Bishop Michael Mulvey with keynote speaker, Father Albert Haase, DFM.
Ervey Martinez, for South texas Catholic
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"God's voracious enthusiasm is always trying to touch us, mold us and help us to progress in a relationship with him," Father Albert Haase, DFM said to those gathered for the annual Clergy and Religious Appreciation Banquet held at the Ortiz Center on Oct. 29.
Father Haase is a friar, priest and author. He is a self-described itinerant preacher of parish missions and retreats, a teacher of adult education courses and trainer of spiritual directors.
He said that people often ask, "How do we become a saint?" All of us are called to sainthood, but there is only one Mother Teresa and one Francis of Assisi. The rest of us must find our own way; forge our own path to sainthood.
To do so, Father Haase said, people must embark on a spiritual journey, which he described as "a process of being transformed by the spirit of God into the image of Christ for the sake of others." He cautioned against being discouraged because too often people shoot for perfection, which is not going to happen.
A spiritual journey is about making progress step by step, day in and day out. Sometimes these steps are backwards steps. The further along on the journey one gets, the harder the journey becomes.
It all starts, Father Haase said, with an "awakening;" an awakening to God's call to be in a relationship with him. He reminded his audience of God's words to Jeremiah, "…like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand."
"We don't get to coast into heaven. Anyone can say no to deliberate sin, but when God asks–challenges you–to move beyond your ego, that's hard work," he said. "People need to find their own path, become comfortable with it and never apologize for it."
He referred to the Spirit as the "operating system" in the lives of Christians and reminded his audience of the Apostle Paul's prompting to follow the nine fruits of the Spirit, namely "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5, 22-23")." He urged that people should examine their lives against the nine fruits of the Spirit.
"Christ sets the benchmark for our spiritual lives," Father Haase said, "When people meet you, do they see a friend of Jesus; do you have a connection to Jesus. Who are you connected to, who are your friends?"
Spiritual lives are not about obedience, they are about selfless giving, Father Haase said.
The Knights of Columbus and the Bishop's Guild co-hosted the appreciation banquet that honored priests, deacons, sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
"Many of us will never see the sacrifices that you have made and continue to make every day, but please know this: we appreciate you, we are praying for you and we love you," Mellie Smithwick, with the Bishop's Guild, said in opening the evening.
"It is my great joy to serve with many of you as my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I am privileged to have the opportunity to carry the torch of faith with you and call you my family," Bishop Michael Mulvey said in closing remarks. "I am grateful to all priests, deacons, consecrated religious and laity who have built up this diocese named after the Body of Christ. God bless you this evening and may your faith grow rich, may our diocese become the home and school of communion as we continue together as missionary disciples living the 'Joy of the Gospel'."
The evening came to a close with the Knights of Columbus presenting a check for $36,723 to The Ark Assessment Center and Emergency Shelter for Youth.