From the Pastor – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 4, 2020

From the Pastor – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Paul echoes Christ in many ways. In the 13 th  Chapter from his letter to the Romans, he continues with his thoughts on how we should live to please God, and he uses a sentence which Christ often repeated. After listing several of the 10 Commandments, Paul states, “…whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.”

There is always much that gets debated in that admonition, such as loving yourself, and who exactly is your neighbor? Paul’s point, like that of Jesus, is simply that we are called to treat others as we may like to be treated. We need to show them the respect and caring that we may hope for and wish for. God loves us, and if we realize that, we may ultimately come to the conclusion that we are loveable.

Most of us know someone whose love is evident by how they treat others and how they live. Loving neighbor is a visible expression of everything that Jesus taught. It is a way of expressing the depth of our faith and our belief that we are Disciples of Christ.

St. Francis de Sales captured all about what this love is and who is your neighbor when he wrote, “Examine your heart often to see if it is such toward your neighbor as you would like his or hers to be toward you in his or her place. This is the touchstone of true reason.” It is relatively basic and simple — our neighbor is everyone with whom we have contact and love is what makes it all work. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2017.

Pastoral Pondering

In the news recently, you may have seen a story about a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Father Matthew Hood, who learned that his baptism as an infant was invalid because the deacon who celebrated it, changed the words of the Baptismal rite. Quite a number of folks have asked me about this. Because he was not validly baptized, his subsequent sacraments, up to and including his ordination, were also invalid. This of course had an impact on the validity of most the sacraments that he celebrated as a priest.

Some may see this as simply an exercise in semantics, but it is much more that that. As the Archbishop of Detroit pointed out in his letter regarding the matter, God is not limited by the sacraments, and even though sacraments that Father celebrated were invalid, God can and does continue to work in some mysterious way for the benefit of those who received in good faith. Nonetheless, the situation underscores, that being faithful to the Church’s teachings is important and not something that should be taken lightly. There was certainly a time in recent history where, among ecclesiastics, it was considered “enlightened” to “do your own thing” with the sacraments, e.g. make up your own words for consecration, use different elements from what the Church requires, etc.

Yet, sacraments are celebrated by the Church for the benefit of the people. The celebration is never to be considered “Father’s Mass”. The sacraments belong to everyone, and, therefore, they should be celebrated as the Church intends them to be celebrated with the proper matter and form. Failing to do so, has serious consequences as in the example cited above. This is so because the shepherds of the Church have the responsibility to guard the deposit of faith, a treasure that is to be preserved and handed on in fidelity.

If anyone is looking at old videos of his baptism or if you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to reach out. We will do our best to assist you.

Parish Celebration of the Eucharist – With the Congress being cancelled this year, we are looking forward to having the opportunity to offer a parish-wide celebration September 11-12. Father Gámez along with those assisting him have been working hard to provide an enriching experience for all ages. I do hope you will come and enjoy.

Youth Ministry Activities and Programs – Our Youth Ministry team has been actively planning to offer activites and opportunities for our middle and high school youth. Due to ongoing COVID concerns, this is not an easy process. Some folks believe that, based on data and anecdotal evidence, it is all a waste of time and unnecessary. While I am certainly aware of the division of opinions about masks and social distancing, I also have to be concerned about the overall well-being of the parish. While recognizing our legitimate and God-given rights to assemble and worship, we also have a responsibility to be good citizens and to exercise proper concerns for those around us. The Diocese has asked us to follow the Governor’s orders and CDC guidelines to the extent possible, and that is what we have been doing and will continue to do. At the same time, we want to do all that we can to help our young people remain connected to the parish community during these trying times. Everyone’s cooperation is appreciated as we navigate these sometimes choppy waters.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Third Sunday of Easter

