From the desk of

Fr. Davis

April 21, 2024

Last weekend, you will recall that we had an entourage of Carmelite Sisters from Los Angeles, California visiting our parish. On Friday they visited our children in the grade school, going to each classroom and even the playground. It may have been the first time our students have ever seen women religious in habit.

The kids warmly welcomed them! Also, for several of the weekend Masses they made available for purchase their recently published book, " In His Heart---365 Days with the Carmelite Sisters."

By the time the 9:00am Mass was over, the books were already sold out. It's no wonder! The Sisters are a very prominent and effective religious community of consecrated women, well-known throughout the country for their impressive spiritual charisms. They work throughout Southern California, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, Arizona, Italy, and here in Florida. I worked with them for eight years at my previous parish in Coral Gables and was responsible for bringing them to staff Miami's Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School, where I served as Supervising Principal and President. The sisters were a critically important reason why the high school today has a clear Catholic identity. I am proud to know them, to acknowledge their good ministry, and to have worked with them for some 16 years before I arrived to Saint Gregory. I am so very pleased they visited us last week. I hope you were touched by their witness.

This weekend, as we continue our journey through the Easter season, we are presented with the Gospel image of the Risen Christ as the Good Shepherd, always tending after His flock. This endearing image contains a very important message for us on our on-going pilgrimage of faith. Our Good Shepherd provides us leadership, inspiration, encouragement, protection, and correction as needed. In rural life, what wouldn't a shepherd do to defend and safeguard his flock, making sure they are cared for, kept healthy, and experiencing the security of being together as they follow his voice and commands? As such, our Good Shepherd similarly provides us with the confidence of His abiding presence, and the necessary supports to find our way to verdant and fruitful pastures as we live our lives of faith, on the journey to eternity. Many voices in life vie for our attention and loyalty. Only one is worthy of all praise and worship. The choices we make clearly dictate the lives we lead, and the futures that will be in store for us. May we heed the voice of the Risen One, our Good Shepherd, so as to stay on the path that leads us to the fulfillment of the promises of Christ.

Father Davis

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