Sunday, September 26th - The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CHEERS: A MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR
Cheers!
Well, Fall has officially arrived! . . . and with it, much cooler weather. Many say that the month of October is the best month — weather-wise — in Las Vegas.
This week, Holy Spirit is hosting the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre (EOHSJ). EOHSJ is the only lay institution of the Vatican charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jerusalem and for all the activities and initiatives which are necessary to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land. The financial contributions made by its members throughout the world are therefore the Diocese’s main source of funding.
The Order's support for the Christians in the Holy Land does not just take the form of financial contributions and prayers, important as these are. The Order also arranges formal pilgrimages, in the course of which members do not simply view and explore the Holy Sites, but also have the opportunity to meet the people whom they are supporting and assure them that they are not forgotten.
In the United States, the EOHSJ is divided into regions called “Lieutenancies”. We belong to the Western Lieutenancy which is comprised of members from southern California, southern Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Each Fall, the Western Lieutenancy schedules an annual convention — moving from city to city in these four states.
This year, the gathering is in Las Vegas. The statistics are impressive: 520 total in attendance, including 1 cardinal, 15 bishops, 40 priests and 15 deacons. Most of the business and social aspects of this meeting are being held at the Red Rock Resort, Hotel and Casino. Holy Spirit will be the site of several Masses.
I am a proud member of the EOHSJ; what I am most pleased with EOHSJ is their support of the Holy Land. I spent my sabbatical (from December 1998 through May 1999) in Israel and have visited Israel (usually with tours that I have organized) over a dozen times. My heart is truly with the small minority of Christians who live in Israel — in Palestinian territory; they surely need our prayers and our help for mere survival and for the preservation of all the Christian sites and shrines in the Holy Land.
Welcome, EOHSJ, to Las Vegas and to Holy Spirit! Have a good week. God bless you!
Love,
Fr. Bill