CV NEWS FEED // The Archbishop of Portland took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday to share a message of hope as Christmas approaches.
“I just want to share with you two wonderful experiences I’ve had just in the past week,” said Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland in a video message posted on X.
The archbishop first shared that he had spent last Saturday “with well over a hundred young adult Catholics” for an Advent day of retreat.
“I had a chance to pray with them, to share a meal with them, and to visit with them individually,” said the Archbishop.
“Gosh, it was just a wonderful experience,” he added.
Sample also added that he hosted over 20 seminarians for dinner at his home for dinner, prayer, and what he described as “some really meaningful and deep conversation.”
“I want to share this with you for a reason,” said Sample. “Because, you know, in the midst of all of the darkness that’s out there in the world today, and even sometimes in the Church, there’s a lot of good things happening.”
Sample’s message comes in the midst of a controversial discussion within the Church regarding the Vatican’s latest Declaration on the blessing of same-sex couples.
Despite the controversial moment the Church is experiencing, the Archbishop continued:
The Holy Spirit is really moving and inspiring people to follow Jesus faithfully. I have to tell you something: I was inspired by these young Catholic adults. I was inspired by their faithfulness, their desire to follow Jesus faithfully. And our seminarians are just amazing, that these men are preparing to lay down their lives for Jesus, and for you.
“So take courage and be encouraged,” he concluded. “Let’s imitate these young people and these seminarians in our own faithfulness to follow Jesus.”
