​Jesus is with us and we do not need to be afraid, archbishop tells St. Gregory the Great students

Jesus is with us and we do not need to be afraid, archbishop tells St. Gregory the Great students

St. Gregory the Great School celebrated the feast day of its patron saint on Sept. 3 with a special Mass with Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, and a reception after the liturgy.

The archbishop told the students that St. Gregory the Great was a pope during a very difficult time in the church. There were some bishops and priests not doing what they should, people were ignoring God, and the world was full of angry people. “Does that sound familiar?” he asked. He told the youth, “We have some of the very same problems today. But St. Gregory knew the truth, that we are children of the light and we do not have to be afraid.”

Archbishop Gustavo urged the students be like St. Gregory. “He knew who he was, he was a child of the light.” The Missionary of the Holy Spirit quizzed the children, “Can you remember this? When you see the dark things around you, can you remember the light?” He told them to be people who hope in the light no matter what.

Pope Francis reminded us about this when he said: “I have hope because God walks with me, he walks alongside me and holds my hand.”

The readings at the liturgy emphasized to listeners the best way to be children of the light. “Encourage one another and build one another up.”

The San Antonio prelate stressed, “Here at school, build each other up! Making fun of each other and hurting each other is the darkness, but you are children of the light. Encourage your friends when they are hurting. Be light at home when the darkness comes. When you hear of difficult things in the world, remember to hope and trust in God. You are never alone, and you do not have to be afraid.”

He continued, “My friends, we are here for you, because you are important to us. Never let the darkness in the world make you feel alone. Reach out to your family, to your friends, to your teachers, to your pastor when you are hurting or need help. We are here to build each other up, because we are children of the light.”

The archbishop concluded by asking for prayers to the Blessed Mother, Mary, and St. Gregory the Great, saying, “May we see the good things of the Lord and trust in the light.”