At this moment in history, A.D. 2008, this parish family is devoted to the Way of the Lord in exactly the same way: we look to the authority of the apostle of Atlanta, Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory. We come together on the first day of the week, to celebrate the Lord Jesus in obedience, through the breaking of the bread; and we seek to live in his loving fellowship, caring for one another as a community of faith. This is the vocation we share in baptism. This is the call of the Lord that continues to invite others to join us in the faith.
They devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers (Acts 2.42). This description of the early Church of Christ, written in about 90 A.D., tells us of the way the followers of the Risen Lord accepted the authority of the Apostles: in the gift of Eucharist (the breaking of the bread) and in the teaching authority of the Apostles.At this moment in history, A.D. 2008, this parish family is devoted to the Way of the Lord in exactly the same way: we look to the authority of the apostle of Atlanta, Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory. We come together on the first day of the week, to celebrate the Lord Jesus in obedience, through the breaking of the bread; and we seek to live in his loving fellowship, caring for one another as a community of faith. This is the vocation we share in baptism. This is the call of the Lord that continues to invite others to join us in the faith.
At this Sunday's 9:30 AM Mass, a group of men and women will take a formal step in joining this new Way of Life. At the Rite of Acceptance, we will accept those desiring to learn more about Jesus of Nazareth, wanting to learn more about the majesty of God's love. They will formally enter the Catechumenate and begin to be formed anew, in the same way the Apostles proclaimed the Lord after his resurrection and ascension. Along with these women and men seeking baptism, there are others among us that are seeking full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Please pray for all of these pilgrims, that they and we may be faithful to God's desire... that all be one in him.
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They devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles... There is a continuity of teaching, an unbroken "connectedness" in instruction given us by the Lord for our salvation (Matt. 16.16-19). In our day, the position of Simon Peter is held by Pope Benedict XVI; and for the Church of Atlanta, an apostle of the Lord... and a shepherd for us... is seen in Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory. In just the same as the early Church trusted in the teaching of the apostles, so we are called to rejoice in the authority given our Archbishop.
Today, each of us is being called to offer a portion of our finances to the work of the apostle of Atlanta, Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory. In this year's 2008-2009 Archbishop's Annual Appeal, this parish is given a goal to meet, to offer our Archbishop our fair share of financial support. In following the biblical mandate of the tithe, I give 1% of my income to the Annual Appeal (5% to the parish and 4% to our Building a Legacy of Faith project). I am calling each of you to follow my lead in this, so that our Archbishop may have the resources he needs to continue his apostolic ministry. Please join me in this sign of obedient love for the life of the Church in our Archdiocese.
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They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles... and to the prayers. The source and summit of the spiritual life of this ancient, ever-new Church is holy Mass... the breaking of the bread. At each Mass, the assembly of the baptized and those attracted to our way of life listen to the revealed Word God; and after hearing the Word of God, and after reciting our Creed of belief and after our prayer for the needs of all, we remember the gift of the Lord Jesus, as the priest speaks the word of Christ in the person of Christ, and we are blessed with the Presence the Lord, in Holy Communion... a holy communion with the Lord. In order for us to enter into the great majesty and mystery of Mass, I have asked our ushers to assist all of us by urging late-comers for Mass to wait until a reading from scripture is completed before finding their seats. Late-comers will still be able to hear the Word, from the speakers in the Narthex; but waiting until the proclamation is completed would be respectful of those already seated and actively listening to the proclamation. There is no judgment here. All of us have been late a time or two. This is being done out of a reverence for God's Word and out of obedience to God's desire... that we hear that Word and act on it (James 1.22). Thanks to all for your care and understanding regarding this small act of discipline.
AMDG
Msgr. David Talley
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