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Today in our Gospel we here Jesus change Simon’s name to Peter and make him “the Rock” upon which He would build the Church. Peter was the first Pope! This week we as a Diocese celebrated the Ordination and Installation of Bishop Bill Wack as the new leader of our local Church. He has been chosen by the successor to St. Peter, Pope Francis, to lead us all in becoming the Church fully alive. Every time I have heard Bishop Bill speak, he has referenced the fact that ours is a “missionary” diocese, meaning that we have a small percentage of Catholics in our geographical area. From the first days our Diocese was founded in 1975, we have hovered at a 5% Catholic population. But we have not grown in these four decades of our existence! That is why Bishop Bill is calling for us to all recognize our role and task to become missionaries: men and women who bring the Good News to others, and so help to build the Church. This is not just a task for the bishop or even the priests: it is the task of every member of the Church.
This week we are asking you to take seriously your own role in building the Church. We have an opportunity in a few weeks as a parish to experience the Encountering Christ Retreat (September 15-16 th), which is a Friday evening and all day Saturday event. You yourself need to go, and you need to invite the person in your life who you would like to have an encounter with Christ and His Church. Think about whom you are going to invite, and step out and ask them! Jesus uses weak, mistake-prone people like St. Peter and like you and me to do great things, if only we would respond with faith and generosity. Jesus is building His Church, right here in our Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, and right here in our own Panama City. Let’s do our part and join the Lord in undertaking this incredible “building project.” God bless you!