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

NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS BULLETIN EDITION

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From the Desk of Father Mark - Our Pastor
July 19, 2026 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown, it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches."

One of the activities I greatly enjoy as a priest is celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism. There is excitement about families arriving to celebrate their child and dedicate that child to the Lord. In celebrating baptism, the opportunity to hear the stories of why the church and faith have been important in the lives of parents, godparents, family and friends is active.

In Baptism is the beginning of the spiritual life of the child. The child will grow and hopefully become increasingly aware of the presence of God in their life. In First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and eventually perhaps Marriage or Holy Orders, the life of the child will become like a large bush from the smallest of seeds.

The beginning of the Church is Jesus Christ. Jesus gave this beginning to Peter. From Peter, the smallest of seeds, the Church would become a large bush where many would come and 'dwell in its branches'. The function of the Church would be the final commission given to the eleven disciples at the end of the of the Gospel of Matthew, "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."

The church is currently seeking dialogue and co-responsibility of the Church among all its members. In the near future, we will be asked to discern and respond to our own faith and our response to that faith in the life of the Church.

Every prayer we offer, every act of charity we perform, every act of mercy and kindness we offer in the name of Jesus, is infusing life into the Church and the kingdom of God. Let us continue to make our life, which started as the size of a mustard seed, grow into a dwelling for all God's people.

Have a great week!

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