The following is from our visiting priest, Fr. Bill Sneck, and Steve Attias, chairman of our Evangelization Committee…

Speading the Good News

Many of our Easter readings, the book of Acts in particular, have showcased Jesus’ apostles going out and spreading the good news. The apostles, stoked up and enthusiastic about what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross, go out and speak of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us. Love, Light, and Fire are common themes in many of our Easter readings. One cannot help but notice the common thread of evangelization.

The root word of evangelization is Gospel or Good News. I often wonder how we are doing with this effort. Are we living our Faith to the fullest? If not, we are called to a renewed conversion. If we are Catholic in name only, we are led to re-evangelization. For those we might know who have stopped practicing their faith altogether, evangelization is a call to reconciliation. For children, it is a call to be formed into disciples through the family's faith life and religious education. For other Christians evangelization is an invitation to know the fullness of our Catholic message. For those with no faith at all it is a call to conversion to know Christ Jesus and thus experience a change to new life with Christ and his Church. (From Go and Make Disciples USCCB)

After spending a week in your lovely parish here at Precious Blood of Christ (PBOC) I am struck by the varied missions and outreach that are vibrantly happening here. Your Pastor, Fr. Pat, has great vision and clearly the gift of energizing his parishioners. PBOC is a place where all can feel welcome and involvement in parish life is encouraged and welcomed. There is warmth in your parish that is best characterized by the word LOVE.

"We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him." (I John 4:16) if we are filled with an Easter spirit of joy and love, it will be infectious to those around us. It will encourage them to come and experience this joy and be part of our community at PBOC. St. Augustine said "You are great Lord … because you have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you." Having an eternal purpose in one's life provides meaning to one's life. No doubt you have heard stories of deathbed conversions, foxhole Christians, and reflections on a busy life that when looked back on, is not meaningful to the person near death. I encourage you to be aware of what your heart is telling you to do. Listen to those around you, for oftentimes they are bringing a message from God which encourages your response. Discern what God might be asking of you, than act on it, get involved, and pray about it. St. Francis of Assisi said "Preach the Gospel, use words if necessary." Witness is the simple living of the faith; sharing is spreading the good news of Jesus in an explicit way.

You have heard me say the Church gives us 30 days for Advent, 40 days for Lent, and 50 days for Easter. We must be joyful and full of love such that our light shines out to the community and stokes the fire of enthusiasm inside ourselves, when those around us feel that warmth and are drawn in. The Easter message is, get involved, stay involved, and spread the good news! Invite your extended family, your friends, strangers with whom you come into contact to join us at Mass. Here they will meet Jesus in the Eucharist.

Thank you for welcoming me into your parish, and may God Bless Ya'll!

Fr. William Sneck S.J. Retreat Director

with Steve Attias, Evangelization Committee