Is it true that attendance in churches is dropping? Yes and no. Overall there is a downward trend. However, there are some religious orders and some parishes that are growing. The reason is that God is worshiped and God's commandments are taken seriously there.
I pray that our parish of Sts. Cyril & Methodius continues to grow in its love for Jesus and neighbor. I pray for converts to come and bless our church. We have a Bible study in English and many Catholics from outside our parish come to it. I am always hoping that God might send at least one Protestant to our Bible study.
The Orthodox have beautiful churches. The Catholics know exactly what their doctrine is. The Protestants have a love for the Bible. Our church is a mixture of these strengths.
I believe our church could become holier, but only with God's grace. May the good God lead you to say a prayer for us.
MESSAGE FOR SEPTEMBER, 2001
Strength in Christ!
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1 Corinthians 16:13
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.
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One simple fact often overlooked is that Christian, and especially Catholic, faith is not supposed to be a cakewalk. The gospel is replete with exhortations to "be courageous, be strong." This is not the sort of exhortation one receives at vacation resorts, spas or mattress testing sites. It is the sort of thing one hears in athletic training, or before a trial, or in preparation for some rigorous voyage. And that is because the Christian walk is a place of training, trial and travel. We are going somewhere and we need to be prepared to get there. That somewhere is Heaven and the sort of love that Heaven is will require everything of us just as it required everything of God. Not that we earn it, of course, but rather that we must be ready to receive fully what God has fully and freely given. Today, ask God to help you be courageous and strong in your faith, that you may fully receive into yourself the life and love of the Blessed Trinity and, in your turn, give it away to whoever needs it.
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