From the Pastor – Pentecost

May 29, 2020

From the Pastor – Pentecost

Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which is significant to us as Catholics in multiple ways. It marks the completion of our Easter season, but it is also known to many as the birthday of the Church. We recall that it began with Jesus calling to His Apostles to “Follow me.” Now some three years later the Lord sends them out filled with the Holy Spirit to preach the “Good News.” Throughout His ministry Jesus prepared His followers for this moment, as it was clear He intended to give them the authority to build the Church and to do His work.

The Lord breathed on them granting them the Holy Spirit, just as God breathed life into the first humans during creation. Thus, this was a moment of re-creation. St. John Chrysostom pointed to Pentecost as the time when those who follow Jesus (which includes each of us), paralleled Moses when he came down from the mountain carrying tablets of stone in his hands, the Ten Commandments. St. John Chrysostom said, “The Apostles came down from the mountain carrying the Holy Spirit in their hearts. They were a living law, living tablets.” That should be true of us as well.

The First Reading today from the Acts of the Apostles reports the happenings on this day. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit was gifted to Jesus’ followers and on this day, we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which allow us to live, proclaim, and model a Christian way of life. We hear that “they were all together in one place” when this occurred.

That is what we do when we gather, and that is what we are doing at this moment. At Mass we share gifts, especially the gift of the Eucharist, but we also share a love for God, a trust in the Lord. We, too, are filled with the Spirit. However, before we can be filled, we must recognize and acknowledge our emptiness.

We gather together to worship, to pray, in obedience. By being here we accept the fact that we need the guidance and help and strength of the Lord to carry out our mission. We have to rely on God.

St. Paul, in the Second Reading from his First Letter to the Corinthians, speaks of the spiritual gifts we have received. He points out that each of us has received that gift but acknowledges that the gift we receive may vary in some ways. Nevertheless, all of our gifts combined make up the Body of the Church. Are you using your gifts? Have you prayed and considered what they might be and how you might use them to serve the Church and one another? Pentecost serves as a reminder to us that we must do that for the Church to be whole and for the Church, including our parish to be effective.

Every gift and every one of us is important in the eyes of God and important to the health of the Church. The Holy Spirit is always present in us but sometimes it may be more apparent both to us and to others. We must understand that the gifts we have received are intended to benefit all, not just us.

Pentecost falls 50 days after Easter. Our Gospel Reading from St. John records the first time Jesus appeared to His Apostles after the Resurrection, in other words on Easter Sunday. Just as today we are reminded of our call, so we are through this reading. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We have been given a mission to continue the work of Christ here and now. Every time we gather for Mass and receive Christ through the Eucharist, we should have awareness and an understanding of that mission. When we leave here today, whenever we go out in the world, we are to share and spread the Good News.

The best way to do that has to do with how we live, what those around us see and experience through us. There is an idea that best explains what that means; that concept is stewardship. On Pentecost it became clear to the followers of Jesus that they were the stewards of His mission, the stewards of His Church. That sense of stewardship has been handed down for centuries and now rests on us. With the help of the Lord, permeated with the Holy Spirit, we need to go forth from here; indeed, we need to go forth each and every day, to accomplish that mission. That is what the Church is all about, and that is what life should be all about for us.

Pastoral Pondering

As we celebrate Pentecost, we are invited to ponder the wonderful ways in which the Lord calls us to spread the Gospel as we seek to follow Him. The apostles were fearful until the Spirit descended. Afterward, they went forth in boldness and courage to proclaim Jesus Christ without hesitation.

In many ways we have been living in fear and uncertainty during these past months. The COVID pandemic has consumed our attention, turned our lives upside down, and, at least for some, changed our lived irrevocably. Nonetheless, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to be courageous even in the face of uncertainty. We are called to persevere when everyone else seems to give up.

These past months have been difficult and challenging. Yet, we can be thankful that we are able to come together now for Holy Mass; albeit, while still practicing safety precautions. In truth we, as a parish, never really closed down as so many others did. Our charitable outreach and our efforts to stay connected were a top priority throughout this time.

As we move forward and gradually discover what the new normal might look like, I would ask that everyone continue to pray for all of those who have been negatively impacted either directly by the virus itself or due to the restrictions and closures that have left many in an economically precarious situation. As a people who have hope because of our faith in Jesus Christ, let’s work together to continue to be His hands and feet in our parish and community.

Before closing I wanted to let you know of some staff changes that you will see in this bulletin as well. First, Aubrey Quintero, who has been our leader for music at the 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass has taken a full-time position at another parish. Aubrey has been a blessing to us and has done much to enhance our Lifeteen and Edge programs. She will be missed. Second, because of the numbers of students enrolled in our Middle School Edge program and in light of the importance of limiting gathering size, we are seeking a part-time person to assist in our Edge program which will be significantly expanded in the fall to provide smaller groups and greater choice for our families. If you or someone you know might be interested and have the requisite requirements for these positions, please let us know.

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!