At an earlier time, before social distancing and face masks, our pastor shared his reflection on Ordinary Time, his special time of the year. As we return to liturgical green, let’s step back to Fr. Chuck's column of January 12, 2020.
Yes, my special time of the year is back, the time of the ordinary, plain, usual, and quotidian. Ordinary time is the longest time in the liturgical year. For many of us “ordinary” is also the longest period of time in our lives. If it was always extraordinary, then the extraordinary would be the usual and ordinary. It is in the “ordinary” that the real business of living takes place. It is in the ordinary circumstances of life that we live, work, play, and love. The same is true with our spiritual lives. It is in the ordinary parts of life that we pray, that we seek after the good, that we struggle to do what is right, that we fight the urges and desires to do wrong, that we live our faith, not in an heroic way, but in the ordinary, everyday, usual process of growing towards sainthood. Ordinary time is the time of slow, patient growth, like the plants.
Fr. Chuck was away this week at the Paulist General Assembly, so our pastoral column is from Fr. Paolo. He writes of the rich and intense growth from his summer experiences and invites us to consider how the summertime pause can offer new opportunities. In return to Ordinary Time, the liturgical color of green reminds us of ongoing growth in our faith. Read his column at From Padre Paolo.
This Tuesday, June 14, 5:30 p.m., please join us in a Zoom session with Cap Metro and City planners. We want to hear their plans and express our concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety in West Campus. If you haven’t yet, please act with us to make clear our need for a safe environment for our community. We’ve assembled what you need to know at Advocate NOW!
Advocacy has been Carmen Adams’ gift to our community as Coordinator of our Gabriel Project. This weekend we give thanks that Carmen has taken time and action, for over a decade, to support families experiencing crisis pregnancies. Read how Carmen, a volunteer and ministry leader, has lived out our parish mission to bring God’s Love to life in our time and place at Light.
Then read a heartfelt thanks for your generous support of this program of loving service at Gabriel Project.
Our St. Vincent de Paul Society shares wisdom from one of our neighbors in need and provides the address of the San Antonio Archdiocese SVdP that is accepting donations to assist the people of Uvalde. Please read details at JustNews.
We thank the parishioners who took time after the Pentecost Masses to dream with us about the future of our faith community. As we see the buildings of our campus begin to take shape, it is good to consider how we want to pray, grow, learn, teach, and serve in our new spaces.
It starts this Wednesday, June 15, 7 p.m.! Join the conversation in our Faith Formation series for adults to explore a variety of faith and spirituality topics from the Paulist perspective. We’ve heard feedback about and know you’ve had “enough” Zoom sessions, but the virtual meetings allow us to hear from guests from other Paulist Foundations, and you don’t have to drive and park. Consider hosting a watch party. Find details at Adult Faith Formation.
* “What small group?” Do you remember long ago at the beginning of pandemic, when we promised ourselves that once we came back in person, we’d go up and MEET that nice person(s) at Mass? You already have something in common. You go to the same Mass, so use that foundation to start the conversation. Maybe it starts with visiting over refreshments after Mass. Put the U in commUnity – make the first move of hospitality.
Building community is a happy by-product of volunteering to serve in one of the many ways available at St. Austin. Tuesday morning’s Mass sounded a beautiful call to service. Take a moment to revisit Fr. Paolo’s thoughts on our call to be salt and light for the world and listen closely for the Holy Spirit’s whisper “Help Needed.”
Did you have a chance to watch the Installation Mass for
Fr. René Constanza, the new President of the Paulist Fathers? If not, the video of the Mass from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is at the link below. Please pray with and for the leadership team—
Fr. René, Fr. Frank Desiderio, Vice President, and Fr. Dave Dwyer, First Consultor. We invite you to revisit the joy (Mass begins at 14:50) at Installation.
This weekend, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, let us pray…
