the 64th meeting of the Southwest Liturgical Conference

Last week I attended the 64th meeting of the Southwest Liturgical Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  This is a group of Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Lay Ministers who meet annually to discuss issues concerning the Mass and the Sacraments, especially preaching and evangelization. I came away with a number of resources to share with our music ministry and youth group, but here are some of the highlights:

The first night, Archbishop Wester from Santa Fe spoke about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist as we receive Him at Mass.  He emphasized our “full, conscious, and active participation” as called for by the Second Vatican Council.  He noted that every one of us who receive Holy Communion then carries Jesus within us as “living tabernacles.”  Holy Communion is not individualistic but communal. We owe Jesus as much reverence, then, to each other, as we do to His presence at the altar and in the tabernacle.  Don’t lose that grace, he stated, when you leave the parking lot!

Another excellent presentation concerned Social Media and Modern Evangelization.  As “fishers” of men and women today, we have to use the “net” that is the Internet! I came away from this talk inspired to encourage all of us to be “digital missionaries.” If you have an Instagram, Tik-Tok, Facebook, or other social media account, share your faith!  Upload a personal video testimony. Proclaim the Good News of Jesus that you have heard and seen here at Saint Francis.  Share a quote from the Gospel, an insight from a homily, or an invitation to a special event here.  Invite family, friends, and anyone who follows you to come to know Jesus more closely here at our parish!  Note how you are personally living your Catholic faith in the day-to-day events of your life!  Imagine the difference we would make if every single one of us did this on our personal, social media accounts!

Lastly, I attended a number of talks on the process of a building a new church!  We are beginning a feasibility study and will upload an on-line survey for all of us to consider starting a new parish mission in the Crystal Valley area.  Stay tuned!  

We are so blessed to worship in a beautiful church like Saint Francis.  But each one of us is beautiful - a beloved son and daughter of God.  Don’t forget that!  The temptation Jesus faced in the Gospel today was precisely questioning his identity.  He triumphed over the devil.  So do we!  May Jesus bless you this Lenten Season!  May Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

Fr. Mark Zacker

Pastor