This week in our Gospel, we are made present with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus is seen talking with an outsider, a woman. The disciples are shocked. Here is a perfect example of Jesus showing us how to evangelize. He begins with conversation, he gets to know her, he makes it clear who he is, and in this meeting her heart is touched. It is in her heart being touched that she becomes a believer and a messenger of the truth she received.

So how and where do we evangelize in our parish? Let’s begin by looking at what parish means. Bishop Peter Jugis wrote a letter entitled, Guiding the Roles of Pastors and Pastoral Councils, in which he states, "Many Catholics believe that the parish is only the group of people that attend church with them, their community of faith... As a general rule a parish is to be territorial, that is (it) embraces all the Christian faithful within a certain territory. In addition Canon Law stipulates that the pastor’s solicitude extends to all those living in the territory of the parish through works of social justice, and sharing the message of the Gospel." We are called to be the witnesses of Jesus in Talent, Ashland and all the way to the California border. At least that is the responsibility I’ve been given and for which, in working together, we will see marvelous things.

-Father Sean