(Please read the passage cited above first.)
My sisters and brothers,
On July 1 of next year, we shall be part of a
family of parishes. We shall join the parishes of St Christopher in Vandalia and St John the Baptist in Tipp City. We shall have one pastor and two other priests for these three parishes. We shall have to say goodbye to our sister parish at Mary Help of Christians. We hope that this reorganization of parishes and pastors will make it easier to serve the needs of the people of the archdiocese.
We need more priests, but we have a greater need for Catholic families committed to living the faith, and then we shall have more priests.
The word of God is proclaimed whenever we celebrate Mass here. This word is going to be proclaimed likewise when we three parishes are joined into only one parish in five years. The word of God is proclaimed to each one of us in the Church. This word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between one’s soul and spirit.
This word of God can uncover the reflections and thoughts of the heart. What are our thoughts about the state of the Church today? What anger or worries do we have in our hearts? What words do we need to give us courage in these times?
The word of God is living and gives us life. The word of God is effective and can make our lives produce much fruit. The word of God was watching over those who made the trek across the desert to come here; it was making the trek with them; it was feeding them; and it was giving them life.
The Word of God was living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between one’s soul and spirit for the Israelites on their dangerous jurneys during the Exodus. The word of God was living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between one’s soul and spirit for Christ in his life and death, leading to his resurrection. The word of God was living an effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between one’s soul and spirit for the Hebrew Christians in the letter to the Hebrews. The word of God is living an effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between one’s soul and spirit for us in the events of our lives. The word of God is living an effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between one’s soul and spirit for us in the reorganization of our parishes under one pastor.