Pastor’s Post (Page 4)

In our life, we have many things to be thankful for. These could be gifts, favors done, help offered or even a few minutes spent with a friend. We might say the Eucharist is all of that and much more. Because it is Jesus Himself seen through the appearance of bread and wine. Today we have the opportunity to spend some time with the Lord, beyond the Sunday Mass. It could be a quiet few moments or a time to…

Today (5/26/2024), we Have a special celebration in our parish. It is Father Tom Ciba’s 50 Priesthood Anniversary. That is a great milestone in the life and ministry of a priest. We congratulate and thank Father Tom for his dedicated service to God and the Church. It is also a reminder to us all of our priestly service to God. Everyone is not ordained a priest. But we all are called to offer service to one another as Jesus reminds…

Today, twenty two of our young parishioners are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. It’s a great experience for them as they are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and now the Church sees them as adult members. They have received the religious education to make decisions of faith. So have we all. But we also know, that the world is constantly changing. New temptations face us each day trying to draw us away from our faith and the…

Today we commemorate Mother’s Day. This day holds a profound significancein our lives and in the community of the Church. It helps us to recognize and appreciate the nurturing and selfless love that mirrors God’s unconditional love for us. It is an occasion to honor not only our biological mothers but also spiritual mothers, grand mothers, aunts, teachers, mentors, and all women who have made a positive impact on our lives. Mother’s Day also provides us an opportunity to reflect…

Did you ever consider becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion? These ministers perform the humbling and unique service of sharing the presence of Christ with all who receive the Body & Blood of Jesus. They are in service to the Lord at Mass and in some cases share in the ministry to the sick, hospitalized and homebound. This ministry helps one develop one’s own sense of faith development, a love for prayer, and a joy in serving others. By…

If you ever had to prune branches on a vine, you know it’s no easy task. They are so intertwined and interconnected that it’s almost impossible to tell where one ends and one starts. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” This is the image of our relationship with Jesus, we are in Him and He is in us. Without Him we wither and die. As the vine to our branches, Jesus tells…

We as church ask the same questions from our own membership each year on Good Shepherd Sunday, which is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. From among those gathered here this weekend we must ask: Who will lead the church into the future? Who will preach the gospel to the assembly that gathers tomorrow, and all our tomorrows? Who will be our teachers and prophets and healers, our administrators and music-makers and caregivers? If it takes a village…

If you were confronted by someone who questioned your Christianity, how would you respond to them? Do you know Jesus’ last name? His place and date of birth? His first miracle? How many miracles did He do? Would you then maybe question yourself if you really know Jesus! In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds His disciples of what He just went through, crucifixion, death and resurrection. Then told them they are witnesses of all this. We weren’t there for Jesus’s crucifixion,…

After a beautiful and prayerful Holy Week and an uplifting Easter celebration, I just wanted to take this moment to say Thank You to all who make this possible. Father Tom and our Deacons add so much to our liturgical celebrations and are a great help to me personally. All those who minister at the altar as well as the choirs and musicians, decorators and planners work hard to make all things go well and look so beautiful. There are…

We finished our forty day lenten journey of sacrifice and have come now to the great feast of the Resurrection. It is a feast of new life, new beginnings and a renewed and stronger faith. I’m sure everyone will be celebrating today with family and friends. Maybe it will be a family meal and get together, or a long awaited phone call or personal visit. In whatever way you celebrate today, celebrate the Feast of Easter with joy and happiness…

How do you pass on a living faith to the next generation? A religious sociologist did a survey. His results showed that one of the highest factors of passing on the faith came in homes where religious objects, artworks, and symbols were commonplace. It could be a family Bible, a religious icon or a crucifix. The Palms that we receive today are a powerful symbol of faith, standing at the gateway to Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. They speak not…

In the start of today’s Gospel, some Greeks said to Philip, “We would like to see Jesus!” In my priesthood, I’ve been asked that many times, from little children asking what does Jesus look like, to teenagers questioning their faith, to adults wondering if God is really present in our world with all the bad things that are going on. None of these people wanted a theological or Biblical discourse. In answering their question, I start with a question for…