Cleaning out the ol' email inbox this afternoon, I came across the text for the Final Blessing used at our New Orleans Mass at St. Raphael in July. Five months later, we are now solidly in the middle of Advent, the liturgical season in which we wait for the birth of The Light (a.k.a. Jesus). I found it quite poetic to bring back this idea of the light within us being shared with the people of New Orleans, and I know that for me (and many of us), that light burns in my heart throughout the year much like a pilot light on a heater -- the heater is not always turned up to full power, but that little pilot light is always on, allowing the heater to be ready to go at a moment's notice. Now, as planning begins for NOLA 2012, I look forward to turning that heater on full blast to share with everyone the excitement and joy of the ReNew Orleans experience with everyone around me.
Bow your heads and pray for God's blessings:
Christ our Light
you called those in our company
to journey away to New Orleans
to spread the good news,
to be a symbol of hope and comfort to those in need,
and to love and care for others as you did.
You return them to us,
filled with stories of the light they have shared
and the light that was shared with them.
Nurture the flame within us all
that we may continue to share these stories
and feed those who long for your love
and compassion.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN
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