More than 500 faithful filled St. Francis of Assisi Church to capacity for the Spanish-language Mass on Sunday, January 4 – the Solemnity of the Feast of the Epiphany – to welcome Bishop Timothy Senior, who was making a pastoral visit to the church located in the Allison Hill neighborhood of Harrisburg.
Father Anthony Dill, pastor, and Father Peter Rettig, parochial vicar, concelebrated Mass with Bishop Senior. Father Dill translated Bishop Senior’s homily into Spanish for the faithful who were four rows deep standing in the rear of the church.
“Like the Magi, we are to bring gifts to Jesus,” Bishop Senior said, “but we do not bring gifts like the Three Kings did; we are to bring ourselves, to give our hearts to Him. Jesus is always with us. The treasure we bring to Jesus is our hearts.”
“Your faith here in this community is such an inspiration to me. It is a beautiful expression of the cultural diversity of this Diocese. We are truly blessed by our diversity here in the local Church,” Bishop Senior said. “Nothing is more a treasure than our faith in Jesus – He is the ultimate gift…. The Magi travel in total darkness of night following the star and that star guides them to the light – Jesus Christ.”
(Photos by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness.)
By Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness
