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From Steve Hammond, PrincipalChapel ReflectionApril 25, 2007 Ecumenical Pastors CelebrationThis is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” We have the choice to rejoice! Let us make that choice. Alle, Alle, Alle. Christ is risen and we joyfully proclaim His resurrection and what that means for us and what that means for the world!
We have, as our special visitors today, pastors and ministers from many Christian churches in the area. Pastors of your fellow students. They hail from many denominations: Catholic, Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical! And all have come to Saint Patrick Catholic School today to support you and lift up our common belief in Jesus and our God of boundless love, compassion and forgiveness!
Each of our friends say in their special way: That Jesus, the Messiah has come into the world to show that the Father loves us, that there is forgiveness for our sins, and that we, as a resurrected people in Christ, have the promise of eternal life.
So, this morning is truly a time for rejoicing! Rejoicing! That we have so many special friends, here with us who proclaim the Good News of Jesus.
Pastors, we pray together often here. In mass where Fathers Dan Klem, Father Metzger, Father Bulinda, Msgr. Caroluzza, Father Dorgan preside and lead us in our great celebration of Eucharist, of Thanksgiving, about every two weeks.
Good students, what are some other times we pray? In Chapel, in classrooms, at lunch time, special events. We certainly have been keeping Virginia Tech in our prayers of late.
Pastors, Saint Patrick Catholic School has an adage we say often: That we are Authentically Catholic and Warmly Ecumenical. Today, we welcome you with open arms. You have received special invitations from the children in your congregations.
Students, it is joyful to be able to recognize these great leaders. They are ministers of the Word, Servants of Christ, sometimes they are called SHEPHERDS. Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd, and so too, pastors are called SHEPHERDS. Our Gospel reading will speak to that we’ll talk a little bit more about that later.
But first, let us learn more about our special guests this morning as your friends introduce their own pastors to our assembly. Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Anderson will assist the students in making introductions and giving each of our guests a special certificate made just for them.
(At this point, the certificate is read and introductions are made and applause for each guest.)
What we do in Chapel is celebrate the Gospel and sing and pray and share. We have chapels every other week, and Mass every other week. It is a lot of fun and brings us together as a Christian community.
Let’s turn our ears and hearts to the Gospel now. It is a special one and in it we see Jesus as a strong and gentle Shepherd of His people.
Gospel (Read by a student)
Questions for the student assembly:
What is a Shepherd?
Have you ever seen a shepherd?
Being a Good Shepherd is hard work.
Why is it such hard work?
The shepherds must be outside with the sheep all the time. In the heat, in the cold, in good times, in bad times.
The shepherd must protect his sheep from things that might harms them. (Like wolves…Grrrrrrrr!)
The sheep don’t always do what you want them to do.
Or what they should do.
They stray. They are sometimes very stubborn. They get lost.
Truly, it is hard work being a good shepherd! And our pastors here today are good shepherds. Their flock hears them and follows them just like Jesus said about Himself in today’s Gospel. He said:
“My sheep hear my voice. I KNOW THEM AND THEY FOLLOW ME.”
Sheep recognize the voice of the person who takes care of them, who feeds and waters them. The voice is familiar and soothing, even exciting. Because the sheep relate the voice to being cared for, to being loved. When someone really cares for us, really cares for us…..we love to be near them and to hear their voice. It is a powerful sign and symbol of safety, security and love.
We all have a need to be known and to be accepted for who we are. We will follow people who know us and accept us. Like your teachers. They know you. They know your “Gifts and your Gaps.” And they accept you and love you because of them and in spite of them.
And like your Pastors and Ministers. They know and love you. And that is why they are here.
They also know Jesus very well. They have studied for many years all about Jesus and God and have so much to teach you. Jesus said, that He will not only help care for his flock but he will give them the most precious of all GIFTS. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THAT GIFT IS?
Yes. Eternal life. Heaven!
That is where you pastors come in. With their knowledge of Jesus, they are helping guide you on the path to eternal life, they are walking with you on the road to heaven!! It is their VOCATION, perhaps the highest vocation on this earth….to be Good Shepherds in JESUS’ NAME.
They know that if we follow Jesus then no one can take us out of the Fathers loving hand. Not even evil, not the bad guys, not the good guys by mistake, not even death.
They know that the more we get to know each other, and to accept each other despite our weakness and strengths, the more like Christ we become. They know that the more we can accept ourselves despite our own strengths and weakness, the more like Christ we become. They know that the more we can just live in the moment, free on this earth, rejoicing in the goodness and the grace of the Lord, the happier we become.
Let’s reflect on the Gospel again and see if you can hear it a bit differently that when you first heard it this morning. I bet you can. And I bet that you will, from now on, hear, in a powerful and special way, the strong and compassionate voices of these good shepherds who we celebrate today!
Let’s bow our heads for a benediction:
Oh loving Jesus, come into our hearts and make them pure temples of your Holy Spirit. Direct our minds so they become one with your will. Guide our hands, so that they are fixed upon your work.
Heavenly Father, thank you for this moment together and thank you for the leaders you have gathered here with us. Bless them and their work so that all your people are led every onward to your Kingdom.
And we ask this prayer in the name of our brother, Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Amen.
The Fourth Grade will now lead us in the Irish Blessing, for our new friends.
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