Bishop Loverde Blesses Expectant Parents

By Irene Lagan
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/8/03)

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde blessed parents-to-be at the annual Mass for Expectant Parents last Sunday at St. Bernadette Church in Springfield. Some families traveled more than one hour to attend Mass and receive a special blessing.

Focusing on the last line of Sunday’s Gospel, Bishop Loverde expounded upon the meaning of being a Christian witness.

"Sometimes just a phrase of a sentence strikes with such a particular force that it keeps echoing over and over. The last line of today’s gospel strikes me in this way," Bishop Loverde said.

Quoting scripture, he said, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

"We witness to the risen Lord Jesus by placing our trust in Him in good times and bad," he said. "Although uncertainty and anxiety can still haunt us, through it all we persevere. We walk with inner confidence because the one who leads us and walks at our side is the risen Lord Jesus."

Addressing parents, Bishop Loverde urged couples to a life of prayer and rootedness in Christ in order to be effective witnesses of Christ’s presence in the world. In bringing forth new life, he said, a husband and wife become co-creators with God and a witness to the creative power of love.

"As Christian parents you are called to see and accept the world as it is, but not be satisfied by it. You are called to transform the world," Bishop Loverde said. "God entrusted you with the formation of a child. You are responsible for teaching your child about God’s great love, and how to be a Christian witness in the world. You must engender in your child a love for others, and a sense of Christian vocation."

Assisting Bishop Loverde in the celebration of Mass were Father Thomas P. Ferguson, administrator, and Fathers Kevin J. Beres, John F. Heisler and John T.B. Trong, parochial vicars.

Following Mass, families were invited to a reception with the bishop. Many couples expressed their gratitude to the bishop for his blessing and presence among them.

"We worked hard to get here," said Ana and Carlos Castro of Leesburg. We really enjoyed the ceremony." The Castros moved from Dallas two weeks ago and are expecting their first child in mid-June.

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