The joy of the end of the world - the coming of Christ!

Father Patrick Beidelman was the celebrant for Mass and the readings for the Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary time, cycle B pointed toward the end of the world where we are told no one knows the day or the hour except the Father.    In this world there is much concern about the end of the world as the thought is that everything we know and love in this world will be blown away.  But as Catholics we joyfully look forward to the end of the world as this will be the return of Jesus to the Earth.  We will be welcomed into the glory of God and we look joyfully to this time.  This is a very different vision of what our culture thinks about the end of the world.   Of course, we need to be ready every day for the coming of Christ.    The world distracts us from this, but if we keep focused on our faith it will prepare us to meet our Lord and be welcomed when he comes, and may he come soon.

Father Beidelman reminded us that as Catholics we pray for the coming of Christ every time we celebrate the liturgy at Mass.   At the Mystery of Faith we proclaim, “When we eat the bread and drink this cup we proclaim your glory until you come again”.  In the Our Father we pray, “Thy kingdom come thy will be done”. After the Our Father we proclaim, “For the Kingdom, power, and glory are yours now and forever.”

Father Beidelman also gave us an update on Bishop Simon Brute’ seminary at Marian University and gave us some background on our first Bishop Simon Brute'.    He also made an appeal to support of the seminary.  If you did not get a chance to make a donation at Mass you can do so at online.   He told us the Bishop Brute’ came here is 1834 as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes.  At the time he had three priests to support 25,000 Catholics in a territory covering the entire state of Indiana and the Eastern half of Illinois, including the small fishing village of Chicago.  By 1839 Bishop Brute’ had 35 priests supporting the state and 20 seminarians.   This is a great example of the Providence of God and you can learn more on Bishop Brute’ at the website for his cause for Beatification and Canonization.  

Fr. Beidelman also spoke about the Providence of God at work in Bishop Simon Brute’ seminary at Marian University where there recently was a need to expand dorms to support the growing number of seminarians.   He also reminded us that most of us are called to the vocation Holy Sacrament of Matrimony, but he asked us to consider encouraging young men of parish to consider a vocation of the Priesthood.  If anyone is considering a vocation to the priesthood consider attending discernment dinners or Bishop Brute Days Camp for young men, ages 13-17.    Events are upcoming in 2013 and more information can be found on the seminary  events calendar.  Also consider checking into the priestly vocations website if you are discerning a call.