A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR
The day that Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to two of his disciples along the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize him at first, but Jesus explained the Holy Scriptures to them, and their faith burned within their hearts. They decided to eat, and he “took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30-31). The disciples set out “at once” to return to Jerusalem, to proclaim the good news of Jesus’s resurrection. The two “recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:35).
In this little event we have a synopsis of our mission as a parish. Having met and come to know the risen Jesus, our mission is to set out at once to proclaim the Gospel, which is Christ’s triumph over sin and death and the salvation he offers to all who seek him in faith. Jesus is made known to us – indeed, he is present to us and sends us on this mission – whenever we come together in the Eucharist, to hear the Scriptures proclaimed and explained to us, and to receive Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
The celebration of the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and as with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Eucharist sends us on mission to tell the others about our encounter with Jesus. We proclaim the Gospel’s good news of the risen Jesus in word and deed, and especially whenever we care for our neighbor: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matt. 25:35-36).
I invite you to become an active member of our parish and to discern how the Lord is asking you to participate in this evangelical mission. When you hear his voice, respond like the disciples: at once! Let us go at once to proclaim the Gospel and live out the love which we received when God first loved us. We must respond like Mary to the message of the angel St. Gabriel about the coming of Jesus: “May it be done to me according to your word.”
Rev. Bradley Easterbrooks, J.D., S.T.L.
St. Gabriel's Parish Mission Statement
St. Gabriel's mission is to make present the
Church of Christ in Poway. It does so by providing:
1. Mass and the Sacraments (Liturgy)
2. Christian Education (The Word)
3. An Evangelizing Out-reach (Mission)
4. Christian Charity (Action)
