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April 26, 2015
Fourth Sunday of Easter
CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
520 Raymond Street • Bismarck, ND 58501 • 701-223-1033
www.cathedralparish.com
FROM MSGR. RICHTER
Friends of the Cathedral,
Three things……First, today is the 52nd Annual
World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope Francis’
Message is an insert in this bulletin. Please read
it. In addition, I beg you to continue praying for
vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Only a few times in the gospels does Jesus tell us to pray for
specific things, but laborers for the harvest is one of them.
Jesus said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers
are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for
his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
The Cathedral has six seminarians; there are a total of 24
for the Diocese; and Fr. Waltz, the Vocation Director, told me
that there may be five more new ones for the Fall. Praise God!
Let’s keep praying so this Diocese can keep receiving His great
blessings.
Second, next weekend is the God’s Share Appeal. Fr. Kramer
rarely boasted, but when it came to the generosity of Cathedral
parishioners to the God’s Share Appeal, he could not resist. In
2012, we gave $363,857.42; in 2013, we gave $397,749.35; in
2014, we gave $365,721.75. Thank you for your generosity. If
you can increase your gift by a few bucks, please do. May we
continue to be generous to God and to our bishop!
Third, recently I received an email containing resources for
divorced Catholics. It was quite good. In particular, I think the
website www.catholicsdivorce.com could be a source of help
and support. I encourage you to check it out and to share it
with those who could benefit from it.
May we receive more and more joy in the Risen Christ!
Prayer for Vocations
GOD OUR FATHER, we thank you for calling
men and women to serve in your Son’s kingdom
as priests, deacons, religious and consecrated
persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help us respond
generously and courageously to your call. May
our community of faith support vocations of
sacrificial love in our youth. We ask this through
our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and
ever. Amen.
CLERGY
Bishop........................................ Most Reverend David D. Kagan
Rector..............................................Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Richter
Parochial Vicar..................................................Fr. Jared Johnson
Permanent Deacons.................Richard Fettig, Randal Schmidt,
Ralph von Ruden, Tony Ternes, Woodie Wolf
THIS WEEK @ CATHEDRAL
MASS INTENTION
TIME
MONDAY, APRIL 27
Mass...............................Brandon Martel Family............... 6:45 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation...............................................7:20 AM
Mass..............................................Gregory Luger............... 8:00 AM
Eucharistic Adoration........................................... .9:00 AM-9:00 PM
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
Mass.............................................Vicky Boechler............... 6:45 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation...............................................7:20 AM
Mass.................................. Duane & Doris Liffrig............... 8:00 AM
Eucharistic Adoration........................................... .9:00 AM-9:00 PM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
Mass............................................. Dan Campbell............... 6:45 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation...............................................7:20 AM
Mass...........................Michael Genewich Family............... 8:00 AM
Eucharistic Adoration........................................... .9:00 AM-9:00 PM
THURSDAY, APRIL 30
Mass................................... +Alphonse Boechler............... 6:45 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation...............................................7:20 AM
Mass............................................. +Lynda Larkin............... 8:00 AM
School Mass...........................+Melissa Hellman............... 9:00 AM
Eucharistic Adoration........................................... .9:00 AM-9:00 PM
FRIDAY, MAY 1
Mass................................... +Laurie McCormack............... 6:45 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation...............................................7:20 AM
Mass............................Mr. & Mrs. Devyn Nelson............... 8:00 AM
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Sacrament of Reconciliation...............................................7:20 AM
Mass.................................. Calvin & Patty Bosch............... 8:00 AM
Sacrament of Reconciliation.............................................. 4:00 PM
Vigil Mass........................Cathedral Parishioners............... 5:00 PM
Sacrament of Reconciliation...............................................7:30 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 3
Mass.......................................... +Lorraine Keller............... 8:30 AM
Mass.............................Jenna & Madison Bosch............. 10:00 AM
Mass.................................. +David Baumgartner............. 11:30 AM
Eucharistic Adoration........................................... .2:00 PM-9:00 PM
(+ Indicates Deceased)
Welcome to all newcomers.
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL NEWS
To register or obtain additional information about the parish,
contact the parish office or visit www.cathedralparish.com.
