What We Need

This past week Father Joe Freedy and I had the tremendous joy of preaching an Encounter Parish Mission at St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in Brookline-Beechview. I need to tell you, it was indeed a great joy! A large number of parishioners came to fill St. Pius X Church, where they were united in faith, hope, and love as they encountered anew the Lord Jesus.

Over the three nights of the parish mission the faithful spoke with clarity and conviction as to what they needed, what they experienced, and what they found to have great value in their lives. Here’s what they told us.

- We need to encounter Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The procession with the Blessed Sacrament was truly one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had in church!

- We need to hear how we can deepen our prayer life. The message about committing our life to Christ, trusting in Him, and finding our identity in Him was powerful.

- We need to be healed by Jesus and His merciful love. The opportunity to go to confession was a moment of healing and change for me.

- We need to see one another on our knees before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and to come to see Him in one another. We felt that we have strength when we are praying together.

- We need to realize again that the Church connects us with the Blessed Mother and the saints. Praying the Rosary together and hearing about the power of Our Lady’s and the saints’ intercession gave us hope and assured us that we never face difficulties alone.

- We need to understand what a tremendous gift the Mass is. When we come to Mass, we see that Jesus never deserts or abandons us. He is especially with us in the Blessed Sacrament. We need to rediscover what we have in our faith and who we have in the Church, Jesus Himself.

The great faith and the wisdom of our people spoke volumes to us. They proclaimed the truth of the Gospel as true missionary disciples. They rejoiced in finding the Lord Jesus in their midst and in experiencing His Divine Mercy being poured out for them. How could we not have hope for the future of the Church in Pittsburgh?!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid

Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh