Thursday, May 29, 2014

Eternal Rest, grant unto them

Yesterday was the Funeral Mass for Fr. Michael J. Ryan a former pastor of St. Paul's in South Seattle during the 80's.

This picture was taken a few years ago at my grandfather's Funeral Mass at St. Paul's. Fr. Mike, on the right pictured behind my uncle who was a student at St. Paul's when Fr. Mike was pastor, returned many times to St. Paul's during his retirement for as many birthday celebrations and funerals as he could. I'll especially miss his sense of humor and joyous outlook on life. For example, he didn't want any incense at his Funeral Mass because he thought he would choke! On a more serious note, he encourage me as a lay minister in the Church. For all that he is and has done for me and my family, I am ever grateful.

A few months ago another former pastor of St. Paul returned to God, Fr. L. Jerry McCloskey, who was the pastor when I was in the parish grade school. Seeing many St. Paul parishioners attend both funerals reminded me of how many people love these two holy men of God.


1 comment:

  1. THE AUTHORITY OF GOD? BY STEVE FINNELL

    Where is God's authority recorded? Most denominations who use creed books AKA denominational church catechisms, use those creed books as the final authority for faith and practice.

    The question is, if church creed books are used as the authoritative book, why read the Bible? The ironic thing about churches who use creed books is, they try to use the Bible to support their denominational creeds.

    If creed books are used as the rules for faith and practice, then referencing the Bible rings hollow.

    There is not one denomination that has written one verse of the Bible. Denominations write creed books. God does not write creed books.

    John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word: and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

    Jesus did not say if anyone loves Me, he will keep the words of the church catechism.

    1 John 1:4-6 .....as we received command from the Father......6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment , that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

    We are told to walk according to the commandments of God. There is no commandment that says to walk according to church creed books nor new books of revelation written by men.

    If your church catechism AKA creed book, or your so-call book of new revelation contradicts doctrine that is found in the Bible, then one of two things is true. 1. The Bible is in error and therefore cannot be trusted for faith and practice. 2. Your creed book or book of new revelation is in error and cannot be trusted as God's message to mankind.

    YOU CAN USE THE BIBLE AS GOD'S AUTHORITY OR YOU CAN USE MAN-MADE EXTRA-BIBLICAL SOURCES.
    YOU CANNOT USE BOTH!

    (Scripture from; NKJV)
    YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com

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