No School at Cathedral on Friday, May 1. Because of
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER
Rice Bowls - Thank you to all of those who participated
Holy Father’s prayer intentions for April:
Universal: That people may learn to respect creation and care for it
as a gift of God.
Evangelization: That persecuted Christians may feel the consoling
presence of the Risen Lord and the solidarity of all the Church.
The sick: Sharon Roach, Dee Broxmeyer, Mary Sue Lucht, Deacon
Ralph von Ruden, Alex & Kathryn Bichler, Craig Moilanen, Marie
Stiegelmeier, Ron Knoll, Andy Dosch, Michelle Duppong, Jeanne
Karhoff, Margie Sokolnicki, Jean Weisgerber, Steve Naumann, Sky
Stevens, Patricia Eysaldt, Lavina Forster, Rita Schmidt, Ernest Borr,
Lucille Gustin, Gene Buen, Dianne Heen, Luke Kilzer. To obtain a
prayer blanket, contact the parish office.
The deceased: Preston Keller. May his soul rest in peace.
NEXT WEEKEND’S MINISTRY SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 2
5:00 PM
Altar Servers
Commentator
Ext. Min. of Holy
Communion
Hospitality
Lectors
Jonah Krebs, Kailey Weigel, Lucas Weigel
Mark Haugen
Carla Gerriets, Larry Grundhauser, Laurie Hagerott, Lon
Hagerott, Erik Hanson, Angela O’Keefe, Kathy Sailer
Joell Burian, Steve Gerriets, Marci Loomis, John Loomis,
Peggy Puetz, Carlotta Richter
Kimberly Hanson, Michael Knox
Sunday, May 3
8:30 AM
Altar Servers
Commentator
Ext. Min. of Holy
Comm.
Hospitality
Lectors
Nicole Harris, Thomas Kubisiak, Elijah Lawson
Kari Stromme
Patricia Churchill, Sandy DeForest, Kay Koble, Dawn
Krieger, Jared Loegering, Kleo McLeod, Ralph Riedinger Jr.
Matthew Fischer, Dawn Fischer, Paul Lawson, Jessica
Lawson, Timothy Nagel
Paul Forster, Janet Kubisiak
10:00 AM
Altar Servers
Commentator
Ext. Min. of Holy
Communion
Hospitality
Lectors
John Armstrong, Isaac Armstrong, Matthew Scott
Carla Hixson
Mark Armstrong, Michael Bokinskie, Jeffrey Gross,
Jerome Richter, Margaret Sitte, Allen Weisbeck, Nancy
Weisbeck, Ryan Wilson
Joetta Bichler, Scott Haas, Raumi Kudrna, Ryan Kudrna,
Steve Windish
Monica Hannan, Michael Seifert
11:30 AM
Altar Servers
Commentator
Ext. Min. of Holy
Communion
Hospitality
Zachary Cave, Dylan Obrigewitch, Dawson Obrigewitch
Jo Bogner
Robert McLeod, Cyndee McLeod, Stephen Schnaible
Jay Fettig, Wendy Fettig, Lori Herold, John Herold, Nancy
Polasky, Darlene Steffan
Lectors
Evan Baker, Donald Polasky
Please contact Deacon Tony Ternes at 223-1033 with any changes.
this, the School Mass will be on Thursday, April 30 at
9:00 AM.
in the Rice Bowl collection during Lent. Cathedral School
and Cathedral Faith Formation students brought in
$1,711.01 for Catholic Relief Services. God bless you for
your generosity!
FAITH FORMATION NOTES
Young at Heart will meet Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 PM
in Church Room 3 for their Annual Trivia Contest, hosted
by Duane Eichele. Please join them for an afternoon of
fun, snacks, prizes and fellowship. Bring a friend!
Thank you to Bonnie Lahr, Sue Kvas, Eileen Rouse
and Jennifer Sletteland for helping to serve at the First
Communion receptions for our children, parents and
families last week!