By John Putnam • April 17, 2026
Today’s readings focus on a theme of “sojourning.” As Christian stewards, we know our lives are a sojourn toward the ultimate destination of heaven. Our Gospel passage today describes the sojourn of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The two are dejected and despondent after Jesus’ death. They knew Jesus personally. They had heard the Gospel message directly from His lips. They heard the testimony of the women who discovered our Lord’s empty tomb and saw a vision of angels announcing He was alive. They had been informed by other disciples who went to the tomb that all was exactly as the women reported. How much more obvious could the Good News be? And yet, at times, the reaction of the two disciples describes our own stewardship journey, doesn’t it? We have the fullness of the Catholic faith, the power of the sacraments, and the support of our parish family. Yet, we often lose our way. We fail to see all the gifts we have been given. We lack trust in the perfect goodness and almighty power of God. But notice what happens to the two men when their eyes are opened once again, and they recognize Jesus in the Eucharist — the “breaking of the bread.” They are transformed! Their hearts are set on fire with love for the Lord and for their faith. They recall that their hearts began “burning within” as the Lord was explaining the Scriptures to them. When we find we have lost our way, we can go to the same sources as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus — the Scriptures and the Eucharist. In this Easter season, resolve to feast deeply on these two sources of grace. They are the fuel that will propel us on our journey toward heaven. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026 Pastoral Pondering Returning to a review of Catholic teaching basics, as we move into Spring, we often see an increase in the number of weddings requested. Sadly, it is not uncommon these days to find couples choosing to live together prior to their marriage. Hence, I thought it would be a good idea to lay out the Church’s teaching on this matter in a concise way. Living Together Before Marriage: A Catholic Perspective From the Catholic Church’s teaching, living together (cohabitation) before marriage is morally wrong, primarily because it typically involves fornication —sexual relations outside of marriage—which is gravely sinful (CCC 2353). Human sexuality is a sacred gift ordered by God to the unitive and procreative purposes of marriage alone. Sexual intimacy outside marriage cannot express the total, faithful, and permanent self-giving that spouses vow in the sacrament. Instead, it says with the body what is not yet true in commitment: “I give myself to you completely and forever.” This makes the act a contradiction, contrary to the dignity of persons and God’s plan for love (see CCC 2391; USCCB resources on marriage preparation). Cohabitation also: Creates a near occasion of sin , placing the couple in a situation that strongly tempts them toward grave immorality. Gives scandal , leading others—especially the young—to doubt or dismiss the Church’s teaching on chastity and the sacredness of marriage. Treats marriage as a “trial” rather than the definitive covenant it is meant to be. True love “demands a total and definitive gift of persons to one another” and cannot be an arrangement “until further notice.” Additionally, studies cited by Catholic sources show that couples who cohabit before marriage face higher risks of divorce, instability, and weaker commitment compared to those who do not. The Church calls engaged couples to practice chastity in continence during preparation for marriage—an “apprenticeship in fidelity” that builds mutual respect and prepares them to receive the grace of the sacrament (CCC 2350). Priests, deacons and pastoral ministers accompany cohabiting couples with mercy and truth, encouraging them to live separately or chastely while preparing for a valid sacramental marriage. In a culture that often views cohabitation as practical or normal, the Church invites couples to witness the beauty of God’s design: chastity before marriage, followed by a joyful, lifelong union blessed by the sacrament. For more, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church (esp. 2331–2400).

From the Pastor - Divine Mercy Sunday

By John Putnam • April 10, 2026
The great feast of Easter has begun, Christian stewards. Let us rejoice and be glad! Just as we embraced the discipline and fasting of Lent, let us fully embrace the joy and feasting that the next 50 days offer. We are called to be good stewards of the Easter season. Our first reading, from Acts, gives instruction on how to do this. Here, St. Peter says that our Lord, “commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead… that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” How do we ordinary people preach and testify to all God has done? We do so through how we live our ordinary lives — through the intentional use of our time, talent, and treasure for the kingdom of God. Putting God and others ahead of ourselves in every aspect of our lives is the most eloquent preaching we can do. Boldly and joyfully embracing a stewardship way of life is our most powerful testimony. As Christian stewards, we are the modern-day witnesses of an incredible miracle prompted by unfathomable love — the death and Resurrection of our Savior for us. Let us rejoice and be glad and let’s make sure our lives are a testimony to this amazing grace! © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026  HAPPY EASTER!