From the Parochial Vicar - August 5, 2018

August 6, 2018

From the Parochial Vicar - August 5, 2018

I am thankful for our youth. I am thankful for our young adults. I am thankful for our youth ministry and young adult ministry. When I arrived at Saint Mark Catholic Church one year ago, it was a Tuesday. Fr. John told Fr. Becker and me that there was Young Adult Group, and he wanted at least one of us there whenever they met. Also, we were told that we were going to be present Sunday night for Life Teen and Wednesday nights for Fraternus/Fidelis. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights we tried to balance commissions’ meetings and Edge youth ministry for the middle school students. So, yes, Fr. John “volun-told” us to be present. Within one month, however, we shared in his commitment to accompany these young people. Sunday through Wednesday, the parish hall, school gym, and classrooms in the Kerin Center overflow with the parish’s youth: your children. And they all have one desire: to encounter the Lord.

I am thankful for our faith formation staff, youth ministers, Life Teen core team, and K-5 catechists. I am grateful to our school teachers, especially in the religion department, for daily catechizing our youth. I am ever grateful to the adults that give of their time, talent, and treasure to be sure that our youth ministry programs provide opportunities for our children to enter into a relationship with the Lord. Whether someone goes to public school, Catholic school, or homeschool, I have witnessed each one in our youth ministry programs form virtuous friendships together and encourage each other to remain faithful no matter where they will scatter after their youth nights and activities.

It has become clear to me and the other priests here that Saint Mark—a parish that forms intentional disciples—must be as present as possible to our youth and young adults as they navigate a world that has rejected Christ. In hearing confessions, being part of small group discussions, going on outings with our youth, and even meeting groups of our high schoolers at the local coffee shop, the kids share their struggles and burdens in ways that they have never shared with anyone else. I wish there was a magic formula to take away those afflictions. What youth ministry does, however, is instill the hope of Christ and the strength of community. Pope Francis, speaking to youth ministers in 2014, said that youth ministry is “much more than the promotion of a series of activities for young people. This ministry consists in walking with them, accompanying them personally in the complex and at times difficult contexts in which they are immersed. … Youth ministry is called to gather the questions of young people of today and, from them, to initiate a true and honest dialogue to bring Christ into their lives.”

As families are preparing to get back into the swing of school and other academic-year-activities, there has been plenty of discussion in the parish about the relationship between catechesis (faith formation) and youth ministry. While these two environments overlap in some respects, just learning principles and doctrine about Christ and his Church is not enough to initiate a relationship with Christ that is sustainable. In fact, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said in his Encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” An ethical choice is made logically from different data points so that one can say, “Aha! This is a good thing for myself and those around me.” But an encounter with the love of God is ongoing, rich, and lived in the wider community. “We cannot love what we do not know,” says St. Augustine; so, learning of Christ and his Church must be coupled with opportunities to grow in love of the event and person of Christ.

What can we do as a parish? First, we can all thank God for our young Church, present in our youth; thank God for their new ideas, fresh perspectives, and zealous hearts. Second, we can pray daily for our youth. We can pray that God protect and enlighten them. Third, we can affirm them. Tell them how good it is to see them participating at Mass and present at the parish. Fourth, we can reach out to the Faith Formation and Youth Ministry offices and ask, “With my gifts and talents, how can I help our young people to encounter Jesus by cooperating with youth ministry?”

