Dear Pauline Family,
Today Sunday, 16 January 2011, as a parishioner of Church of the Holy Family which is designated as the United Nations Parish, I felt privileged to have had amongst our midst His Eminence Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston, as the Principal Celebrant of the 12:00 noon Holy Mass. I enjoyed his homily very much on the truthfulness and humility of St. John the Baptist in bearing witness to the real Messiah, Jesus Christ. (Ref John 1:29-34)
Today's second reading 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 was also special. St. Paul the Apostle reminds us that we are "called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2). He was addressing the Corinthians and, equally so, "all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." That includes us who call on the name of the Lord.
Blessed James Alberione, our Founder, heard St. Paul's words so clearly that he dedicated his life to proclaim the Gospel and established ten (10) branches of the Pauline Family to whom he passed on the teachings and the work of spreading the Good News.
I take this opportunity to extend a million thanks to Cardinal O'Malley. For today just before the Holy Mass, while in the Sacristy of the Church of the Holy Family, he imparted his blessings so very kindly to the image of Blessed James Alberione. (See photo above.) I will treasure this memento from the Pauline Cooperators Pilgrimage organized by the Daughters of St. Paul (USA) to the Primo Maestro's house in Fossano last October 2010. This I will treasure as a reminder of the "call" to live the gracious gift of our baptism. What does this entail?
Jesus Master, Way, Truth & Life, have mercy on us. Mary, Queen of the Apostles, pray for us, St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us. Blessed James Alberione, pray for us.
Respectfully,
Margie Skeels
