St. Paul & Parish Home Visitations

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is a special day in the Year of St. Paul. We join with the Church throughout the world in celebrating the day of his conversion. On this day the Lord Jesus appeared to Saul (his original name). Up to that moment he had been a rabid persecutor of the disciples of Jesus, but his encounter with the Lord brought him to a complete change of heart.

He changed from Saul the persecutor of Christians to Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles. Many of us undergo conversion experiences in our lives; sometimes these are very dramatic, at other times we change gradually over a period of time. Some people drift away from the faith of their childhood. Even among our family members there are some who have given up the practice of their Catholic faith. I know this is true because I talk to people who are grieving over their children, brothers or sisters who no longer go to Mass.

We may also have friends and neighbors who are Catholic but who don’t practice the faith. We cannot be indifferent to this situation. If we truly believe that the Church is necessary for salvation, we should try to draw these people back to Church.

With this reality in mind I wish to announce a new project that we are launching today, the Parish Home Visitation Project. Inspired by the example of the great Apostle Paul who journeyed far and wide to spread the Gospel, I want to ask you to join me in sharing the good news of Christ with your neighbors. During this year I will be visiting homes in different parts of our parish. The purpose of these visits is to meet with you and your friends and neighbors in the area, to pray, share Scripture, and invite those who have been inactive to become active again.

Please pray for this effort, that the Lord will bless it and make it fruitful for the good of souls. If you would like to host an evening visit, please contact the rectory. You will be told how to prepare for the evening, and you will reserve a date for the visit. Visits will take place on weekday evenings (except Wednesdays). Plan to invite other parishioners who live in your neighborhood, as well as neighbors who would like to pray and meet your pastor. You will hear more about the parish visitation in today’s homily.

Let us pray to the great missionary apostle St. Paul for the success of our Parish Home Visitation Project.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand