In a recent letter to the parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lexington, Kentucky, Deacon Bob Joice  focused on the importance of the faithful accepting the role God has given the Church leaders.

Joice began his letter, published in the church's Aug. 30 bulletin, with a description of the final document produced by Vatican II, the pastoral constitution entitled “Joy and Hope,” which was written not only for the faithful, but as a means of promoting conversations and understanding with those outside of the faith.

“Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict and Pope Francis have worked hard to follow through on these ideas and help the faithful apply them to our specifics in the time of each of their reigns,” Joice said.

With his focus on the document, however, Joice decided against attempting to either summarize or draw key portions out of it, but rather encouraged good Catholics that they should place their faith in the leaders God has given them within the Church.

“We are called to place confidence in our bishops and our popes, who like Jonah and Peter are called to serve God and his people,” Joice said.

“Pope Francis calls us to reach out to those on the margins, on the periphery, to be open to refugees and immigrants, and among other things, to be better stewards of the environment,” Joice said. “Bishop John echoes these concerns and calls us to focus on social justice and serving the needs of immigrants, the needs of our poor and those throughout Eastern Kentucky. He calls for us to work in ecumenical ways to build a city of God in Lexington.”

While even church leaders may not agree on all points, each has been appointed by God for a reason and to serve a specific purpose in God’s plan, Joice said.