Vacation Bible School - Cathedral, St. Anne and
Ascension Parishes will be holding Vacation Bible School
June 8-11 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM for all children entering
grades K-5 in the fall. VBS will be held at St. Anne’s Church
and will include a week of fun games, crafts, songs, and
much more! Together we will explore how we are MANY
AND ONE in our parish, our diocese, and the church
throughout the world. VBS is open to children from
Cathedral, St. Anne, and Ascension parishes. Registration
forms are available on the Cathedral website at www.
cathedralparish.com and at the entrances of the church.
Please return your form and payment to the parish office
or to Kathy Olson by Wednesday, May 6. If you have
questions or for more information, please contact Kathy
at 222-2259.
CATHEDRAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Altar Server Training for Sunday Masses
is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 from 5:00 to 6:00
PM in the main church. To be an Altar Server, you must
be at least in the sixth grade, made your First Holy
Communion, be responsible to a schedule, and most
importantly, have a desire to serve for our Priests of Jesus
Christ during the Holy Mass. To sign up for the training
or if you have any questions, please contact Deacon Tony
Ternes at 701-204-7111 or email him at deaconternes@
cathedralparish.com.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul will meet on
Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 PM in room #3. Check out their
website at svdpbismarck.org to learn how you can help
reach out to those in need.
The 58th Annual God’s Share Appeal will
begin next weekend, and the hope is that all of you
will participate. Your gift will help support so many
important ministries and programs throughout our
Diocese. These programs benefit every parish and every
parishioner. Some of these programs include educating
our 24 seminarians, caring for our retired priests,
preparing couples for the Sacrament of Marriage, and
many more. Our parish has been asked to raise $243,897
for this year’s Appeal. Please consider a gift to the 2015
God’s Share Appeal.
CATHEDRAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Giving From the Heart and Soil - Last fall, over 500 lbs.
of potatoes, 300 lbs. of apples, and many varieties of vegetables
were collected and given to Sr. Kathleen Atkinson’s Ministry
on the Margins. Again this year, vegetables will
be collected in July. The St. Vincent de Paul
Society will be giving carrot and/or green
been seeds to gardeners to plant for this year’s
food collection. Seeds will be available in the
gathering space after all Masses this weekend.
Monthly Food Collection will be next weekend. All items
collected in May will be given to Catholic Indian Mission.
Catholic Daughters will meet on Tuesday, May 5 at
Cathedral at 7:00 PM. There will be convention reports, a
memorial for deceased members, and the May crowning.
Guest speaker will be from our local Catholic radio. Guests are
welcome. For more information, call Rita at 701-321-1211.
Lighthouse CD of the Week:
Encountering the Poor - Biblical Roots for
Catholic Social Teaching - Dr. Timothy Gray
is the president of the Augustine Institute
and is a well-known scripture scholar
and Catholic speaker. Dr. Gray expounds
upon the teachings of the Catholic Church
surrounding social justice in light of
sacred scripture. Check the Lighthouse Catholic Media kiosks
in the church for this and other titles.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Light of Christ Catholic Schools has the following
teaching positions open for the 2015-16 school year:
Kindergarten Teacher and 6th Grade Teacher - Qualifications:
Valid North Dakota teaching license in elementary
education. Part-time Elementary Special Education Position
- Qualifications: Valid North Dakota teaching license and
Special Education endorsement in LD, ED, ID, or Strategist.
Preferences: Elementary education licensure, experience
in school setting, experience working with individuals with
disabilities, technology skills to incorporate into instruction,
knowledge of general education curriculum. To apply for any
of these positions, please submit a letter of resume, college
transcript, three letters of recommendation and a copy of
teacher license to Kate Bleth, Light of Christ Catholic Schools,
1025 N. 2nd Street, Bismarck, ND 58501. An Equal Opportunity
Employer.
The Diocese of Bismarck has an opening for the
Coordinator of Respect Life and Natural Family Planning.
Job requirements include excellent written and oral
communications skills, time management, be a self-starter
with the ability to work well with others. Candidates should
have certification to teach or working understanding of
Natural Family Planning, understand the Church’s position
on pro-life and birth regulation and compatibility with the
Church’s teachings as an active, practicing Catholic. Bachelor’s
degree in theology, pastoral ministry, or related field,
proficienct in Microsoft Word and Outlook required. This is a
part-time position with flexible hours working from the home.