The Church needs our youth. The Church needs our young people. The Church needs you and I to provide the opportunities for them to full heartedly pursue Jesus and his righteousness.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 4th Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • March 13, 2026
Today’s readings for this Fourth Sunday of Lent are filled with powerful contrasts — God’s vision versus human vision, the light of Christ versus the darkness of sin, and spiritual blindness versus spiritual sight. Embracing a stewardship way of life frees us from spiritual blindness, helps us see as God sees, and allows us to reflect Christ’s light in our daily lives. In our Second Reading from Ephesians, St. Paul reminds us, “… You were once in darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Through Baptism, the very life and light of the Blessed Trinity dwell within us. Yet amid the busyness and challenges of daily life, it is easy to forget this truth. We may even struggle to recognize whether our actions truly reflect Christ’s light. A stewardship way of life — with its intentional and grateful use of our time, talent, and treasure — provides a daily guide to help us live as children of the light. It encourages us to make choices that reflect Christ in the way we serve, give, and love others. In today’s Gospel from John, Jesus restores sight to a man born blind, and the man simply testifies that Christ “opened my eyes.” During these Lenten days, we too can ask Jesus to open our eyes — to help us see areas where spiritual blindness may still linger, especially in how we use the gifts entrusted to us. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us renew our efforts wherever our vision has grown dim, so that by Easter we may truly live as children of the light. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026. Pastoral Pondering It is always good to be reminded of the fundamentals of our faith. Recently, I have become more aware that some Catholics do not realize or understand the necessity of assisting at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. With that in mind, hopefully the following will be of assistance. As Catholics, we are called to make the Eucharist the “center” of our spiritual lives. Attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is not merely a tradition or a good suggestion—it's a fundamental precept of the Church that helps us fulfill God's command and grow in faith. The Biblical and Divine Foundation The importance begins with the Third Commandment: "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day" (Exodus 20:8). For Christians, Sunday—the Lord's Day—replaces the Jewish Sabbath because it commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central event of our salvation. The early Church gathered on Sundays to break bread (the Eucharist) in memory of the Lord's passion, resurrection, and glorification (see Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that "the Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life" (CCC 2177). Sunday Mass is the "foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice" (CCC 2181). By participating, we obey Christ's command at the Last Supper: "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). Why the Church Requires It The Church, guided by the authority Christ gave the apostles (Matthew 18:18), has established this as a precept to help us fulfill the moral law of worshiping God. Canon Law states: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass" (Canon 1247). Deliberately missing Mass without a serious reason (such as illness, caring for infants, or other grave circumstances) constitutes a grave sin (CCC 2181). This obligation extends to Holy Days of Obligation, which highlight key mysteries of our faith—events in the life of Christ, Mary, or the saints that are so central they call the whole Church to gather in worship. These days remind us of God's saving work and invite us to pause our daily routines to give thanks and receive grace. Benefits for Our Spiritual Life Attending Mass regularly: Unites us with Christ in His sacrifice, allowing us to receive the Eucharist, our spiritual food and source of strength. Builds community: We gather as the Body of Christ, supporting one another in faith (CCC 2182). Sanctifies our week: It sets aside time for rest, reflection, family, and mercy, helping us avoid habits that harm our relationship with God. Testifies to our faith: Public participation shows our commitment to Christ and His Church. Holy Days of Obligation serve a similar purpose, celebrating core truths like the Incarnation, Mary's role, or Christ's Ascension. In the United States, these typically include (in addition to all Sundays): January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Ascension Thursday (transferred to Sunday in our Diocese) August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (may be abrogated if it falls on Saturday or Monday in some cases) November 1: All Saints' Day December 8: Immaculate Conception December 25: Christmas A Joyful Invitation, Not a Burden The Church's precept isn't meant to restrict us but to free us for what truly matters: encountering the risen Lord. As one reflection notes, Sunday Mass reorients our lives toward God, reunites us in love, and pours out grace for salvation. It's the "sweetest obligation ever imposed" because it draws us into the mystery of God's love. If scheduling conflicts arise, speak with your pastor—exceptions exist for serious reasons. But let's embrace this gift: make attending Mass a priority and let it transform your week and your life.  May the Eucharist strengthen us all as we journey together toward heaven!

From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • March 6, 2026
Today’s readings for this Third Sunday of Lent center on the theme of thirst, reminding us that a stewardship way of life both satisfies our own longing for Christ and helps us respond to Christ’s thirst for souls. In our first reading from Exodus, the Israelites complain in their thirst for water, despite all God has done to free them from slavery. Yet when Moses cries out for help, God provides abundantly, bringing water from the rock to satisfy His people. The Lord’s generosity did not end there. He continues to provide for us today, patiently meeting our needs again and again. In today’s Gospel, we hear the powerful encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, beginning with His simple request: “Give me a drink.” He then tells her that He can offer living water — water that truly satisfies. These words speak directly to us as well. Christ asks us to “give Him a drink” by sharing the gifts we have received with Him and with others for His sake. Yet it is Christ Himself who fills us, offering the living water of His grace. God invites each of us to play a part in bringing others to Him through a stewardship way of life. This Lent, may we respond to that invitation with renewed commitment, offering our time, talent, and treasure so that many may come to know Christ. In doing so, we help to quench His thirst for souls. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026 Pastoral Pondering  Continuing with last week’s theme about stewardship and in harmony with our Stewardship Renewal, here are some Key Reasons Why Stewardship Matters to Catholic s: 1 . It Reflects Gratitude for God's Love God has first loved us unconditionally (shown most perfectly in Jesus Christ). Stewardship is our loving response—recognizing all good things as gifts from Him and returning love through generous use of those gifts. As the bishops note, "Stewardship is the Response of the Disciple to God’s unconditional love for us." 2. It Imitates Jesus, the Model Steward Jesus lived as the perfect steward, using His life, time, and gifts entirely for the Father's will and the good of humanity. Catholics are called to imitate Him, making God's love visible in the world. 3. It Involves Accountability Before God We will be held accountable for how we use what God has entrusted to us (e.g., biblical parables like the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 emphasize this). Stewardship reminds us that we are managers, not ultimate owners. 4 . It Encompasses Time, Talent, and Treasure Catholics are called to share these proportionally and sacrificially to support the Church, help the poor, and promote justice. This builds up the Body of Christ and addresses needs in society. 5. It Includes Care for Creation As part of Catholic social teaching, stewardship extends to environmental responsibility. We respect the Creator by caring for the earth (e.g., as in Genesis 1–2, where humanity is given dominion as caretakers, not exploiters). This is a "requirement of our faith," not just an optional concern. 6. It Leads to Spiritual Growth and Holiness Living as a steward fosters conversion, deeper prayer, and a Christ-centered life over self-centeredness. It transforms ordinary actions into acts of worship and service. In essence, stewardship is integral to authentic Catholic life because it turns faith into action, gratitude into generosity, and discipleship into a tangible witness of God's Kingdom. It's not primarily about fundraising or programs—it's about a heartfelt relationship with God that naturally overflows into love for neighbor and creation.