child already, please take advantage of this Sunday to enroll in Faith Formation. The final deadline is August 30th. More information can be found in this bulletin.

Our Hospitality Ministry is looking for new members! This important ministry helps with Parish Life and serves to welcome our members within our community. If you are interested, contact our coordinators and join in! Finally, everyone should mark your calendars for our grand celebration of St. Louis the King, our Patronal Feast, to take place on Friday, August 23rd. We begin with entertainment at 5:00 p.m. and then continue with a Festive Mass in the historical Mission church at 6:30 p.m. Our delightful evening concludes with an outdoor Procession, music, food, and fireworks! We hope you can join us in this annual tradition. St. Louis the King, pray for us!

Love, Fr. Vince Mesi, OFM