Dear People of St. Andrew the Apostle:
Viva il Papa! Benedetto, We Love You!
Amidst shouts such as these, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States last week. It was a wonderful and exciting visit. I am convinced that our Lord led Pope Benedict to our shores to speak a message in the depth of our hearts. As our Holy Father made his various visits it seems to me that one constant theme was that we, as followers of Jesus, are called to be "Apostles of Hope"? in the midst of a wounded world.
Our Holy Father made time for some of the most wounded in our midst -- those who had been victims of sexual abuse by clergy. He met privately with people who had endured this deep and abiding wound. I don't know what he said, but from what they said after their meeting, it is obvious that he touched them deeply and helped them to find a pathway of light and hope from the darkness of their ordeal.
When he spoke to seminarians and 25,000 young people gathered in a soccer field, the Holy Father spoke of his own darkness growing up under the Nazi regime of being forced to participate in the Nazi Youth movement. He spoke of how horrifying it was to be under Nazi rule, and he reminded us that evil never triumphs the light of Christ always shines in the midst of darkness, and offers hope of a better tomorrow.
At Ground Zero, the Pope knelt, lit a candle, said a prayer, and embraced those who had lost loved ones in the terrorist attack. Again He emphasized that like Christ we are called to bring hope into the midst of tragedy, for evil will never be the ultimate winner. He taught us that God, no matter how He is understood or worshipped, never sanctions killing in His name.
Through our Holy Father, Jesus is calling us to be "Apostles of Hope" people who believe that our future, with God, will be bigger and better than our past - and people who reach out into the community to bring that message of hope to others. This past Saturday, as the Pope was speaking to the youth, we were dedicating a Habitat for Humanity House in Chandler. Through the efforts of our parishioners, together with US Airways and Alliance Bank, the Lua family was given new hope for their future. This is what it means to be Apostles of Hope.
Today we introduce "Operation ANDREW" a ministry which encourages and supports people in listening to how God might be speaking to them, inviting them to be His "Apostles of Hope"? as priests, as sisters, as workers in God's vineyard. Together we can make a difference in the lives of others, and spread Christian hope throughout our community and, hopefully, throughout our world.
May God bless you.
Fr. John
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