Greetings in Christ!

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places... I go to prepare a place for you.”

I find chapter 14 in the Gospel according to St. John to be one of the most poignant and emotionally charged. It is in a sense, the Lord’s ‘goodbye’ to His apostles. These are some of the final words He will say before going to the cross. It marks a definitive change in how He will relate to the Apostles from this time forward. Now, instead of being side by side with them, teaching them and directing them what to do, it is the Holy Spirit within them who will lead them to grow the Church through their preaching and teaching.

In these words of Christ, He offers us profound comfort and a glorious promise. He assures us that heaven is not a vague concept, but a home, specifically prepared for each of us. As your pastor, I invite you to reflect on this not just as a future hope, but as a present reality that shapes how we live today.

While Jesus is preparing our eternal home, He also desires for us to experience a "pre-dwelling" of that home here and now. The Church, each one of the baptized forms part of the Body of Christ—our temporary gathering place, our refuge, and our team engaged in mission for God’s kingdom. Jesus has not only prepared a place for you in heaven, but He has also prepared a place for you in the church and in our parish family.

The unique gifts, talents, and even at times struggles that you carry with you can be used by God to carry out a specific role in this community. We are not called to be spectators in our faith, but active members of a living community. Perhaps you are gifted with hospitality, making others feel welcomed in the Father's house. Perhaps you have talents for teaching, handiwork around the parish or outreach to the poor or marginalized. When we use these gifts, we are not just doing volunteer work; we are acting as stewards, multiplying the graces God has entrusted to us, and creating an atmosphere of love.

I encourage you this week to pray: “Lord, what is the place you have prepared for me to serve in this parish?” Do not be afraid to reach out to me or to the office to discover where you can share your unique gifts.

In our survey of the needs in our parish, our team identified two areas upon which our parish will focus. These are increased participation in our parish through volunteers. The second is providing a means for our parish to grow in our faith. To address this second goal of growing in our faith, we will be launching a 5-week small group study. Registration will begin Sunday May 10th.

In Christ,

Fr. Michael Carlson, Pastor