October 16, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ,

This coming Tuesday, October 18^th, is the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. We have been listening primarily to his gospel during this lectionary year cycle “C.” Luke tells the story of Jesus in two books.

Book one, his gospel, describes the life of Jesus, including the cherished infancy narrative we hear every Christmas. Luke tells the story of Jesus with special emphasis on care for the poor, prayer, and the visible role of the women who followed the Lord. Forgiveness is also prominent in Luke’s gospel, as is the promise of salvation that is meant for all, including the gentiles. (That’s us!)

Book two, the “Acts of the Apostles” tells the story of the risen Jesus living through the lives of his disciples in the church. (That’s also us!) The church is born not by human invention, but by the gifts of the Holy Spirit working through the witness of unlikely people like Saul of Tarsus, who becomes St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. Luke loves the literary device of irony to show how the Lord often works through unexpected twists and turns in our lives.

I am personally fond of St. Luke for a couple of reasons. I find it is the best written of all four of the gospels. I love the emphasis on mercy, forgiveness, and compassion that Luke so prominently features in his telling of the Jesus story. I first learned of this story and that of the church growing up in my home parish St. Luke’s, in what is now known as Shoreline. It was as a member of this community that I received the sacraments of first reconciliation, communion, and confirmation. I fell in love with the Mass at St. Luke’s and frequently served as an “Altar boy.” (Girls didn’t serve Mass back then but thankfully do now!) I eventually celebrated my first Mass as a priest at St. Luke’s. It will always be a special parish to me.

No more special however than St. Bridget’s Parish where I presently am honored to serve as your pastor. The gift of this present moment is also a theme in Luke, where we hear Jesus proclaim in the synagogue, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (4:21) This present moment at St. Bridget’s is one of renewing our life as a parish. One of the ways we do that is by our participation in stewardship of our time, talent, and treasure. Stay tuned for our “Fall Stewardship Campaign” which will begin toward the end of October.

St. Luke the Evangelist…pray for us! St. Bridget of Kildare…pray for us! Live Jesus in our hearts…forever!


Fr. William Heric, Pastor