From the Gospel according to Mark
Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
A little further on, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending their nets. And straight away he called them.
In our parish community of Sant’Agabio, too, the Sunday just past was the Sunday of the Calling.
Like the apostles, some members of our community have also responded to a call to commitment and shared responsibility, placing themselves at the service of the parish to accompany and assist the parish priest and the other priests in fostering an ever more vibrant expression of a Church that is Communion, a community of the faithful gathered around Jesus, our teacher and guide.
After a long period of meetings, reflection and discernment – as announced by our parish priest, Fr Massimo, at the end of his homily – the blessing was imparted and the mandate conferred upon the members of the new Pastoral Council, who thus present themselves to the community, entrusting themselves to the Holy Spirit with the prayer of ‘Adsumus’, used at the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
We stand here before you, O Holy Spirit:
we feel the weight of our weaknesses,
but we are all gathered in your name;
come to us, assist us, descend into our hearts: teach us what we must do,
show us the path to follow, and fulfil yourself what you ask of us.
May you alone inspire and guide our decisions, for you alone,
together with God the Father and his Son, have a holy and glorious name.
Do not allow us to do injustice, O you who love order and peace;
may ignorance not lead us astray, may human sympathy not make us partial, may no office or person influence us.
Keep us close to you through the gift of your grace, so that we may be one in you and never stray from the truth. Amen
May these words be for all the members of our parish community of Sant’Agabio.
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