Send resume, cover letter, and three references to djordan@
bismarckdiocese.com. Questions can be directed to Denise at
701-204-7212.
IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE
You can avoid excess taxes by giving certain appreciated
securities, art, or coin/stamp collections to Cathedral of the
Holy Spirit. This is a very attractive and substantial way to
make a memorial gift.
COMMUNITY NEWS
St. Mary’s Cemetery Fund Drive - The annual collection
to help fund the only Catholic cemetery in Bismarck-Mandan
will take place the week of May 18. You will receive in your
mail some updated information and an envelope to make your
contribution to the cemetery. St. Mary’s Cemetery has provided
8,355 burials as of April 2015. A new section will need to be
developed soon in addition to the new section for cremation
burials which will be completed late this spring. Without the
generous support of members of our Catholic parishes, these
developments cannot occur. Watch for this mailing and help
maintain this beautiful and prayerful place for loved ones. The
annual service of remembrance at St. Mary’s Cemetery will
take place Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00 PM. All are welcome.
Meet near the cross and flagpole on the hill.
Peru Fundraising Fiesta - Members of the senior class
at St. Mary’s Central High School will be hosting a “Peru
Fundraising Fiesta” on Sunday, April 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM
in the SMCHS Lunchroom. Celia Sattler, who will be cooking
this authentic Mexican dinner, has also generously offered to
sell her world famous salsa, refried beans and Mexican rice.
There will be a limited amount of items sold, so be sure to
come early. All proceeds will be evenly distributed to all of the
students who will be going to Peru for a mission trip in July.
Sustaining Parish Stewardship - Anyone interested
in exploring and understanding stewardship as a way of
life is invited to the Spring 2015 Institute for Stewardship
Formation. The topic of the spring institute will address how
to continue to sustain parish stewardship once it has been
introduced in the parish. Not a program, but a way of life for
the parish, sustaining what has begun is the way it continues
to evolve in a parish. There are two sessions to choose from:
Friday, May 1 from 1:00 to 7:00 PM at St. John the Apostle
Church in Minot or Friday, May 8 from 1:00 to 7:00 PM at St.
Joseph’s Church in Dickinson. Registration is $25, and dinner
is included. To register, call 839-7076 (Minot session) or 4832223 (Dickinson session).
SACRAMENTS
For information about the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Matrimony
and Anointing of the Sick at Cathedral, please go to our website,
www.cathedralparish.com, and click on the Liturgy & Sacraments tab.
CONTACT US
Parish Office......................... 519 Raymond St., Bismarck, ND 58501
Office Hours...........................................Mon.-Fri. 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Phone............................................................................. 701-223-1033
Website........................................................ www.cathedralparish.com
Facebook.................... www.facebook.com/cathedralparishbismarck
Fax.................................................................................. 701-223-1438
Faith Formation Office.................................................. 701-222-2259
Submit bulletin announcements no later than Tuesdays at noon
via mail, fax, or email [email protected].
View our bulletin online at www.cathedralparish.com.
222-3937
www.dakotaeye.com
Brenda Smith, REALTOR®, CRS, GRI
226-1124 • venturend.com
www.kirkwoodbank.com
Water & Fire
Damage
Carpet &
Area Rug
Cleaning
Kevin Gilchrist, DDS
1929 N. Washington St. | Bismarck, ND 58501
t: 701.222.1213 | [email protected]
Jerry Thomas
www.uglyredtrucks.com
2400 Vermont Ave., Bismarck • 701-258-3777
Lavata Becker
Broker Associate, CRS, GRI
Oaktree Realtors, LLP
2021 E Main Ave
Bismarck ND 58501
Cell: 701-527-1393
Email: [email protected]
Total Tree Care
Trent Schweitzer, Certified Arborist
Bismarck
701-400-7111
Licensed & Insured
FRONT STREET LIGHTING
907 East Front Ave., Bismarck, ND
Phone: 223-2355
Toll Free: 1-888-304-0779 Fax: 223-2359
www.frontstreetlighting.com
215 W. Main
Bismarck
222-0000
“Tires, Brakes, Shocks, Oil Changes-With Main Street Tire You Are
Good To Go!”
