Pastor's Letter

Staying Connected

In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us a meaningful metaphor about having a relationship with God.  Jesus is like a grape vine that flourishes; we are like the branches that grow out of the vine.  And when we stay connected to the vine, which nurtures and provides life, we produce good fruit.
 
A grape vine is meant, of course, to produce grapes.  However, the Christian who is connected to Christ—our source of life—produces the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which St. Paul identified as joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  
 
When we see these qualities alive in our lives and in our community, we know we are connected to the one who gives us life.
 

Stay Connected!   A great way to stay connected to all that’s going on at St. Hubert is to subscribe to FlockNotes—a way to receive notes and updates about what’s happening in parish life.  You can choose how you’d like to connect and even what kind of news from the parish you’d like to receive.    It’s a great way to stay connected between Sundays!   Sign up on our website or text sthubert to 84576.

It continues to amaze me how deeply rooted these qualities are in our St. Hubert family. Whenever we welcome new parishioners into our community, as we did last weekend, we hear people tell us that what they find at St. Hubert is the feeling of being at home.  They feel the goodness, kindness, and faithfulness that isn’t forced but genuine to who we are together. 
 
But then, one of the great charisms of St. Hubert, since the beginning, has been hospitality.  Another is that we have many, many ways we can participate in living the gospel through our ministries that provide all kinds of opportunities to put faith into action.  There are many ways to use our gifts and talents to produce the kind of good fruit a life with Jesus instills. Even if someone isn’t quite sure where their talents are or how they can get involved—whether it’s at St. Hubert or elsewhere—just let us know and we’ll help connect you.
 
Staying connected to Jesus is staying connected to those things that give life meaning, purpose and reveal who we truly are.  Jesus gave us the Church to stay connected to each other, but so importantly to stay connected to Him.  Jesus Christ nurtures us and feeds us with his very self—individually and together. 
 
Congratulations to the Newly Confirmed!
On Saturday, Bishop George Rassas returned to St. Hubert to confirm 119 young people from St. Hubert School and our Religious Education Program.  They received the fullness of the gift of the Holy Spirit into their lives to keep them connected to Christ and the Church.  Please join the Confirmandi in giving thanks to their parents, sponsors, and catechists who helped walk with them through this two year journey of prayer and preparation! 
 
Our Confirmandi are witnesses of Easter—that Christ is alive in our world and able to touch our hearts and lives.  Through Him, with Him and in Him, we find life.    
 
Let’s continue to stay connected through the faith and life in Christ we share!
 

--Fr. Mike