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Friends,
Look who I had dinner with last Sunday night (see picture). That’s right, it is AG (Aguek Arop who gave his testimony here at our Sunday masses about six or so months ago.. Now he finds himself playing in the Sweet 16 today at 3:30 PM. How exciting is that SDSU alumni and fans? I had a great conversation with him about his life as an SDSU Aztec basketball player. I asked him how many of his teammates were Christian and he said pretty much all of them. Pretty cool! I found out that a big reason why they are Christian is because of AG! He has shared his faith with them and they have accepted Christ into their lives. They pray together as a team and he describes them as a band of brothers. Really cool stuff! He has used his position as a major college basketball player to touch so many with the life of Christ, starting with his team and then at the SDSU campus leading Bible studies and witnessing to a life in Christ, to the city of San Diego and beyond. And you know what is cool? You can do the same! With your position in life, with your post in life, you can share Jesus left and right all the day long. Remember, I keep telling you that’s why you are! The reason you are in existence is to share the love and salvation of Jesus with others!
Speaking of sharing the love and salvation of Jesus with others, I am very excited that Beth will be sharing with us this weekend at our Sunday masses. She is going to talk about how her life has totally changed since she came and joined the Saint Charles Borromeo community about four years ago. Beth has found a relationship with the Lord and come to know his love which she never knew even though she has gone to mass for decades and went to a Catholic grade school. She has a powerful testimony and I’m looking forward to having her share it with you all!
Again, knowing that the meaning of our existence is to share the love and salvation of Jesus with others, do you know why Beth is here at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church? Because someone invited her to come! And you are all so good at inviting people to come here and join in the celebration of Jesus’ love and mercy and salvation for us all! That’s what we do here! And I want to thank you,
Speaking of the meaning of our existence is to share the love and salvation of Jesus to the ends of the earth, it is not too late to come on our discipleship retreat next weekend! We have many awesome speakers including our own Esther Koetter, David Rivera (Founder of Nativity Prep), Bob Schrimpf, Deacon Lane, and I will be there too. But the main thing is we are going to call down the power of God for discipleship through prayer and the sacraments! Come, Holy Spirit! And we are focusing on discipleship because that is the meaning of our existence! We are very excited about the change The Holy Spirit is going to bring about in our lives! Just like the Holy Spirit did for AG and Beth!
OK, once again, speaking of the meaning of our existence is to share the love and salvation of Jesus with others, I will be taking a redeye out this Sunday night to go give a parish mission in Miami, Florida next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I have probably given about 35 parish missions all around the USA in my 25 years as a priest. Actually, even before I moved down to the diocese of San Diego, I gave many parish missions here. I was just looking at past mission talks on my computer and noticed that it was in October 2008 that I gave a parish mission at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church. Some of the other Catholic churches that I gave parish missions to in San Diego before I moved down here 5 1/2 years ago are: St. Therese of Carmel, St. Catherine Labouré, Santa Sophia, All Hallows, St. Therese the Little Flower, and Mary Star of the Sea. I ask for your prayers as you have mine. Here’s a little video that used to invite people at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Miami Shores to my upcoming mission.
Go out, go out to all the world, and tell the Good News!
+ Fr John Amsberry
PS - Also here is a great Tribune article on AG HERE
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