904 E. Front Ave
Bismarck, ND
Fax: 258-7419
[email protected]
701-258-2727(ASAP) www.flashprintshop.com
1103 Front St.,
Bismarck
701.224.8800
bistro1100.com
www.eckroth.com
Dining Room: Lunch Tues.-Sat. 11am-3pm; Dinner 5pm-10pm
Lounge: Tues.-Sat. 11am-Midnight
Closed Sunday and Monday
Plumbing, Heating & Air
Keith Benz, Owner
Mike Gietzen, Owner
2302 E. Divide Ave.
Bismarck, ND
701-223-7322
www.EastgateFuneral.com
2330 Tyler Parkway
Bismarck, ND
701-223-1100
www.ParkwayFuneral.com
2510 Vermont Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58504
Phone: 701.222.2155
Fax: 701.222.3422
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
www.northern-plains.com
Childcare
Pre-K to
High School (Infant thru
REGISTER
NOW!
Call
354-7067
lightofchristschools.org
Daniel M. Churchill,
Pharm.D., R.Ph.
Located inside
Dan’s Supermarket
NW Bismarck
701-224-0339
www.churchillpharmacy.com
Dedicated to Caring Service
• Premium Vitamins,
Supplements &
Natural Products
• Weight Loss
Consultation
• Sports Nutrition
2941 N 11th St., Bismarck, ND 58501
Next to North Anytime Fitness, AIM Physical Therapy & Red Carpet Car Wash
701-751-6375 • www.nutripharma.biz • [email protected]
Discover the {FULL} Life!
Preschool)
available at
LaMere
Learning
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223-0103
3000 N 14th St • Bismarck
Full-service retirement community
Touchmark.com • 701-557-9289
3000 N 14th St • Bismarck
222-4444
250-9001
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www.securityfirstbank.com
“GET THE PROFESSIONAL LOOK”
Tax • Wills • Probate • Real Estate
Business Transactions • Personal Injury
(701) 258-4000
Sean O. Smith
Dave Tschider
Amber Smith Heinert
1851 Revere Dr., Bismarck, ND
(701) 663-1004
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MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE 52nd WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
FOR VOCATIONS
26 APRIL 2015 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Theme: Exodus, a fundamental experience of vocation
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Fourth Sunday of Easter offers us the figure of the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep: he calls them,
he feeds them and he guides them. For over fifty years the universal Church has celebrated this Sunday as the
World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In this way she reminds us of our need to pray, as Jesus himself told his
disciples, so that “the Lord of the harvest may send out labourers into his harvest” (Lk 10:2). Jesus command
came in the context of his sending out missionaries. He called not only the twelve Apostles, but another seventy-two disciples whom he then sent out, two by two, for the mission (cf. Lk 10:1-6). Since the Church “is by her
very nature missionary” (Ad Gentes, 2), the Christian vocation is necessarily born of the experience of mission.
Hearing and following the voice of Christ the Good Shepherd, means letting ourselves be attracted and guided
by him, in consecration to him; it means allowing the Holy Spirit to draw us into this missionary dynamism,
awakening within us the desire, the joy and the courage to offer our own lives in the service of the Kingdom of
God.
To offer one’s life in mission is possible only if we are able to leave ourselves behind. On this 52nd World Day
of Prayer for Vocations, I would like reflect on that particular “exodus” which is the heart of vocation, or better
yet, of our response to the vocation God gives us. When we hear the word “exodus”, we immediately think of
the origins of the amazing love story between God and his people, a history which passes through the dramatic
period of slavery in Egypt, the calling of Moses, the experience of liberation and the journey toward the Promised Land. The Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible, which recounts these events is a parable of the
entire history of salvation, but also of the inner workings of Christian faith. Passing from the slavery of the old
Adam to new life in Christ is a event of redemption which takes place through faith (Eph 4:22-24). This passover is a genuine “exodus”; it is the journey of each Christian soul and the entire Church, the decisive turning of
our lives towards the Father.
At the root of every Christian vocation we find this basic movement, which is part of the experience of faith.
