To
the Parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ottawa, Ohio from the
parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, New Braunfels on this
two-thousandth anniversary of the birth of St. Paul, greetings and our prayerful
wish for your blessings.
As
we prepare to celebrate the feast day of the great patrons we share, St. Peter
and St. Paul, you are on our minds, in our hearts and in our prayers.
Our
parish, founded 163 years ago by German immigrants, is in a small town in the
heart of south Texas. We hope that any of you visiting the area between Austin
and San Antonio, will stop into our church. You are always welcome.
We
are so blessed to have as our patrons, these two great men.
St.
Augustine writes:
“Both
apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they
suffered on different days, the were as one. Peter went first, and Paul
followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’
blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their
sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”
During
tour celebration of this Solemnity, we will keep you in our prayers as we say;
Almighty
God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom:
Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example and knit
together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon one foundation, which
is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever.
Your
brothers and sisters in Christ,
The
community of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, New Braunfels, Texas.