“There is no true evangelization if the name, teaching, life, promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, are not explained.”

Pope Paul VI
Year of St. Paul
“Dear brothers and sisters, as in early times, today too Christ needs apostles ready to sacrifice themselves. He needs witnesses and martyrs like St. Paul. Paul, a former violent persecutor of Christians, when he fell to the ground dazzled by the divine light on the road to Damascus, did not hesitate to change sides to the Crucified One and followed him without second thoughts. He lived and worked for Christ, for him he suffered and died. How timely his example is today!”
~ Pope Benedict XVI, June 28, 2007
First Vespers of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect”
[Romans 12:1-2].

Reflection Question: What practices help me to discern the will of God?

Mosaic, St. Paul, Apostle to the Nations, found on webpage of St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, Irvine, California http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/html/saintpaul.html


Celebrating the Year of St. Paul in the Parkersburg Vicariate

At St. Matthew Parish
A large banner (about 46” wide and 60” long) for the Pauline year has been created by parishioner Rose Covey and her friend Mary Roesnecker (a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Oak Hill WV) . They were inspired by the logo from the St. Paul Outside the Walls website http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_paolo/en/anno_paolino/anno_paolino.htm, especially after Fr. John Finnell explained the symbols depicted in the logo: chain, sword, bible, Greek cross, flames. Rose and Mary began working on their masterpiece on a Friday at about 11 a.m. and didn’t stop until 2 a.m. At 11 a.m. Saturday, they began adding finishing touches and completed the banner at 3 p.m. Their creation can be viewed in the church throughout the Pauline year.

Parishioners of St. Matthew are observing the Year of St. Paul in other ways. Households are taking turns praying a simple nine day Novena in Honor of Saint Paul. Father Finnell’s Sunday homilies will concentrate on the second readings – from the letters of St. Paul. A special focus on the letters of Saint Paul will be made in all of the Sunday School classes in whatever ways are practical for each age group, and adults will also have the opportunity to study St. Paul’s writings during the Sunday School period

At St. Margaret Mary
Fr. Bekeh Utietiang has begun a Wednesday evening Series on the life of St. Paul. Two sessions remain, scheduled for August 6 &13. In addition, Fr. Bekeh has committed himself to preaching on the second reading at Sunday Masses.

New parking lot banners are being created, depicting scenes from the life of St. Paul.