My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, especially the Consolata Missionary Sisters, today's readings paint a powerful picture of hope, renewal, and vision. In Genesis, we see Noah looking out from the ark after the great flood, searching for a sign of new life. The psalmist reminds us to offer thanks for the goodness of the Lord, and in the Gospel, Jesus restores sight to the blind man—gradually, step by step until he sees clearly.  

What do these stories have in common? They show us that God is constantly at work, renewing and restoring, even when the process takes time. They remind us that our journey of faith is not always instantaneous, (it could be, certainly), but it unfolds, more often than not, through trust, perseverance, and grace.  

This same spirit of faith and mission burned in the heart of St. Joseph Allamano, the founder of the Consolata Missionaries. Just a few months ago, the Church recognized him as a saint—a man who saw beyond the challenges of his time and responded with love and action. He once said, "We must be missionaries always and everywhere!" That call to mission lives on in the Consolata Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters who bring the light of Christ to the world.  

Right here in our own community, we see this missionary spirit of “always and everywhere” in action through the Consolata Sisters and their dedicated work with the Center of Concern. Their tireless service to the poor and vulnerable of Birmingham is a modern-day reflection of Jesus' healing touch in today’s Gospel. Like Noah waiting for the waters to recede, like the blind man receiving sight in stages, the Consolata Sisters walk with those in need, offering hope one step at a time, one meal at a time, one prayer at a time.  

At the same time, there are many here who are celebrating with you. They have partnered with the mission and charism of your community. They are generous with time and resources to make the mission even more effective. Today, we live in a precarious moment where those we serve are fearful – the crushing inflation, the wounds of broken relationships, the risk of unsafe neighborhoods, the uncertainty of immigration processes. All these, and more, heighten the insecurities that families have in your neighborhood where you serve. Your presence is a reassurance, a glimmer of hope, a partnership that will be supportive, even when you don’t have enough resources to sustain all those who come knocking at your door.  

Today, we give thanks for the dedication of the Consolata Sisters who are missionaries always and everywhere. We thank God for the life of St. Joseph Allamano, whose vision continues to inspire. In the midst of all of this, we ask ourselves: “How can we, too, be missionaries in our daily lives?” Maybe we can’t travel across the world to some desperate part of the world, but we can serve right where we are by seeing the needs around us, by reaching out with kindness, by being the hands of Christ to those who are struggling. 

As we continue this Eucharistic celebration, may we open our eyes to the ways God is calling us to bring His light into the world, and may we never grow tired of saying, like the psalmist, “We proclaim His marvelous deeds to all the world!” May we walk by faith and serve with love – “always and everywhere.”

May God bless the Consolata Missionaries, may He bless the work of the Center of Concern, and may He bless each of us as we strive to walk by faith and serve with love. Amen!