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LORAIN, Ohio – Members of St. Nicholas Parish celebrated the Divine Liturgy with Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, and their pastor, Father Nicholas Rachford, April 29. The occasion was Bishop Lach’s first pastoral visit to the parish.
In his homily for the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, Bishop Lach noted that all people want to live forever, whether they are Christians or atheists. Jesus spoke to the woman offering her life forever. The bishop gave the historical background of why there was tension between Jews and Samaritans. He noted that Jews did not speak to Samaritans and, in the culture of the time, it was scandalous for a man to ask a woman for a drink of water.
St. John the Evangelist communicates something by including this event in his Gospel. Jesus’ message is that God wants to save his people and give them eternal life. When Jesus tells the woman that she will not be thirsty after drinking the water that he will give her, he means that if one’s heart is open to invite Jesus in he will give one eternal life. Bishop Lach pointed out that every Sunday is Easter, when the community remembers that Jesus loves mankind, when they hear the Word of God, and when they receive the Eucharist that grants eternal life. The faithful then go out of the church to proclaim Jesus to the world and that he is risen. Christians, who know the way to eternal life, need a strong faith and the encouragement of others because their witness is needed by the world.
Following the liturgy, parishioners joined Bishop Lach in the parish hall for breakfast. During breakfast, the bishop went from table to table to speak individually with each parishioner. After breakfast, he met with members of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Economic Council to discuss the parish three-year plan and the current financial status of the parish.
Caption: Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, apostolic administrator of Parma, greets Judy and Mike Naymik during his visit to St. Nicholas Parish in Lorain, Ohio, April 29. (Photo: Mark Teleha)
As published in Horizons, May 27, 2018.
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