My dear parishioners, our Savior, who ascended to heaven in the days before Pentecost, remains with us in a real and substantial manner in the mysterium of consecrated bread and wine. Of the innumerable aspects of the mystery of the Mass, one reality supersedes all others. The Holy Eucharist is a sacrifice of the body and blood of the Lord effected by the Holy Spirit invoked through the consecration of the bread and wine by the ordained priest and the eucharistic prayer he offers.
 
Christ is fully and truly present to us in the Holy Eucharist. We know what the Holy Spirit accomplishes. As surely as Our Lord ascended from this world to heaven, the substances of wheat and grape are transubstantiated—changed, “crossing over”—into his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. How the Holy Spirit transubstantiates the bread and wine into the flesh and blood of Christ we cannot master.
 
We bow before the mystery of faith. The Holy Spirit, leaving the external characteristics of bread and wine untouched, confers upon them a provocative, yet immutable and timeless essence. Bread becomes flesh, our real food. Wine becomes blood, our real drink.  [cf. Jn 6:55] 
 
The unbloody sacrifice of the Mass, offered by the Church until Christ returns in glory, complements and completes Christ's saving activity in the world. Of all the dimensions that make up this singular, unchanging cosmic mystery, the sacrificial character of the Mass is sovereign.
 
Blessings are an offering of mercy and a sharing of the life within the Holy Trinity. They are a proof of God's love  which gives us confidence to live in freedom—God's freedom—which the world cannot give:
 
AND WE all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  [2 Cor 3:18-4:1] 
 
Walk side-by-side with Jesus then, holding on to his mantle. Permit him to place his hand on your shoulder.
 
"We walk in the light"  [1 Jn 1:7]  by reflecting the Lord’s glory. We hold fast to Jesus' robe by following faithfully God's commandment of worship on the Lord's Day, by seeking absolution in the sacrament of confession when we sin, by offering prayers of petition, praise and thanksgiving throughout the work of each day, and by remaining faithful to His Bride, the Church.

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Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Auxiliary Bishops
Auxiliary Msgr. George Sheltz
Retired Auxilliary Vincent Rizzotto 
Archbishop Emeritus
Most Rev. Joseph A. Fiorenza 
Pastor
Reverend Richard Barker
 

 

Sunday Masses                              Daily Masses
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm                  Monday: 7:00 pm; Tuesday - Saturday: 8:30 am
Sunday: 8:30 & 11:00 am            

Reconciliation/Confession  
Saturday: 3:30 - 4:30 or by appointment

Explore this website: www.usccb.org/romanmissal . It’s quite helpful.

The mission of God's Church—the justification for religion and the life of faith—is directed wholly to teaching Jesus' disciples how to remain at his side throughout life. As long as we cling to his robe, to the hem of his radiant   garment, Jesus will walk beside us with his hand on our shoulder.
 
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward."  [Jn 13:36]  Contemplate the ascension of Our Lord to the right hand of the God the Father! Drawing near to Christ that he may lead us to the Father, we journey with the Good Shepherd to heaven, to "springs of living water".  [Rev 7:17] 
 
I give you the joy of Our Lord’s ascension.
 
Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Your pastor,
Reverend Richard Barker.
 

 

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