Our fathers are so important and we do not thank you enough.
I want to welcome to Prince of Peace, a new-to-us Father— Fr. John Muriungi from the Diocese of Meru, Kenya. He is with us June 10th through July 13th.
A note from Fr. John:
I was born on October 2, 1985, the last born in a family of six siblings and I am blessed to have both of my parents still living.
I was ordained on June 12, 2014, and serve as the Parochial Vicar in Holy Trinity Kariakomo Parish and as the Diocesan Chaplain of small Christian communities (about 2,000 prayer groups).
I am a student of Chuka University (online) pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development.
I have an education foundation that supports bright needy students — one has graduated, and is in Occupational Therapy, two are in TVET (Technical Vocational Education & Training), with ten in high school and ten in elementary (primary) schools.
Currently, I am spearheading the construction of St. John Chrysostom Church which will serve some of our parishioners, but also the Catholic students in a nearby campus.
I am a disciple of Fr. Greg, he has been my mentor since 2017.
God Bless Prince of Peace of Peace Parish.
Last week, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ we began a parish year of Eucharistic Revival. I [Fr. Greg] am going to try to focus much more on the Eucharist in all my communications this year. Today, I think of gratitude. Gratitude for all our fathers, gratitude for the gift of Eucharist. We often take these precious things for granted. I am thinking about my own father because he is not well, has some pretty severe degenerative diseases, and might not have a lot of time left. Rather than get depressed by that, I know I need to live in the present and be with him and be grateful. By the way, if you have an extra prayer, offer one for my father, Leo—thank you!
So too with the Eucharist. The very word “Eucharist” from the Greek language means “thanksgiving”. How often do we tell Jesus “thank you” for the Eucharist? Not enough. We just had last Friday the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the whole month of June is dedicated to Jesus’ Sacred Heart.
Whenever I think of the Sacred Heart, I recall the message in an apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, in which Jesus spoke these words: “See this Heart that has loved men so much and has spared itself nothing until it has exhausted itself and consumed itself in order to show them its love. I receive in return scarcely anything but ingratitude because of their irreverence and sacrileges, and because of the coldness and disdain they show towards Me in this sacrament of love. But what hurts me still more is that it is hearts who are consecrated to me who treat me thus. This is why I ask you that on the first Friday after the octave of the Most Holy Sacrament a special feast may be dedicated to the honor of my Heart by receiving Communion on that day and making reparation with some act of atonement.”
That quote really affects me and makes me want to do so much more for Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your great love and your total gift of self which continues today in the Eucharist. Help me to love you more.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Lord Jesus,
Let my heart never rest until it finds You,
who are its center, its love, and its happiness.
By the wound in Your heart
pardon the sins that I have committed
whether out of malice or out of evil desires. Place my weak heart in Your own divine Heart, continually under Your protection and guidance, so that I may persevere in doing good
and in fleeing evil until my last breath. Amen.
Peace,
Fr. Greg