We welcome Archbishop Harry Flynn this weekend as he installs me as the pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish. The installation ceremony is a symbol of our unity with the Church in the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, as well as with the universal Catholic Church.  Archbishop Flynn, as a successor to the Apostles, carries on the apostolic mission given by Christ to His apostles.  He is our visible sign of unity and continuity with Christ's command to, "Go, teach all nations." 
I am grateful to Archbishop Flynn for entrusting to me the mission to be pastor of the people of St. John the Baptist. I am honored at the confidence he has placed in me to carry on this important work. I depend on his prayers and guidance, and I ask for the prayers of all of you, parishioners of St. John's, that I might be faithful to my mission as pastor.
It is fitting that we celebrate this installation on World Mission Day. The Church is, by her very nature, missionary. Jesus said to His apostles at the Last Supper, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." (John 20:21)  The Church's mission is the extension of Christ's mission: to bring God's love to all, proclaiming it with words and with the concrete testimony of charity. 
In Pope Benedict's message for World Mission Day, he presents charity as the "soul of the mission." As St. Paul says, it is "the love of Christ that impels us" to spread the Gospel. (2 Corinthians 5:14) That love impels us to be joyful missionaries in whatever situation we find ourselves. We are all called to be missionaries of love, drawing our strength from prayer and a joyful participation in the sacraments of the Church. 
On my recent pilgrimage to France, we visited the shrine of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who is the universal Co-Patroness of the Missions, together with St. Francis Xavier. 

This Carmelite virgin and
doctor of the Church never left her cloistered convent, yet taught us by her life the essence of
mission. 

She taught us the "little way," the simple way to holiness, the way of love. That is the most effective way of bringing the
Gospel to all nations.

   At the Leadership Breakfast last Saturday, I shared with those present my thoughts on my "mission," or plan as pastor of St. John the Baptist. It is none other than the plan found in the Gospel and the living Tradition of the Church -- to make Jesus Christ known, loved, and served.  We all share in that mission, so well expressed in our parish mission statement:  "As a Catholic Community, we joyfully proclaim and grow in the Good News of Jesus Christ through worship, fellowship, service, and lifelong faith formation."

COMING SOON... to a Church Door Near You! Yes, it's almost that time of year again for our Annual Sock & Underwear Drive for the Homeless. In a few short weeks, you will be seeing the familiar blue containers with the little wood houses at all the church doors. Watch this bulletin for updates from the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

AUNTIE'S ATTIC is part of our Annual Turkey Dinner (see the front cover of this bulletin), and we need house wares, dishes, knick-knacks, jewelry, books, toys, décor items, Christmas items, and just about anything that can be sold, but NO furniture or television sets. For more information, please call Bernice at (763) 784-7889.

GOT THE PRISON BLUES? Father Shaji Joseph, from St. Mary's in St. Paul, needs volunteers to provide music and singing help for Mass at Lino Lakes Prison on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. To be a part of this rewarding ministry, please call Father Joseph at (651) 222-2619.

NEW BRIGHTON NEEDS SENIORS! In an effort to serve the community of New Brighton, the Parks & Recreation Department will be forming a Senior Advisory Committee. Residents would like to be involved in the development and planning of future Senior Programs, and we hope to encourage area Seniors to take ownership in their programs. Please call Andy at (651) 638-2124 if you would like more information. We look forward to the success of the Senior Advisory Committee & Senior Programs.