RECEIVERS OF GOD’S GRACES

A Meditation by Father Arturo Chagala, Parochial

Administrator of St. Michael's Parish

Evangelization is at the heart of the Universal

Church. This mission of the Church to evangelize

can be made visible in a concrete way through the

Parish level. Saint Michael Church envisions this

missionary identity by helping both parishioners,

non- parishioners and non- churched people to

deepen and rediscover the love of God through a

Christian formation based on the richness of

Baptism.

For five Sundays during the Easter time we

evangelized, at the Parish level, in Norris Square

Park by announcing the “Good News” of

Christianity. Many people were touched by the

witness of some members of the Parish who

courageously shared their faith experience as to how

God saved them from their sins and the current

stream of secularization in a society that

progressively denies God. The celebration was

preceded by a small procession around the park. It

was performed in a joyful environment where kids,

young and adults could praise God by singing bible

songs.

Miracles were the result of this mission outside the

Church building to reach the far away. A man just

walking by at the time of the mission was touched

by the Gospel as he was facing the temptation of

commiting suicide and alcohol problems. Another

man received encouragement through the Gospel as

he suffered the sad situation of a process of divorce.

Married couples strengthened their relationship to

Christ as they approached the Sacrament of

reconciliation. This is just to mention few of the

many miracles God worked in this mission.

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As a follow up of this mission, we invited everyone

to continue listening to the “Good News” by joining

a series of talks held in La Salle Academy. The aim

was to introduce the people into a way of looking at

Scriptures in a more lively experience. This is an

answer to the thirst that many of our Catholics live.

The less we experience the Scriptures in a personal

relationship, the more our relationship to Christ

lacks.

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This time of evangelization in Saint Michael’s has

been a time of receiving God’s grace for those who

accepted this invitation to journey. A people without

a journey is like the waters that are stunk in a bucket;

they don’t flow. Eventually they get smelly. Our

Church is not meant to be in that state. On the

contrary, it is meant to be like live-giving water that

flows abundantly and serves as a sign of the Risen

Christ who can conquer all our situations of slavery

to sin and death. Evangelization is an event of hope–

hope for us who are already inside the Church, but

also for those outside of it. Evangelization is at the

heart of the Father who loves both the “Prodigal

Son” and the “older brother” who is always at the

Father’s house: Who are we, who are you?

With the Pope’s visit to our city of Philadelphia,

God will bestow even more graces as we welcome

the message of love and hope that Pope Francis is

bringing to our families. I strongly encourage you to

be receivers of God’s graces. As you know, the

Pope’s event is expected to bring thousands of

people to Philadelphia.

As a result of this, the places for the pilgrims to stay

will be very much limited. For this reason, I invite

all of you to consider the generosity of hosting

families in your houses. By doing this, God will give

you many blessings in your lives. Don’t stop being a

recipient of God’s graces. May the Blessed Virgin

Mary open your heart and inspire you to consider

this great occasion of your generosity.

You may contact me at this email

Arturo.chagalagil07@gmail.com or call at the parish

office (215) 739-2358.

Thank you for your prayers and may God bless you

abundantly.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Arturo Chagala

Parochial Administrator

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