We welcome our brothers and sisters from St. Pius V, St. Stephen Protomartyr and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes. We are, indeed, one body in Christ. The Eucharist we share today is a foretaste of Heaven and an anticipation of who we will be soon. This assembly gathered today will take upon itself the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel beyond all the parks: Tower Grove, Carondelet and even to the ends of the earth.
The work which begins now is the stretching of our minds, our hearts, our wills, and all our strength to embrace God's plan for us and our salvation. It is an exciting time. Perhaps we can see it as a return to our roots. As we break bread together, we will come to understand each other and work together for the building up of the body of Christ and reaching for the Kingdom of God which is "at hand".
This marks a new beginning of goodness for us. Let us heed the Baptist's cry, let us pour out our lives for others, following in the footsteps of St. Stephen, let us find comfort in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and let us respond to Pope St. Pius V's teaching "God protects the weak and innocent."
As things unfold it seems some of us will be in on Pastorate while others remain neighbors to the north and east. Let us always remain united in our desire to proclaim the Gospel to the poor.
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.