Fifth Sunday of Easter

Growing Pains

As the number of Jesus’ disciples continued to grow, a problem arose. We call it “growing pains.” New needs were identified and someone needed to minister to those needs. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that the solution to the “problem” of large numbers of unattended or neglected people was to identify new ministers who would serve alongside the disciples.  Their qualifications were simple. They were to be reputable, Spirit-filled and wise, devoted to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

In the days following the Resurrection, the apostles prayed over, laid hands on the new ministers and anointed them. Then they were sent by the whole community to minister to those in need.

At St. Francis, there is hardly a Sunday when we don’t experience just such an ACTS event! We pray with outstretched hands for parents who just baptized their children, for First Communicants, for members of ACTS retreat teams, for St. Vincent de Paul volunteers, for our MLF teams, for our engaged couples being formed for sacramental marriage, for those who bring the Eucharist to our homebound parishioners, for our graduating seniors….the list goes on and on. What a great tradition of the early church that continues to call us to service!

We too pray that all these vital members of our community be Spirit-filled and wise, devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word. You can help us with our own “growing pains” by answering the call to service, the call to continuing the acts of Jesus.

One way to answer the call is to serve at Mass. On June 3 and June 10, we will be providing training for liturgical ministers, specifically Eucharistic ministers, readers, altar servers and hospitality ministers. We highly encourage you to participate in these rewarding ministries.