Message from Fr. Sebastian

Dear Parishioners and Guests,

Happy Independence Day 2026 to Our Lady of the Angels community!

May God continue to bless our nation with peace, wisdom, justice, and unity. As we celebrate the gift of freedom, let us remember that true freedom is found in Christ, who calls us to live in faith, hope, and love. May the Lord guide our leaders, protect our families, strengthen our churches, and inspire us to be instruments of compassion and peace in our communities. As Scripture reminds us: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." — Psalm 33:12.

May this Independence Day fill your hearts with gratitude, joy, and renewed trust in God's providence. God bless you, your families, and the United States of America. Happy Fourth of July!

As a Church family, let us keep Bishop-elect Emilio in our prayers as he prepares for his Episcopal Ordination on Saturday, July 11. This is a joyful and historic moment for our diocese and for the whole Church.

The ministry of a bishop is one of great responsibility and grace. Bishops are chosen through a careful process of prayer, consultation, and discernment. Names of priests are recommended and reviewed, and ultimately the Holy Father, the Pope, appoints the new bishop through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the work of the Church.

During the ordination ceremony, the bishopelect is ordained by the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration. Usually, the principal ordaining bishop is an Archbishop, joined by other bishops, continuing the unbroken line of apostolic succession that reaches back to the Apostles themselves. A bishop is called to be a shepherd of God's people — to teach the faith, celebrate the sacraments, guide the Church, and care for the spiritual needs of the faithful.

Please pray that Bishop-elect Emilio may be filled with wisdom, humility, courage, and the love of Christ as he begins this sacred ministry. May the Holy Spirit guide him always, and may Our Lord bless our diocese through his leadership and service.

The history of the episcopacy — the office and ministry of bishops — goes back to the very beginnings of Christianity and is rooted in the mission given by Jesus Christ to the Apostles. The word "bishop" comes from the Greek word episkopos, meaning "overseer" or "guardian." In the early Church, bishops were entrusted with guiding Christian communities, teaching the faith, celebrating the sacraments, and preserving unity among believers.

Jesus Himself laid the foundation for the episcopacy when He chose the Twelve Apostles and gave them authority to preach, teach, forgive sins, and shepherd His people. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to Peter: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church."

The Apostles then passed on their ministry to successors through the laying on of hands what the Church calls apostolic succession. We already see this happening in the New Testament. In the Acts of the Apostles, Matthias is chosen to replace Judas. Saint Paul appoints leaders for local churches and instructs Timothy and Titus in overseeing Christian communities. By the end of the first century, bishops were recognized leaders of local churches.

One of the earliest witnesses is Saint Ignatius of Antioch, writing around the year 107 AD. He emphasized the importance of unity around the bishop, priests, and deacons. He described the bishop as the visible shepherd of the local Church, representing Christ among the faithful. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, bishops became central figures in preserving doctrine and unity. The bishop of Rome — the Pope — gradually came to be recognized as holding a unique leadership role because he was considered the successor of Saint Peter. Over the centuries, the role of bishops developed further. Bishops presided over councils, defended orthodox teaching against heresies, ordained priests and deacons, cared for the poor, and governed dioceses. During difficult times, many bishops were martyrs for the faith.

Today, bishops remain successors of the Apostles. Their mission is still the same at its heart: to teach the Gospel faithfully, to sanctify God's people through the sacraments, and to shepherd the Church with wisdom and charity. The episcopacy is therefore not simply an administrative office. It is a spiritual and sacramental ministry rooted in the life of the early Church and in the mission entrusted by Christ to His Apostles.

Fr. Sebastian Szczawinski Pastor