We would like to give a ROARING THANK YOU
to all the adult and youth volunteers that participated in Vacation Bible School. Your TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE made VBS a HUGE success.
We would also like to thank the many families that brought their children every night to learn that no matter if Life is Unfair, Changes, Scary,  Sad or Good…. GOD IS GOOD!
 
 

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Deacon Blog
May 24, 2020

Follower, Chosen, Sent:  What is the difference, if any, among the terms: “Disciple,” “the Twelve,” and “Apostle?”  Disciple:  This is from a Latin word that means “one who is taught, a learner, the follower of a master.”  In the Gospels, the word designates those called specifically by Jesus to follow him and who actually traveled with him.  Some of them were women.  It’s not known how many disciples there were.  Luke, in his Gospel, speaks of Jesus sending 70 disciples to preach, but it is assumed there were more than this.  Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, is also the first to extended the term “disciple” to refer to Christians who were not with Jesus during his ministry, but who were baptized after his death and resurrection.  Today the term is used for all of us that are baptized. The Twelve:  From among the “disciples,” Jesus chose a distinct group to become “the Twelve” – symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel in the new covenant.  Their names are listed in three of the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles, although there are some variations in the lists.  Apostle:  This is from a Greek word that means “one who is sent officially” as, for example, an ambassador.  In the New Testament, the term does not apply to all the disciples.  It does apply to the Twelve, but goes beyond the Twelve – apparently designating those specially “sent.”  Paul, for example, calls himself an apostle.  In his letter to the Romans, he also refers to a woman as an apostle: “Greet Andronicus and Junia…they are prominent among the apostles.” 

Faith Formation for grades 1st through 9^th Grade will begin on August 25, 2019 @9:30 a.m. Registration will be held on August 04^th, 11^th, and 18^th after all Masses. Please see the Faith Formation page for registration and more information.
 

 

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Most Reverend Martin D. Holley
Homily for the Ascension of the Lord
Year A, May 24, 2020

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, while it may not be the best analogy to use, today, as we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, I am often reminded how in our secular culture, many of us look often look forward to the experience of watching the Olympic Games.

Sadly, because of the Coronavirus, the Summer Olympics of 2020 are cancelled until the Summer of 2021.

But often we look forward to this event, where athletes from around the world gather for the passing of the torch, and the lighting of the Olympic flame to begin the games and competition.

In a certain sense, spiritually, with the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven, Jesus is essentially passing the ‘Torch of Faith’ onto the disciples who will in turn pass the faith down to the next generation.

This is how we all have received the Roman Catholic Faith which has been passed on to us.

Today is a good time for each of our families to take this opportunity to reflect on how the Catholic Faith was passed on to us, and to be willing to share it with our neighbor, especially those who may not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

A few examples that I can think of regarding the experience of the Ascension on the human level, where a person ascends and move up to the next level of life experience or ministry can often be liken to our students in Faith Formation who receive their First Holy Communion for the first time.

The youth who receives the Sacrament of Confirmation, the young person who graduates from High School, the young adult graduating from College, the young man and woman  marrying in the Catholic Church, the married man ordained as a Permanent Deacon, and the seminarian ordained to the Transitional Diaconate or to the Sacred Priesthood.

These can often be a bittersweet celebrations, but they all speak to us about ascending or moving up and on to the next experience or relationship.

So too, is the Ascension of the Lord is about Christ ascending and moving up and on to Heaven to take His seat at the right hand of the Father, as He promises the disciples and us that He will be with them always until the end of the age.

This is about Christ glorification and the assurance to us of a new presence, a victory over sin and death.

We celebrate the Ascension because first, with it, we become co-workers with Christ. He has given us the task to continue His work to build up the Kingdom of God on earth.

While with us on earth, Jesus touched those in His immediate presence, but ascended into heaven, He promises to send the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity to be with His disciples.

Christ goes up to heaven and His disciples go out to share the Good News, since the Lord commissions His disciples to preach, teach, give witness and to baptize.

In the Ascension, we experience a ‘new creation’ and ‘new vision’, which Pope St. Leo the Great said, it “means our own elevation as well. For on this day, not only have we been confirmed in our possession of paradise, but we have even entered heaven in the person of Christ.”

Ultimately, it means that the hope and promise one day that we too might enter into paradise to be with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Ascension enables us as Church to live in the world as a witness to His glory and as a sign of hope for our ultimate redemption.

You and I can make a contribution to spread the Good News by praying and repenting that our life may become more open to the Good News of Jesus by growing in our understanding of Sacred Scripture.

Being ready to share our faith, offering assistance in parish ministry, living out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Treating every human being with dignity and respect, and upholding the sacredness of life.

The Second Vatican Council document called Lumen Gentium, “Light of the Nations’, says this:

“Now the laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only through them can it become the salt of the earth. (LG 33)”

“Even when preoccupied with temporal cares, the laity can and must perform a work of great value for the evangelization of the world. (LG 35)”

And finally, “Let the laity also by their combined efforts remedy the customs and conditions of the world, if they are an inducement to sin, so that they all may be conformed to the norms of justice and may favor the practice of virtue rather than hinder it. By doing so they will imbue culture and human activity with genuine moral values. (LG 36)”

My dear brothers in sisters in Christ, during this month of May, as Mary the Mother of Jesus was crowned as ‘Queen of Heaven and Earth’, so too, is he Ascended Son Jesus Christ is Crown as King of Heaven and Earth.

Let us pray through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Ever Virgin, that we may always remember Jesus promises us that like Him, we all will be raised and ascend to the Father.

And that Jesus, who has ascended into Heaven, is here with us; present in our hearts, in His Apostolic Church and in a special way in the Holy Eucharist, which we are about to receive. Amen.

_______________

Most Rev. Martin Holley
Nativity of Our Lord Parish
Pensacola, Florida

A relationship of faith and commitment exists between the Catholic Church and its members and the public, whether they are children, young people, adults or elderly.  Sexual abuse in this context, or any other relationship, is a matter of grave concern.  Knowledge of such abuse requires a special response in order to facilitate the healing process and assure the safety of the community.  With this in mind, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is committed to healing the hurting hearts of sexual abuse victims.  This diocese has established Victim Assistance Coordinators who are experienced and trained counselors.  These coordinators are available to help persons who have been sexually abused by a priest, deacon or other church personnel.  VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS: Louis M. Makarowski, Ph.D., P.A., Pensacola/Ft. Walton (850)477-7181; James Gagnon, MSW, LCSW,  Tallahassee/Panama City (850)877-0205; Deacon Santiago Molina, for Spanish speakers - En Espanol, (850)627-2350.
 

Diocesan Abuse Hotline: 850-435-3536