This weekend we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. This great solemnity of the Easter Season has been transferred in most dioceses in the United States from last Thursday to today. Today, we focus on the mystery of the Ascension: that forty days after Jesus' resurrection, Jesus ascended to the Father's right side in heaven, to that place that had rightfully awaited Him from the moment of the Incarnation. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the culmination of our fifty-day Season of Easter with the Solemnity of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, and the birthday of the Church.

In today's Gospel, Jesus said to the disciples: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." This has been the Church's task even to today. The task of proclaiming the Gospel is at the heart of every parish in the Catholic Church, as we form a community of believers intent upon that task. As we continually form and re-form our parish community here at Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph, we are always opening our arms in welcome to the presence of new members in our midst: newborn children who are baptized into our community, adults who enter our church through our RCIA program, and of course, new members who move into our area, join our parishes, and journey with us in faith for a period of time.

If the apostles felt the bittersweet nature of the Lord's Ascension - knowing He was leaving them for a place He was destined to go, but nevertheless missing Him at the same time - so too, as a parish community must let go of our parishioners from time to time. Throughout the year, death calls home many of our beloved members, who will always be remembered by those who remain. And at this time of year, we must say good-bye to so many of the military families at Fort Leavenworth, who have been with us for a significant period of time and now are called on to other duty stations, as they serve our nation both at home and abroad.

The great richness of our parishes at Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph is that we have such a diversity of families in our midst! Last weekend after the 10:30a.m. Mass, I had the joy of baptizing Jack Gordon Sullivan, a new baby cousin of mine. Jack's parents brought him here from Atlanta for baptism because of family roots in our parish. Jack's great-great-great-great grandparents arrived here in 1854 and worshiped at the Old Cathedral!

And joining all the "old timer" families here are all the newcomers, many from Fort Leavenworth, who come to us perhaps just for a year at a time. Their energies, talents, and presence are a great gift to us! And so, as we welcome them in mid-summer, we must bid them a fond farewell each spring. So please join us after the 8:00a.m. and 10:30a.m. Masses this weekend, as we mark "Farewell Sunday" in our parish.

God bless you always!