“Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”  Acts 1:11 These words from the First Reading help us to focus on the importance and significance of the Ascension of

Jesus into Heaven so that the Holy Spirit could then come upon the church; it also points out the mandate to go forth and witness the presence of God in all ways.  One of the beautiful ways this is accomplished is when a woman or a man responds to God’s call to serve as a religious, a dedicated lay ecclesial minister, or as a priest.  This weekend we celebrate the blessing of Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt, ordained on Saturday and whose first Mass is at St. Thomas More during the 10:30 Liturgy.  At the same Mass, we also honor the 2012 High School Graduates of the parish who represent the area schools.  We congratulate them all and wish/pray many blessing in the coming years.  As the disciples then, so now the disciples of the 21^st century are called to witness the power and presence of God at work in the church and in the world.  May each one know that she/he is not alone in this journey but that God has great desires and designs for the faithful followers.  So, let it be done!

Take care this week.