Dear Parishioners,

Seven years ago, Pope Francis designated the 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, (i.e., today) as the “Sunday of the Word of God” to emphasize our need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures. Every home in our parish should have a Catholic Bible that is not left in the bookcase or on a table, but opened and read!  
 
The late Cardinal Martini of Milan describes the importance of Scripture in our life: “In
moments of sorrow the Word of god can illuminate our life as a reminder of what is essential: God is speaking; God is near; God is faithful. Because it is the Word of God, the Bible becomes a consoling viaticum for every moment of life. The content kindles rays of hope. In addition, the Word of God shows us that while some things are not granted us or are painfully taken away, other more profound goods are revealed: courage; a humbler sense of our fragility; a greater vigilance over our superficial desires; and a more faithful dedication to duty, over and above short term gratifications.
 
Fr. Henri Nouwen prayed: “I know, Lord, that your word has power, that it can transform heart and mind…give me a heart that can receive your word the way good soil receives the falling seed, and let your word produce new life and new love in the midst of this barren world.”

Chè pawasyen,

Depi 7 ane, pap Franswa dezinye 3zyèm dimanch tan òdinè a (ki donk jodia) kòm “Dimanch Pawòl Bondye” dekwa pou li ka souliyen bezwen nou genyen pou nou ale pi fon nan konesans ak renmen pou Pawòl la ki sen an. Chak fanmi nan pawas la ta dwe genyen yon Bib katolik ki pap rete anwo yon etajè oubyen sou yon tab, men li dwe ouvè epi li.  

Ansyen kadinal Milan an, Martini dekri enpòtans Pawòl ki sakre yo nan lavi nou konsa : Nan moman nou nan tristès, pawòl Bondye a kapab klere lavi nou pandan li ap fè nou sonje sa ki esansyèl: Bondye pale, Bondye tout pre, Bondye fidèl. Paske li se pawòl, Labib vini yon vyatik konsolatè pou chak moman nan lavi a. Sa li genyen ladan l fè parèt anpil reyon lespwa. Deplis, Pawòl Bondye a montre nou si nou pa jwenn kèk bagay oubye si yo ta retire yo nan men nou, genyen lòt byen ki pi enpòtan ki ap parèt: kouray, sans imilite nan frajilite nou, yon pi gwo vijilans sou dezi sipèfisyèl nou yo e devouman nou nan devwa nou yo ap pi fidèl, tout bagay sa yo ap vini avan menm gratifikasyon yon ti bout tan yo.
 
Pè Henri Nouwen te konn lapriyè konsa : « Mwen konnen, Granmèt, pawòl ou a genyen pouvwa, li kapab transfòme kè ak lespri… ba mwen yon kè ki kapab resevwa pawòl ou a tankou yon bon tè resevwa grenn ki tonbe, epi kite pawòl ou a pwodwi yon lavi tou nèf e yon renmen tou nèf nan mitan mond sa a ki pa kapab pwodwi a.”
 

Religion cannot be separated from life, either in theory or in daily reality.
∼St. Jose Maria Escriva