Anointing, Sunday January 6, 2013

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. We also celebrated today our parish patron, Saint Andre Bessette. The Church will celebrate his feast tomorrow on January 7, but since his actual feast day landed on Sunday this year, we combined the celebrations. Our chapel was standing room only at Eucharist today as we sang of the great Light of Epiphany and we prayed for our parish community in honor of Saint Andre. Fr. Steve and I anointed people after the homily. We used oil from St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, Quebec. Suffering here cannot be ignored, it is raw and visible. We all see and smell the rawness of poverty and people’s needs. We all see our neighbors who sleep at our doors. Today, a great Light has revealed the Christ. We are caretakers of the Light of Christ among our neighbors who battle poverty and every addiction. Saint Andre Bessette, pray for us.