I understand we have put a lot of effort and hard work to make Lenten observance and Easter Triduum a meaningful and significant one for our families and us. Immediately after that we have begun with our Novenas to St Joseph, the Worker. The organising committee have planned and coordinated well the novenas these past days. The feast day celebration with the procession will be on 30th April 2017 (Sunday) and we shall end the feast of St. Joseph with thanksgiving Mass on Monday, May 1st. These past three weekends starting from the Easter Triduum celebrations, Divine Mercy Sunday and Novenas, we have really worked hard to put our best foot forward in hopes that our community will experience and encounter the Risen Christ.

During these past days I have noticed that the church comers for the novena Masses are fewer than the previous year. Many of you could not attend the nine-day novenas. Probably, you are too busy and exhausted with so many things. Some of you have taken on a lot of responsibilities and working hard for your companies, offices, schools and families. Some others have to make many sacrifices of time and effort for their families and to raise their children with dignity, hope and basic values. Besides these we too are trying to attend as many social events as possible. Nevertheless, all those who came for the novenas have experienced inner healing, obtaining special graces, renewal, transformation and growing in virtues and holiness.

We have come to the end of the Novenas and feast of St. Joseph. We have been focusing on our four commitments mainly on prayers, Word of God, Sacraments and New Evangelisation. All our preachers of the day have specified some kind of direction for us to seek out how the mission may be carried out and how to make them come to a realization in our families and our parish community. They have offered words of encouragement and support and challenged every parishioner to become more convinced in our daily commitment as Catholics and strengthen the call to be a more faithful community.

Today our parish community has been greatly enriched and nourished by faith since our Easter celebrations and novenas. We need to work together to reflect a concern for one another in our parish. Today, we are challenged to bring God’s love, justice, and peace to our families, BECs and society at large. Not everyone can do everything, but our parish should be a sign of unity in pursuing a consistent concern for all who come to our parish. I believe that some of you just realised your potential to know one another better in our parish community and opportunities to serve in our parish and those in need; to work for justice, and to pursue peace. Let us not put many other things on our shoulders that don’t belong to us. Be patient! We need to trust in Jesus and we still need Him in everything that we do. We still need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give us strength and courage in all matters. Do pray to Jesus and He will cast away your anxieties and troubles. Let’s make a steady progress in our faith.

We offer our gratitude and admiration to all those priests who celebrated our Novenas to St Joseph. As we look back at our celebrations, do take a deep breath and take up the challenge with new commitment towards strengthening our faith community. 

St Joseph, Pray For Us!

Fr. George Packiasamy