Mass, statue blessing highlight Bishop Woost’s St. Ladislas visit

“Today, as we celebrate the feast of St. Francis and bless his statue, it is a constant reminder that Christ is calling each of us to become new creations and to recreate the world around us,” said Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost.

He visited St. Ladislas Parish in Westlake on Oct. 4 to celebrate Mass and bless a newly installed statue outside the church. Concelebrating the liturgy were Father Mark Latcovich, pastor, and Father Joe Hilinski, a retired priest who assists at the parish. Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl served as the bishop’s master of ceremonies.

Father Latcovich said the new statue “was inspired by our parish Care for Creation Ministry and it serves as a lasting reminder of our parish’s commitment to the spirit of Laudato Si, the encyclical letter of Pope Francis on caring for all of God’s creation, especially the poor and suffering most affected by harm to our common home.” In addition, he noted the parish enrolled as a member of the Vatican-sponsored Laudato Si Action Platform, a means of empowering the global Catholic Church to translate Laudato Si into concrete actions toward sustainability and spiritual conversion.

Bishop Woost said the only thing that really matters “is to become a new creation. Hold on to that thought,” he told the congregation.

He shared some highlights of St. Francis of Assisi’s life, noting he was born to a wealthy family and had dreams of grandeur and knighthood. However, after participating in a battle between his town and another, he was captured and imprisoned. During this time, his transformation began.

“One day,  Francis encountered a leper,” the bishop said, noting those with the disease were ostracized. The man asked for a few coins, but Francis felt called to do more, so he got off his horse and embraced the leper.

“When he got back onto his horse, the man had disappeared,” Bishop Woost said, which caused Francis to wonder if he had actually encountered the Lord disguised as a leper. This instance was one of the things that helped Francis begin his transformation.

The bishop also shared the story of Francis praying in a church in San Damiano that was in disrepair. He heard a voice tell him to “repair my house.’ Francis felt the Lord was calling him to repair the church building. “It took him a while to realize the Lord was asking him to rebuild his Church – the people … He allowed the grace of God to change him, to recreate him,” he said.

“Francis shared what he learned from Christ,” the bishop said, adding this helped to make “new creations.” He said we remember St. Francis, who discovered and lived the joy of the Gospel, 800 years after his death.

“He allowed himself to be recreated and he set out to recreate the Church with the help of God’s grace … It all begins by allowing God to recreate us in our hearts, our minds and our lives … It is only by God’s grace that we become a new creation in Christ,” the bishop added.

After Mass, the bishop, concelebrants and the faithful processed outside where the statue blessing took place, followed by a reception in the parish hall.