Pastor's Message

The Ascension of the Lord - May 17, 2026

 

Message from the Pastor:

 

When I was much younger than I am today, I went through different phases in which I imagined what it might be like to grow up and become… A cowboy? A train driver? A policeman? A fire-fighter? A priest? An explorer? One of the more compelling and delightful ideas was that of becoming a pilot. I remember my disappointment reading somewhere that pilots couldn’t be too tall and that I might not qualify on those grounds. If I pursued that idea, who knows if my life would be different today!

 

There are so many things I think I might love about flying: the freedom, the openness of the vast expanse of sky, the ability to glide through the air, the incredibly different view one can have of the world and all it contains, the closeness to the heavens! There is something very attractive about being able to step off the groundedness of the earth and enter into a domain where different physical rules for living come into play. The idea of being above, of not being tethered, of being set free from the immovable material reality of the earth. The opportunity to rise above it all and to enjoy “the air up there,” even if only for a while.

 

It occurs to me that on this Feast of the Ascension, we all get to step into this experience of Jesus and to step into “the air up there,” if only for a while. The Ascension reminds us that we are not bound by the realities of earth, nor by the constraints of our daily lives. There is an aspect to our lives and our living that moves beyond the simply mortal to the transcendent. We are all capable and likely have had the experience of rising above ourselves, of going above and beyond, and of enjoying the rewards of that effort. We are all capable of experiencing something of what it’s like to “fly a little higher.”

 

Whenever we go out of our way to help a neighbor who is in need and whom we are able to support and assist through a difficult moment, whenever we make a sacrifice that allows good to flow into the life of another, whenever we freely choose to do something or be someone that is not required of us, we are stepping into the realm of the transcendent in our lives. We are experiencing a taste of what it is like to be our better selves, of what it’s like to choose to be “more than.”

 

In a very real way, the Ascension of Jesus into heaven is a reminder to us all of what it looks like to choose to become “more than” ... He is reminding us that where He goes, we too are called to follow. While we live and move here on this earth, we are called to more, and that “more” is our ultimate destiny in our life in God. But before I can “shoot for the moon,” I’d better get used to “rising” momentarily in the living of my life.

 

CONFIRMATION

I am delighted that Bishop Marc Trudeau is joining us here at Our Lady of Refuge this Sunday afternoon. The occasion is the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation for all those who have been eagerly anticipating this moment in their lives and in their faith journey. Some to be confirmed have been on this path their entire lives and have more recently turned with purpose to prepare for this sacrament. Some to be confirmed have been focused for the past two years, coming together to learn more about their faith, to grow in their relationship with God, and to deepen their understanding of who they are in relationship with God’s people. Through sessions that allow for learning together with one another, to service opportunities, to retreat and prayer experiences, they have steadily made their way to this moment. I want to give a “shout-out” to the young men and women who will be Confirmed this Sunday and to their families and friends who have accompanied and supported them, mentoring them all this while. In a particular way, I want to acknowledge and express deep gratitude to our catechists and sponsors who have mentored and nurtured and facilitated all who have been preparing for the sacrament. Your sharing of time and personal gifts for the good of others is inestimable, and you are deserving of our deepest and most profound thanks for the work you have done among us.

Easter Blessings,
Fr. David