Saint Paul Parish Mission

Fr. Richard Sutter’s parish mission centered on the profound connection between the Beatitudes and the Seven Last Words of Christ, drawing especially from the insights of the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen. He showed how each Beatitude finds its deepest meaning in Christ’s words from the Cross, revealing not just moral teachings, but an invitation into a living relationship with Jesus.

A key example he emphasized was:“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” paired with “I thirst.”Here, Jesus reveals not only His physical suffering, but His spiritual thirst—a burning desire for souls. Fr. Sutter challenged us to reflect: Do we thirst for God the way Christ thirsts for us? This kind of spiritual hunger means being on fire for the Kingdom of God.

He rooted this call in the truth that we are made for fullness of life. Echoing Christ’s words (“I came that they may have life… abundantly”) and the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (§27), he reminded us that our dignity rests in our call to union with God. True justice, then, is not just social fairness—it is giving God what is due to Him: our love, worship, and relationship.

From the Cross, Jesus shows this perfectly: He gives everything and thirsts for our love in return.

A recurring theme throughout the mission was relationship over routine. Fr. Sutter stressed that Christianity is not primarily about rules or even a book, but about encountering the living person of Jesus Christ—the Incarnate Word. He challenged us to examine our posture at Mass:Do we come as a guest, or as a host? In other words, are we passive observers, or are we actively welcoming and responding to Christ?

To help cultivate this relationship, he offered a simple daily practice:

• Upon waking: “Thank you, Jesus.”

• Hand on heart: “I love you, Jesus.”

• Feet on the floor: “I want to follow you, Jesus.”

This pattern reflects the heart of discipleship: gratitude, love, and commitment.

He also applied this relational focus to sacramental life, especially Confirmation. He emphasized that it’s not about merely memorizing facts (like the fruits of the Holy Spirit), but about owning the faith—living it authentically. Knowledge can come over time, but the priority is a real, personal relationship with God.

He concluded by grounding everything in the image of the Good Shepherd:

“Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd. I am your sheep. I hear your voice. You hear my voice. I follow you.”

Ultimately, the mission was a call to move beyond surface-level faith into a deep, personal, and life-giving relationship with Christ, who from the Cross continues to say, “I thirst”—longing for each of us to respond with love.