New Parish priest introduced in Blessed Trinity parish Amsterdam

The first sunday of Advent Fr. Edmund Owusu svd took possession of his office as a parish priest of Blessed Trinity parish in Am­ster­dam. The church was packed for the ceremony.

Installation

At the begin­ning of Holy Mass, Mrs Bongo read out the letter of appoint­ment, after which Fr Edmond made his profession of faith and took the oath of allegiance, and I confirmed him in his office.

Con­ce­le­brants

 It was a festive Eucha­ristic celebration. One of the church choirs sang beautifully and with great devotion. Concelebra­ting at the altar, in addition to the new parish priest, were Fr. Peter Klos, who works pas­to­rally for the parish, as well as the epis­co­pal delegate for migrant communities, Fr. Ward Biemans S.J., Provincial Superior Fr. Avin Kunnekkadan SVD, Fr. Marianus Jehandut SVD and Fr. Pierrrot SVD. Fr. Peter Klos welcomed everyone at the begin­ning of Mass. At the end of Mass, Fr. Avin gave a speech in which he affirmed the commit­ment and dedication of the Missionaries of the Divine Word (SVD).

Reception with a letter for the bishop

After Mass, there was a reception where many people came to greet the new parish priest and wish him well. There, I was also handed a letter from parishioners who are concerned about the church of this thri­ving community, which may have serious defects. In response, I said that we first need to learn more about the exact condition of the church, that I could not do anything about this situation if the initial reports of structural problems were confirmed, but that we would then seek a solution in dialogue with the parish.

Congratulations! 

Fr. Edmond was given a very warm welcome and I congratulate him (and the parish community) on his installation!

Homily

Vigilance. What does it mean?

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT A BLESSED TRINITY AMSTERDAM

Installation of Father Edmund Owusu SVD as parish priest

Brothers and sisters, dear new parish priest,

Congratulations

I would like to congratulate Father Edmond once again on his installation as parish priest! May the Lord bless you and make your commit­ment to the Blessed Trinity fruitful; may the Lord give you a won­derful time of communion with God and with each other; and dear brothers and sisters, may Father Edmond be a good shepherd for you and may you all work with him warmly, full of faith and love.

Fr. Ward Biemans

I am also very pleased that the epis­co­pal delegate for migrant communities, Father Ward Biemans, is able to be here today to share in the joy of this day. He officially began his task as epis­co­pal delegate this month and, through his work and his prayers, he expresses my solidarity with the migrant communities and therefore also with this beautiful parish of the Blessed Trinity.

Nicene Creed

Your parish is dedicated to the blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in whose name we are baptized. Every Sunday we profess the faith of our baptism in the Creed. Today we’ll do so with special intensity, since the holy Father, our pope Leo is in Turkey, in Nicea, where 1700 years ago the council was celebrated that prepared the text of this profession of faith.

Listen to your parents!

When we were little children, we were regularly corrected and our parents told us what to do and what not to do. At least, that's how it was in our home, and I assume it was no different in yours: your parents told you when it was time to get up or go to bed, that you had to eat what was prepared, that you had to be polite and speak with two words, that you had to do your homework, and so much more.

Growing up

Gradually, we started doing all kinds of things on our own, without nee­ding to be reminded. When I was an altar boy at church, my father or mother would wake me up because I sometimes had to serve Mass at seven o'clock in the mor­ning during the week. But after a while, I could do it myself and my parents didn't have to keep an eye on me. And I was proud that I was old enough to do it myself. And so it has been for all of us: we were proud to be able to walk, to go by bike etcetera.

Adolescence

Of course, many of us may have had a rebellious period during adolescence, when you think your parents are doing almost everything wrong and you rebel. I can do it myself and I know much better than my parents, might have been our way of thin­king. But we grew out of that too, and as we got older, we had to make our own choices and we also became wise enough to ask for advice from people with life experience and in our prayers to Our Lord. We learned to pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and insight.

Don't follow just your own likes

Nevertheless, all kinds of temptations continue to come our way, each period of life has its own temptations, because it is hard to be humble and we often like to choose the easy path, or what is pleasant and enjoyable. We are not always inclined to do what is sensible and wise. A wise person will therefore not simply follow his impulses. If you love chocolate, it can be quite difficult not to eat too much of it, and if we don't feel like doing something we really should do, it can easily happen that we just leave it.

Again, obeying...

Then you really have to make choices, distance yourself from your own emotions and desires, be a little strict with yourself in order to do the right thing, and pray to God for an open heart, open to His Holy Spirit, open to do what is more in accordance with His holy Will. You must be vigilant, says the Gospel and say the other rea­dings today. Because when we are left to our own devices, we easily make the wrong choices. Hear your inner voice, the voice of your conscience, the voice of the holy Spirit within you, seek the protection of your guardian angel.

The Lords understands

It maybe really difficult. But there is comfort and hope: Our Lord understands that it is sometimes difficult for us to make the right choices and that we struggle with this. At least, the Lord often mentions in the Bible that we must be vigilant and not simply give in to our desires and cra­vings, and He would not have had to say it so often if He did not know and understand that we need some encourage­ment in this.

Vigilance

So this Sunday is about vigilance. You must be ready to receive the Lord, because He will come at an hour when we do not expect Him. This fits in very well with the season we are begin­ning today: Advent, because Advent means “coming”, the coming of the Lord. Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Actually, we should always do that, every day: prepare for the coming of the Lord, open your hearts, let us be vigilant so that we can receive God in our lives, so that we can follow Jesus.

What does vigilance mean?

When are we vigilant? When we are inwardly spiritually indifferent, as the spiritual writers call it. Being spiritually indifferent means that you can do something or not do something, you are inwardly free and you seek only to do the will of God. In this way we can receive Him when He comes. He comes at the end of our lives. He comes at the end of time, He comes into our hearts, however, also when we receive Him in Holy Communion, and He comes in so many ways, in small things that happen, in all the beautiful things we experience, God is present and at work.

Advent person

We must be vigilant, the Gospel tells us. So what does it mean to be vigilant? It means being an Advent person, someone who looks forward to the coming of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah said it in the first rea­ding: Let us walk in the light of the Lord! And Saint Paul put it in much the same way in the second rea­ding: Cast off the works of darkness and arm yourselves with the light. Let the warmth and love of Jesus, the love of God, shine upon you before you make a decision. If you can choose your path from the presence of Jesus in your heart, then you are on the right track, then you are a pilgrim of hope. May God bless you all! Amen.