From the Desk of Father Mark - Our Pastor
May 24, 2026 - Pentecost Sunday

NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS BULLETIN EDITION

----------------------------------------------

From the Desk of Father Mark - Our Pastor
May 17, 2026 - Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

The words of Jesus 'I will be with you always' have always been a source of comfort. Often in life, we find ourselves asking, "Where are you God?". The response is that he is present in our need and in our acts of kindness. When we feed another, God is there; when we visit another, God is there; when we forgive another from our heart, God is there.

The Gospel of Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount in which we are reminded that we are blessings. These blessings are intended to be shared. The sermon centers on the Lord's Prayer and how to pray. The sermon concludes with the admonition to build the house (of our lives) on solid ground. This sermon is delivered as a reflection on our destiny as children of God, who is always by our side.

"One of the most compelling qualities of life in the Spirit of Jesus is that we are always being sent out to bring and receive the gifts of God to and from all peoples and nations. It is spiritually impossible to enter into the house of God and to meet there all of humanity without coming to the inner awareness that the fruits of the Spirit grow and mature in a worldwide process of giving and receiving." - Henri Nouwen

On this Solemnity of the Ascension, I pray you realize as Jesus walks with you, your acts of discipleship make him recognizable to you and others.

Have a great week!

Fr. Mark Walter
Pastor of Our Lady of the Ridge - St.Linus Parish