Dear Parishioners:
Coming soon to STM! We've all heard things like this before, but this time it is true. We are expecting a special guest at the end of this month.
Father Gustavo Garcia-Siller, a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, will be giving our parish Lenten mission from Feb. 28th through March 4th. Father was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He is the oldest of fifteen children. He joined the Missionaries in 1973 and was ordained a priest in 1984.
Father Gustavo has served the Church in parishes in Los Angeles, CA., and for the last nine years he has been involved in the training of priests for his own community and for the seminarians of the Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.
In the encyclical Tertio Millennio Adveniente, Pope John Paul set out an agenda for you and me to prepare for the coming new millennium. He directed that 1997 be a year of focusing on Jesus, 1998 on the Holy Spirit, and 1999 on the Father. The final year will be a focus on the Trinity.
Our topic for this year's mission will be the Holy Spirit. Father Gustavo will help us to follow more deeply our understanding of how the Spirit works in our lives. How can we live our daily lives in a constant relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Father will offer some practical ways to allow the Holy Spirit to become more active in us. Each evening will begin with Father's talk, some time for questions and answers, and closing with adoration of Jesus and Benediction.
An ancient spiritual writer, Diadochus of Photice wrote, "So by every means, but especially by peace of soul, we must try to provide the Holy Spirit with a resting place." When we achieve this resting place, we will be better able to distinguish between those thoughts which come from God and those from the Evil One. We will be better able to reject those evil thoughts and turn more of our hearts to God and His beneficence.
Again he writes, "The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of goodness: do not grieve Him by your evil actions and thoughts, and so deprive yourself of this defense His light affords you." Once again we see that when we stifle goodness and holiness, we are the ones who will suffer in the long run. It just isn't worth it!
Father Gustavo will help us have a stronger hold on the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. Mark these dates on your calendars now. This will be a great way for us to begin Lent.
I'm looking forward to a great and holy mission
Fr. Bill
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