St. Patrick Catholic Church

April 21, 2024

Dear People of St. Patrick Parish,

In our second reading from 1 John,
“Beloved: see what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.”

John points out to us that as children, one day we will see the Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit forever in the joy of eternal life in heaven.

Today, we the children ask ourselves, is this what living my Catholic Faith means to me?

In the Gospel, John has used the words of Jesus, “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  As good children of God and following Jesus the Good Shepherd, we have the tools we need to get to heaven.

Yes, Jesus laid down His life for all people on the cross and after His Resurrection continues to guide us, forgive us and help us to take the right path that will lead us to Heaven.

Let us hear Jesus tell us that, “He has other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice and there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

In these readings, we are made to think, am I following Jesus the Good Shepherd, do I understand, how He feeds me in Holy Communion?

With this knowledge am I am doing my part to lead others to Christ by my actions and pride in being a child of God.

Please reflect on these thoughts as we make our contributions to the Bishop’s Ministry Appeal 2024, to be used in the Diocese of Oakland. Also, our contributions to the Be the Light, to help all the people of
St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rodeo-Hercules.

We are very proud of our young people who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last week and are now fully initiated Catholics. If we are not confirmed, let us make it happen.

God Bless,
Fr. Larry Young