ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Dear Bishop Murry, All of us extend a very warm welcome to you and thank you for coming to Philadelphia for this weekend. We especially thank you for your words of inspiration last evening at the Jubilee Reception for the Office for Black Catholics.

Dear brother Bishops and Priests,
Dear Deacons, men and women Religious,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Praised be Jesus Christ!
Praised be Jesus Christ for his Incarnation as man.
Praised be Jesus Christ for His life and ministry.
Praised be Jesus Christ for His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
Praised be Jesus Christ for Sunday, His Day, the Day of Resurrection and new life.

Indeed, we gather on Sunday to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of our lives as Catholics. It is this sacred food and drink that nourishes us as disciples in mission.

As we entered this great basilica this afternoon, we sang, "We are marching to Zion, beautiful Zion, that beautiful City of God!" What a powerful image. We, the Church - bishops, priests, deacons, religious, faithful laity, are indeed marching to Heaven, our true home. Yet, in this pilgrimage, we must always be ready and prepared.

In our Gospel for Mass this Sunday, Jesus speaks again in a parable. He is teaching His disciples about how important it is to be prepared. In the story, five virgins were wise and five were foolish. Five were prepared for the Bridegroom’s arrival, while five were not.

And when did the Bridegroom arrive? When they least expected him.

This story points our attention as followers of Christ, to stand always ready and waiting for Jesus. That’s what it means to be truly wise, to live our lives as Christian people waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For when our Lord returns, He expects us to be ready. How do we stand ready? How do we stay marching? It is by living our faith. We must do much more than simply talk about Jesus, we must act like Jesus!

We celebrate at this holy Mass twenty-five years of the faithful service of our Archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics. In the name of the Archdiocese, I express my deep gratitude for all that has been done to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ among our African American brothers and sisters, all that has been done to imitate Jesus. I especially am grateful for the dedicated service of the directors of the Office for Black Catholics, who have served our Church so faithfully for the past 25 years.

I am reminded of the beautiful words of our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, when he hosted a historic meeting with Black Catholics in New Orleans. He said,
"Dear brothers and sisters: your black cultural heritage enriches the Church and makes her witness of universality more complete. In a real way the Church needs you, just as you need the Church, for you are part of the Church and the Church is part of you."

Yes, my brothers and sisters, the Church needs you! We need your gifts of joy and compassion. We need your gifts of vitality and strength. We need your gift of sacred song. We need all your gifts, which find their roots in Mother Africa.

Let us make no mistake, the Church in the African American community of this Archdiocese is alive!

Today, we humbly ask the intercession of Saint Martin de Porres, our patron, to pray for us that we may be ready and prepared to proclaim and live our faith as he did, and one day to join him in the choir of Heaven. Let us continue to march to Zion, that beautiful city of God! Amen.