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Welcome!

We are Our Lady Star of the Sea, a Roman Catholic faith community. We are on a journey – a long walk to freedom. It is our faith in God which gives direction to our journey – which makes sense of it all, which holds us together, which draws us close and enables us to reach beyond ourselves.

Thomas (in the Gospel) asks the same question of Jesus as we often do. Thomas says, "We do not know the way. How do we know the way?" Jesus’ answer is simple. He does not say the wisdom of the Greeks, technology, or great dramatic events of power are the way or will show the way. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus understands life as a gift, that is to be shared as gift and not a right. This is at the heart of who Jesus is.

The persons we travel with – our friends and companions – give us the concrete support we need to carry on. Some of us may think it is possible to go it alone. We may even want to try. The wisdom of the centuries, the experience of those that have gone before us (tradition), and our own inner instincts tell us that we cannot make it on our own. As with any community, it is important to share our personal stories, to connect with people, to be understood.

It is in this faith community that we celebrate new life and give back to God the lives God has lent to us. It is here that we support, console and challenge each other to celebrate – not simply tolerate – the individuality and the uniqueness of each other. It is here in this faith community that we try to stay close to the Word of God in order that our energy does not go into the master of life but how we allow God to draw us into the mystery of Life. This is not the place I come to get my needs met, and if not I move on.

This is the place of ritual, sign and symbol where we attempt to say and hear experiences not able to be depicted in word. This is the place where God calls me beyond what I think I need. This is the place where we gather so that we might scatter to those in need. This is the place where we experience discipleship in the manner of Mary – the first disciple. ALL are welcome.

Fr. René Iturbe, S.M.
Pastor

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