A Beacons of Light Challenge from Fr. Pat:

As we get in the swing of Beacons of Light, I would like to offer Incarnation Parishioners a bit of a challenge. I challenge Incarnation Parishioners to go to St. Francis for a Mass or two over the next two months! If answered, this challenge accomplishes several great things to increase present and future holiness and grace in Christ.

1. Going to St. Francis for some Masses would exercise and strengthen important muscles. Initially, paradoxically, it is a profound exercise of our welcome muscle! Yes, you heard me correctly. Going to St. Francis for some Masses is a powerful work of welcome to our sister parish. It is “reaching out with both hands” beyond measure! Besides the welcome muscle, going to St. Francis for some Masses exercises our “sacrifice” muscle, our essential Christian muscle to die to self. Whenever we exercise that muscle we incarnate Jesus and we further his Kingdom.

2. Going to St. Francis for some Masses helps me dispel the “chicken little” mindset that says, “If ‘my Incarnation Mass’ goes away, the sky is falling!” Go to the Mass that is closest to your preferred Mass time. By the way, The Chicken Little mindset is worse than it sounds. For it is a mindset that the devil wants us to have, a selfish, fearful approach to being the Body of Christ.

3. When you go to some Masses at St. Francis, make a list of things you like best. Come up with a list of at least three and as many as “a top ten list of reasons for going to St. Francis.”

4. Drop it in your/an envelope, even if you give it electronically. If you put your Incarnation envelope in at St. Francis, it will get back to us with a check or cash still in it. It is an unwritten church law in the archdiocese! If you give electronically, take a blank envelope and put a paper inside that says “Hi, from a parishioner at your sister parish” and I bet these will get back to us too! This could become a fun competition amongst our parishes to see which parish is more outgoing, courageous, and welcoming by going to visit our sister!