Belief means transcending ourselves, leaving behind our comfort and the inflexibility of our ego in order to centre our life in Jesus Christ. It means leaving, like Abraham, our native place and going forward with trust, knowing that God will show us the way to a new land. This “going forward” is not to be viewed as a sign of contempt
for one’s life, one’s feelings, one’s own humanity. On the contrary, those who set out to follow Christ find life in
abundance by putting themselves completely at the service of God and his kingdom. Jesus says: “Everyone who
has left home or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a
hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” (Mt 19:29). All of this is profoundly rooted in love. The Christian vocation
is first and foremost a call to love, a love which attracts us and draws us out of ourselves, “decentring” us and
triggering “an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving,
and thus towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God” (Deus Caritas Est, 6).
The exodus experience is paradigmatic of the Christian life, particularly in the case of those who have embraced
a vocation of special dedication to the Gospel. This calls for a constantly renewed attitude of conversion and
transformation, an incessant moving forward, a passage from death to life like that celebrated in every liturgy,
an experience of passover. From the call of Abraham to that of Moses, from Israel’s pilgrim journey through the
desert to the conversion preached by the prophets, up to the missionary journey of Jesus which culminates in
his death and resurrection, vocation is always a work of God. He leads us beyond our initial situation, frees us
from every enslavement, breaks down our habits and our indifference, and brings us to the joy of communion
with him and with our brothers and sisters. Responding to God’s call, then, means allowing him to help us leave
ourselves and our false security behind, and to strike out on the path which leads to Jesus Christ, the origin and
destiny of our life and our happiness.
This exodus process does not regard individuals alone, but the missionary and evangelizing activity of the
whole Church. The Church is faithful to her Master to the extent that she is a Church which “goes forth”, a
Church which is less concerned about herself, her structures and successes, and more about her ability to go out
and meet God’s children wherever they are, to feel compassion (com-passio) for their hurt and pain. God goes
forth from himself in a Trinitarian dynamic of love: he hears the cry of his people and he intervenes to set them
free (Ex 3:7). The Church is called to follow this way of being and acting. She is meant to be a Church which
evangelizes, goes out to encounter humanity, proclaims the liberating word of the Gospel, heals people’s spiritual and physical wounds with the grace of God, and offers relief to the poor and the suffering.
Dear brothers and sisters, this liberating exodus towards Christ and our brothers and sisters also represents the
way for us to fully understand our common humanity and to foster the historical development of individuals
and societies. To hear and answer the Lord’s call is not a private and completely personal matter fraught with
momentary emotion. Rather, it is a specific, real and total commitment which embraces the whole of our existence and sets it at the service of the growth of God’s Kingdom on earth. The Christian vocation, rooted in
the contemplation of the Father’s heart, thus inspires us to solidarity in bringing liberation to our brothers and
sisters, especially the poorest. A disciple of Jesus has a heart open to his unlimited horizons, and friendship with
the Lord never means flight from this life or from the world. On the contrary, it involves a profound interplay
between communion and mission (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 23).
This exodus towards God and others fills our lives with joy and meaning. I wish to state this clearly to the
young, whose youth and openness to the future makes them open-hearted and generous. At times uncertainty,
worries about the future and the problems they daily encounter can risk paralyzing their youthful enthusiasm
and shattering their dreams, to the point where they can think that it is not worth the effort to get involved, that
the God of the Christian faith is somehow a limit on their freedom. Dear young friends, never be afraid to go out
from yourselves and begin the journey! The Gospel is the message which brings freedom to our lives; it transforms them and makes them all the more beautiful. How wonderful it is to be surprised by God’s call, to embrace his word, and to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, in adoration of the divine mystery and in generous service
to our neighbours! Your life will become richer and more joyful each day!
The Virgin Mary, model of every vocation, did not fear to utter her “fiat” in response to the Lord’s call. She is at
our side and she guides us. With the generous courage born of faith, Mary sang of the joy of leaving herself behind and entrusting to God the plans she had for her life. Let us turn to her, so that we may be completely open
to what God has planned for each one of us, so that we can grow in the desire to go out with tender concern
towards others (cf. Lk 1:39). May the Virgin Mary protect and intercede for us all.
From the Vatican, 29 March 2015
Palm Sunday
FRANCIS
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