May 11, 2022May 11, 2022

Fr. Mike’s Communication for May 15 2022

by in Uncategorizedtags , ,
16

The Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 15, 2022

“[Paul and Barnabas] appointed elders for them in each church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they
had put their faith.”

~ Acts 14:23

Brothers and Sisters,

I wish you continued Easter blessings, especially to our youth whom Archbishop Lori confirms this day, along with the nine deacons he ordained yesterday! Thank you, parents, sponsors, family members, and friends who have accompanied our confirmandi, encouraging, enriching, and challenging them to grow in the faith. Our sincerest gratitude to Deacon Roch, Claudia, and our partner Kristen Fisher with Ablaze Family Ministries, along with the support of our adult leaders and youth peers. Thank you for laying the foundation for our teens to encounter the Lord and welcome the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I’m so excited to witness the fruits of your collective efforts!

At every Mass during the Eucharist Prayer, the Church implores God the Father that our celebration of the Mass may lead us into unity by the intervention of the Holy Spirit. It’s good to remember that this unity does not require us to eliminate our diversity. (All we need to do is look at all creation to realize that our God loves variety!) Instead, this unity is realized when we ask the Holy Spirit for humility and how we can use our unique gifts to build up God’s Kingdom together.

At OLPH, we have put forward the discipleship pathway: Belong, Believe, Become, and Beyond as a tool to discover our giftedness, assess our spiritual growth, and ultimately find purpose in Jesus. When we embark and stay committed to the spiritual pathway, we realize the Church that God desires: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Just like the early Christians who raised up strong leaders to spread the Gospel, our parish needs your passion, gifts, involvement, and active participation to do the same. As we anticipate Pentecost, know of my intention that the Holy Spirit may raise strong disciples and encourage leaders right here at OLPH, who might help us advance our mission to bring God’s love out to Ellicott City, Maryland. We want our neighbors and friends to experience God’s life-changing love in a welcoming and genuine atmosphere.

With this on our hearts, join me by setting aside a special time for prayer at our Pentecost Novena, beginning on Friday, May 27. We’ll celebrate the Novena prayers each evening at 7 pm, inviting the Holy Spirit into our parish, homes, and hearts, knowing that the Holy Spirit never disappoints! Let’s open our hearts to how the Lord is calling us to live our vocation out to the fullest: as disciples, lay ministers, spouses, parents, grandparents, children, and siblings, or as priests, deacons, or religious. Like those early disciples, le’s remain committed in faith! God has a role for each of us, and if we say “yes” to our unique call, our community becomes more fruitful — stronger.

Our novena prayers are part of a week-long celebration, rightfully called EXALT, which will honor the Holy Spirit’s guidance and blessings, especially the fruits of 25 years of Eucharistic Adoration which include many vocations discovered and realized before the Blessed Sacrament at OLPH. I pray that we pack the Church in praise of our Lord for Pentecost, especially with the Extended Pentecost Vigil on Saturday, June 4 at 7 pm, with our Mass and time of Exalt, followed by fellowship. To discover all we have planned for the EXALT week, including a Family Pentecost Celebration and our Parish Picnic, please visit https://olphparish.org/exalt. And because I am greedy, may we also set aside June 17-18 for the beautiful Life in the Spirit seminar, where we are taught and encouraged to listen to the Holy Spirit who speaks to each of us. To learn more and register, be sure to visit https://olphparish.org/life-in-the-spirit.

In closing, please join me in prayer, asking the Lord to mark Pentecost and EXALT as a time of spiritual renewal. So all parishioners can discover their preciousness in the Lord and their essential role in our parish and Church.

Some considerations:

  • THE SHROUD OF TURIN TALK AND EXACT FULL-SIZE REPLICA | Presented by Bill Wingard |Monday, May 16th at 7 pm | St Augustine’s Hall at St. Augustine Church. Considered one of the greatest mysteries of our time, the Shroud of Turin continues to amaze and baffle scientists, doctors, historians, artists, and theologians. Scientists cannot explain the source of the image which contains photographic and 3-D properties on a cloth centuries old. Bill Wingard, is a speaker for the Shroud on both East and West coasts and schools such as M.I.T. He is mentored by scientists who have extensively examined the Shroud, and he will present the history, the science, and the Passion along with the case for authenticity.

  • Individual Unbound Ministry Prayer | June 11 – Many of us are fighting invisible battles with anxieties, negative thoughts, sins, unhealthy relationships, destructive habits, resentments, and bitter wounds that never seem to heal. You can reach out and experience God’s merciful love, healing, and freedom! Unbound Ministry Prayer releases the power of Jesus into wounded lives. On Saturday, June 11th, there will be trained teams available to provide individual prayer using the Unbound Model of prayer in Ellicott City, MD. Unbound Prayer is based on 5 scriptural keys that help you unlock those areas of your life where you want to receive greater freedom, healing & spiritual growth. If you would like to schedule an appointment or want more information, please contact Dan or Peggy Gahagan by Monday, June 6th, at unboundministrymaryland@gmail.com. We ask that you read at least the first 7 chapters of the book Unbound, by Neal Lozano prior to scheduling an appointment to receive Unbound prayer (available at www.Amazon.com OR www.heartofthefather.com).
  • Columbia Pregnancy Center Spring Prayer Service | May 14th at 2 pm Parents who have lost a child are invited to this outdoor garden prayer service to remember the ones we have lost. For more information, please contact the Columbia Pregnancy Center at 410 730 3223
  • VBS at OLPH | July 18-22 | 10 am – 12:30 pm Join us for our Summer, 2022 Vacation Bible School, “Monumental: Celebrating God’s Greatness” where we will celebrate God’s greatness throughout the whole week! Learn more, become a volunteer or a camper. Visit www.olphparish.org or email Judy Gruel, at jgruel@archbalt.org.

In the Risen Lord,

Rev. Michael S. Triplett