In today’s Gospel (MT 10:37-42) Jesus said to his apostles: “...Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
To our new Pastor, Fr. Hernan Cely,
Welcome to the Saint Anthony of Padua Community! We are delighted to have you as our Pastor.
My dear brother in the Priesthood: May the Lord, who called and sent us to do his services and has indeed given you the greatest privilege ever granted to a man; the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be his priest, enlighten you through this new path in your life. In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to welcome his laborers as if we would receive him. It is my pleasure to call you a fellow laborer for the harvest of God.
At Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, we are a diverse church, looking for a true and concrete encounter with the person of Jesus Christ through our community life. Over our community experience, we strive to strengthen prayer life, evangelization, service and generosity in every member of this vibrant community. Working together, we seek to grow as strong disciples of the Lord where all feel welcome and inspired by the Gospel to live God’s mission with faith, hope and love.
I invite and encourage you to connect with the members and ministries of our parish community and look forward to fulfill the words of our Holy Father Pope Francis: that the priests need to “be shepherds with the smell of your sheep, in the midst of your people like Jesus the good Shepherd”.
All in all, you will be facing a future bright with promise; do not let your difficult times in the Pastorate put you down. God always looks upon his laborers; may your personal relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer strengthen you as we humbly pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you in this new mission that God has given you.