Sunday, December 9, 2018

In today’s First Reading, the author of Baruch addresses personified Jerusalem, who is grieving over her people in exile in Babylon. He attempts to console her, telling her to take off her mourning garments and wrap herself in the robe of God’s justice. The crown of God’s glory that she receives is probably Aaron’s priestly crown with its engraving. “Sacred to the Lord” (Exodus 28:37). In addition, She will receive a new name, “the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.” In other words, Jerusalem will become the priest of God’s temple, and she will rejoice as her people come back to her in pilgrimage. What an amazing image of God’s care and protection! The Gospel describes a scene in which John the Baptist is called by God in the wilderness and responds by proclaiming a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” This is not the Baptism that those becoming Christian seek. Rather, John is calling the people to commit themselves to an immersive experience of repentance. Yet God is a gracious God, and the reward will be great for those who accept the challenge. Quoting Isaiah, John says that the valleys will be filled, and the mountains made low to make straight the way so all may know God’s salvation. At Home With The Word.

In His love and mine, Fr. Ken

In the Spring of 1988, Bishop William D. Keeler formed a new parish to accommodate the rapid growth in Silver Spring Township and named Reverend James R. O’Brien as the founding pastor. That same year, Mother Katharine Drexel was beatified by Pope John Paul, II. At Bishop Keeler’s request, the Holy Father gave his permission to name the Parish in Silver Spring Township as the first parish in the world to be named in her honor. Eighteen years later, on October 1, 2000, Blessed Katharine Drexel was canonized and the church’s name changed to Saint Katharine Drexel.

The Saint Katharine Drexel Parish Family, guided by the Holy Spirit, commits itself to reaching out and sharing with all people the love and service modeled by our patroness, with the Eucharist as our source of strength. Through prayer and action, we will serve God, our Lord and Savior, and our community, exhibiting a special concern for the poor, oppressed and marginalized of our society, especially those among the African-American & Native-American peoples.