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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank you for the warm, farewell reception last weekend. Your generosity, friendship and kind devotionon to our parish and me will forever remain emblazoned within my heart. During my time here, we were collectively able to achieve many goals and tally several arduous accomplishments. Our physical plant is in good shape. Our school has grown into a top-tier, vibrant, educational resource for our students, we have significantly broadened our Catholic services within the parish and have extended our Chrisan outreach that positively impacts many people. Overall, our parish, and the work we do, have gained formidable influence throughout the Eastern Idaho area. In these final weeks of my tenure, I have wondered about the experiences of those pastors who preceded me. I have wondered about the people they served. I have wondered what their passion for Jesus Christ was like? In these ten years, I’ve watched children grow up. I’ve baptized, celebrated marriages, and officiated too many funerals. I’ve visited hospitals and shut-ins. Together, we realized some dreams, enjoyed countless blessings, observed numerous changes, and persevered through various challenges. While I am leaving you, there is one who remains constant: Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus has been here from the beginning and will be with you for the rest of time. If through the power of the Holy Spirit you allow Jesus to guide you individually and our dynamic, growing parish collectively, our parish mission will continue to be fulfilled. Changes may occur. Our parish may not always look like it does today. There may be difficult decisions which need to be made. But a passion for Our Lord and Savior will see you through all your future trials. This passion guided the earlier congregations of Holy Rosary and Christ the King parishes and it enabled them to navigate their own trials. They managed and flourished because of their unwavering faith and the steadfast belief that nothing is impossible with the Lord. The bible is full of stories about people who faced harder trials than we. There were times when the people of Israel were exiled from their land; every time they returned. When Elijah was on the run from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel he prayed, “I’ve been very passionate for the Lord God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer and encouraged him with these words: “I have preserved those who remain in Israel, totaling seven thousand–all those whose knees haven’t bowed down to Baal and whose mouths haven’t kissed him.” When Elijah calculated the odds, it looked like the situation was insurmountable. However, God’s math was different from Elijah’s. God made a way where there seemed to be no possible way. God will always do this for people who have faith. I pray for a bright future for this wonderful parish. I pray that under new pastoral leadership you will never cease in your effort to spread the Good News of Our Lord. I pray you will center your lives around mercy and love toward one another. Mercy and love are all that is needed! Finally, I share with you the Mizpah blessing from Genesis 31:49, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are out of each other’s sight.” I shall go away smiling and praying that you will love one another! May God bless you always. See you in church for three more weeks. In Loving, Profound Gratitude, Fr. Raul Written by Fr. Raul Covarrubias
Divine Mercy Sunday ---- a very special Sunday. Today denotes when the Divine Floodgates from Heaven are opened-wide and Jesus offers us the total forgiveness of all sins and punishment to any soul who goes to Confession and receives Him in Holy Communion. Today our Lord’s Divine Mercy is there for asking, even for the most hardened sinners. Today is the Sunday of Divine Mercy..........the Feast Day of Mercy. Please join us as we celebrate this extraordinary Feast Day. Specific details are found elsewhere in today’s bulletin. Thank you for the warm, affeconate welcome as I return to a full regimen of duty. Please connue to pray for me and please pray for our new parish priests scheduled to arrive here July 1. See you in Church. In Loving, Profound Gratitude, Fr. Raul Written by Fr. Raul Covarrubias
There is a poem by T. S. Eliot entitled “Little Gidding, V,” that contains the following lines: “We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” To paraphrase: We shall not cease from faith, and the end of all our believing will be to arrive where we started and know the gifts for the first time. The first time, when was that? What a precious moment that was. There is a principle in the spiritual life to this effect: Go back to where God is waiting for you. Never forget the moment when you first knew that you truly believed. Go back to that moment. God is still waiting for you there, to renew and enrich the gift, over and over again. Let’s not pass on the opportunity to really engage in this renewal gift during Holy Week. There is no better time. It is wonderful to be back in the fold again, actively celebrating mass with you. Thank you again for all your support during my recovery. Please continue to pray for me and please pray for our new parish priests scheduled to arrive here July 1. See you in Church. In Loving, Profound Gratitude, Fr. Raul |
AuthorFr. Ron Wekerle is the Pastor of St. John Paul II Parish and Superintendent of Holy Rosary Catholic School. He is assisted by Fr. Hippolytus Ezenwa, SMMM and Fr. German Ruis Rebollo Archives
May 2020
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