<img src="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/blessing_advent.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25919 lazyload" srcset="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/blessing_advent.jpg 700w, https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/blessing_advent-300x171.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /> Embracing our Faith by Loving Our Neighbor
God’s boundless love for all was the focus of O’Dowd’s Advent-Christmas liturgy, held on December 12 and co-celebrated by Fr. Leo Edgerly, Pastor at Corpus Christi Church, and campus chaplain Fr. Jim Sullivan.
During his homily, Fr. Leo said he understood that teens often struggle with their faith, as well as question the existence of God, because they don’t understand it or it doesn’t make sense.
<img src="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/leo.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25920 lazyload" srcset="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/leo.jpg 700w, https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/leo-300x171.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
<img src="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/communion_dragons.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25922 lazyload" srcset="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/communion_dragons.jpg 700w, https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/communion_dragons-300x171.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /> Asking students to consider the love they share with family and friends, Fr. Leo said “If you can accept love, then you are accepting what those of us believe is God.”
The message of love was expressed throughout the liturgy from the CMT skit – a modern day story of Mary and Joseph being rejected by many people before finding a place to stay, reenacting the Gospel reading (Luke 2: 1-14) – to the Prayers of the Faithful, in which the community prayed for those in need – particularly migrants, refugees and the homeless.
During the communion reflection the O’Dowd Chorus performed Carol of the Bells, and favorite of students, faculty and staff, and at the conclusion of the liturgy led those assembled in a Christmas medley.
<img src="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cmt_group.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25926 lazyload" srcset="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cmt_group.jpg 700w, https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cmt_group-300x171.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
<img src="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/communion_advent.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25921 lazyload" srcset="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/communion_advent.jpg 700w, https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/communion_advent-300x171.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
<img src="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/joy_advent.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25924 lazyload" srcset="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/joy_advent.jpg 700w, https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/joy_advent-300x171.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />