Location: The Whitley Event Center
Good morning! Thank you, Michael, for the kind introduction! I would also like to thank the President and CEO of Catholic Charities, Antonio Fernández, our Board of Directors, the Officers, and the whole team of hard-working, generous, dedicated, and compassionate collaborators of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. All of us extend our warm welcome to our guests this morning.
We come together this morning as a Church to rejoice in how God the Father created the world with perfect order and design. Our Lord Jesus Christ has instructed us in how to live fully in God’s design by giving us the beatitudes. We must know the Lord’s heart; He is our compass to discern what is right, what is true, what is just, what is most fulfilling and dignifying. Jesus and the Father have sent us the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, to allow God’s grace to move us forward, communicating the love of God to our neighbors with a contemplative attitude towards nature.
All of us, as Pope Francis has said, “can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.” We must not be afraid. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and be deeply convicted in our home life and our work life that He is Lord. This truth must permeate everything we do and make us unwavering in persecution for the sake of the Cross. We are called to live a spirituality of co-responsibility regarding the order of creation.
Motivated by these intentions, let us give glory to God by enjoying the gifts He offers us today, but not before thanking Him and blessing our meal. Let’s pray. Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive, from your bounty, through Christ Our Lord, Amen. Enjoy!
