Pastor’s Post (Page 18)

Happy Fathers Day to all our fathers. And we offer you this special prayer: We give our thanks, Heavenly Father, for the fathers in our lives. Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail. We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed. This Father’s Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways–both big and small–they lift…

Did you ever think about planting a seed of faith? Where would you plant it? Maybe in your children or in your parents. Maybe in your friends. Maybe even a stranger. What does that seed look like? Maybe it’s the words, “I’ll say a prayer for you.” Maybe it’s complimentary words when someone is down. Maybe it’s words of encouragement when someone is struggling. Maybe it’s just a conversation when someone is all alone. The mustard seed is the smallest…

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. It brings Jesus into our lives through the consecrated bread and wine, now the Body & Blood of our Savior. Last weekend, we published a letter from Bishop Bambera inviting and welcoming people back to Mass. There is a video of that message on our website and also our facebook page. Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi – the Body & Blood of Jesus. It is this gift of…

Veterans are among the many heroes who deserve our respect and remembrance, thanks to their service. One of the ways that we respect those who make sacrifices for our country is by remembering them each year on Memorial Day. Thank a Veteran. Visit the grave of a deceased Veteran. Or at least say a prayer for them: “All Powerful God,We honor today those men and women—Our sons and daughters,Husbands and wives,Fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers—Who have laid down their life for…

Happy Birthday! We think of Pentecost as the birthday of the Church. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and they went sharing the word of God and all understood them in their native language. It began the Church. You have received the Holy Spirit at Baptism and its fulness at Confirmation. Do people understand you when you speak of Jesus and faith – and I don’t mean different languages? Do others feel your faith expressed in your words and…

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is praying for his apostles. It reminds us of our prayer. Do we pray? What do we do when we pray? To me, it’s simply talking to God. We speak as if talking to a friend. No fancy phrases required. We should be open and honest, saying what is on our minds and in our hearts. Whether we are happy or sad, hopeful or depressed, upset or at peace, we can share our feelings with God…

In today’s Gospel we read: “I have told you this so that my JOY may be in you and your JOY might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” The perfect formula for JOY is “Jesus, Others, You.” When you put Jesus first in your life, you stay with him and have the joy he promised his followers. When you are concerned about others, you see their needs, and your heart goes out to…

CONGRATULATIONS to the children who received their First Holy Communion this weekend! As they have received the Eucharist for the first time, may they continue to be fed with the Body of Christ as they continue their journey of faith.

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples fear Paul for he was a persecutor of Christians. But Barnabas takes him under his wing, guides and encourages Paul to move forward, We know the end result, Paul becomes the great preacher of Christianity. This weekend, we have our young children receiving their First Holy Communion. It’s a big step on their faith journey. But they’re still young and continue to need encouragement. Parents, godparents and family are…

The Easter and Christmas collections are ones that help the parish attain its budget and cover the costs that the every Sunday collection doesn’t. With the pandemic over the last thirteen months, we have been down in our regular collections, but your generosity during the holidays is always heart warming. Our Easter collection this year came to $9,971.00. God Bless You for your support and generosity.

This Sunday is not only Good Shepherd Sunday, because of today’s Gospel, but it is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Next week, I will be celebrating forty-four years of priesthood. On my anniversary I always think of the priests who influenced my call to the priesthood. They were the young assistant pastors when I grew up. They were in the schools with us, on the playgrounds, always a part of our everyday lives. But there was also this…

Imagine being one of the disciples in today’s Gospel. You just heard the story of the empty tomb and about Jesus appearing to other disciples on the road to Emmaus. You have feelings of hope because Jesus has risen as He said. Then you remember the pain of His crucifixion, the sense of loss and fear on your part, and you’re right back to where you started. We need Jesus again to appear before us, and maybe He does —…