Welcome Bishop Kurt

While studying our catechism lessons my little one asks me, "Mommy, why were the disciples so scared at Pentecost?"

"Because they had no one to lead them", I say.  "They had no one to make sense of the confusion around them after Jesus was taken away from them so quickly at the Ascension.  They wanted so desperately to do what was right and make God the Father happy, but they had no shepherd to look to, so they were scared. 

You know", I say, It's very hard to do the right thing when everyone around you does not.  Jesus directed them to go out and preach, but it is so very hard to teach people who do not want to be taught, and so difficult to stay together when it looks like the grass is greener somewhere else."

"But...." I say," then He came!"

"Who?"

"The Paraclete"  she nestles in, wide eyed, knowing that I'm about to tell her a story.

"The crowd gathered outside and the disciples huddled inside, tired and scared.   When the wind began to blow, the shutters they had closed so tightly against the threats of the outside world flew open, and He came rushing in to save them.  He  visited each one of them, leaving them a gift, a small light, a tongue of fire, to purify their minds and to prove they were not merely dreaming.  He gave them courage to speak boldly and clearly to all who would listen about the love of Christ.  And they did!  And people listened to them!  He gave Himself to all of them, strengthening their community and lifting their spirits so they could go forward and form the greatest and largest and oldest community of believers ever, our Catholic Church.  

He came to the 12 apostles first, who became the bishops of this new Church, and then to Our Lady as well, as a lesson to all mothers because our vocation is patterned after hers, that the Church grows by the teachings of holy families as well as holy bishops.  We mommies have a sacred duty to help spread the faith in this way." 

My daughter smiles.  

I know that one day she will be the mommy, and she will tell her own babies the same story.  I say a prayer that she finds a community of believers to support her and encourage her when I am no longer able.  I pray she can pass on the traditions of our rite to generations to come, and that our beautiful heritage may not be lost.

It has been so very long since we had an eparchial shepherd.  It has been so very long since we felt someone cared, visited, encouraged us in our struggle to spread the faith.  In my own domestic church, we light our little candles, pray together and struggle to be a fitting example of love for Christ, yet for the most part, in the world today we are tired and alone.  We are scared for our little ones, uncertain of our future as a Church, as a rite, even as individuals.   We seldom come together with other believers.  Often we find division and are not at all unified in purpose or belief, even in our parishes.  We huddle inside our domestic churches, closing the doors against the threats and cold we find in the outside world and remember days when we were not so alone and afraid.  We so desperately need a paraclete.  

For 18 months now, our domestic church has been offering prayers and sacrifices for the sanctity and courage of our next Eparchial bishop, whoever he may be.  We have begged God that he be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that he may, in turn fill us. We want to serve the Church again and know the joy of fellowship in a family, not an institution.  We long to know we have a father and are not orphans.  

Welcome Bishop Kurt, from the bottom of our hearts!  While awaiting your arrival, we Mommies have done our very best to guard and teach the next generation of Byzantine Catholics.  They are waiting for you!  Please lead us!  O how we have prayed for you!  You are our hope.