Bishop Terry R. LaValley has begun to focus on the theme, The Church: A Family of Faith.  The Church is a family of faith united together in and with Jesus Christ to praise His name.  We gather around the altar of sacrifice where the Eucharist unites us as the Body of Christ to give Him glory and to worship Him as a community of believers.  We are the people of God who are sent forth to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ to preach and to live the Gospel message.  We build up the Body of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit to act with justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with our God.

The Church is a herald of the Good News announcing that the kingdom of God is among us.  The Church is holy because its members are holy; and unites the family of faith together as one with Jesus Christ as its head. As a family of faith our Baptism calls us to be holy.  Holiness is the living union with God and sharing His love in right relationship with others.  To be holy is a daily process of conversion and reconciliation.  Mary, the Mother of God is the model of the Church.  She is a sign of hope for the future of the Church. “She stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, as one who confidently hopes for and receives salvation from Him” (Lumen Gentium Ch. 8 #55).  St. Ambrose taught, the Mother of God is a model of the Church in the order of faith, charity, and perfect union with Christ…the Mother of Jesus in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come…a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God” (Lumen Genitum #68).

On the First Sunday of Advent, the Gospel readings for Sunday Liturgy will be on the Gospel of Matthew.  The Gospel of Matthew is often called “the Gospel of the Church” because of Christ’s promise to be with His Church community until the end of time.  “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20).  Throughout the year, there will be a variety of ways that the Church of Ogdensburg will celebrate what it means to be a Church, A Family of Faith.  This is an exciting time to be a family member of the Church as it experiences some changes in the Roman Missal that will enhance our celebration of the Mass.  Let us be renewed each day to be the presence of Christ to one another, to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light for all nations” (Mt. 5:13-14).