From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday of Lent

March 10, 2023

Today’s readings on this third Sunday of Lent present us with the theme of “thirst” and show us that a stewardship way of life can both satisfy our spiritual thirst for Christ and help us to satisfy Christ’s thirst for souls.


Our first reading, from the book of Exodus, begins with the words, “In their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses.” What little faith and lack of trust they show after all God has done to free them from slavery. But Moses cried out to God for help, and sure enough, God provided generously to satisfy their thirst. He continues to provide generously for us these many centuries later.


Our Gospel passage from John recounts the life-changing encounter Christ has with the Samaritan woman at the well beginning with His words to her, “Give me a drink.” Then, He adds, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”


Christ is speaking the very same words to us today. These two verses encapsulate the call to stewardship. Christ asks us to “give him a drink” by sharing what we have with Him and with others for His sake. Yet, it is Christ Himself who provides the water — the living water that is His grace.


God has chosen to include us in His plan for bringing all people to salvation through Him. We live out our part in His plan through a stewardship way of life. This Lent, let us resolve to respond to His call with passion and commitment. Let us do our part to quench His thirst. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2023


Pastoral Pondering

As Lent continues, we continue to be invited more deeply in our meditation upon the central themes of His life and ministry. Prayer, Penance and Almsgiving (works of charity), are recurring themes in the life of Christ and the Disciples. Hopefully, by now, we have all decided upon and put into practice our Lenten practices. Each of the pillars should be included in order to make good use of this Liturgical season. Oftentimes, we begin Lent and try to do too much. Even with good intentions, this often leads to failure as Lent goes along. It is far better to focus on smaller things that can be undertaken and brought to a happy conclusion. Mother Teresa is credited for saying “Do small things with great love.” This should be the mandate that we embrace during Lent. What we do and what we give up will certainly vary from person to person, but if all we do is done with sincere love for God and neighbor, great fruit will indeed be realized throughout the Lenten journey.


What’s going on with the Church? This question has been posed to me over and over during the course of the past several weeks. Some asked the question because of concerns about path of synodality that is taking place in Germany. Others have asked due to some public statements of bishops and cardinals. Some have asked due to recent measures to restrict the Traditional Latin Mass by the Holy See. I will respond to each briefly and generally.


In terms of the Traditional Latin Mass, the Holy Father and the Cardinal Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship have over the past 18 months or so made moves to severely restrict access to the Mass celebrated according to the Missale Romanum of 1962. Most recently, Cardinal Roche has clarified that any dispensation concerning the TLM is reserved to the Holy See, specifically to his dicastery. Even though these matters are still under consideration in many dioceses, including our own, I would expect that in the not too distant future, that the TLM will no longer be celebrated at St. Mark. With that being said, every bishop has an obligation to offer pastoral care and solicitude to those devoted to this liturgical form. I certainly have no reason to doubt that Bishop Jugis takes this responsibility most seriously.


The German Synodal Way and some of the points that the German church has espoused during the course of many months are problematic on many levels. The various dicasteries of the Holy See have indicated their concern as well, and even Pope Francis has publicly indicated that some of the positions espoused by the Synodal way in Germany are not in harmony with Catholic teaching. Yet, at least publicly, there does not seem to have been any effort to call the German church back to obedience and fidelity. This is indeed a cause for concern and a matter which we should include in our daily prayers. Finally, in recent weeks, some Church leaders have made statements that appear to be inconsistent with settled Catholic teaching with regard to the Eucharist. Thankfully, there have also been responses from others, especially Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, IL, that have addressed such errors in light of Church law and teaching. There have, to some degree, always been bishops who have engaged in teaching contrary to the faith. In fact, most of the matters resolved by the early councils of the Church, arose because of such erroneous teaching. Unfortunately, today, unlike the first centuries of the Church, erroneous positions are easily spread and popularized by the secular media due to the availability of immediate communication methods. Nevertheless, pastors and those entrusted with Church leadership have to clearly proclaim the teachings of the Church unambiguously so that scandal and confusion can be avoided. Again, let’s make sure we are praying.



In the end, it is Christ’s Church, and He is in charge. We know the “gates of hell” will not prevail, but there is no scriptural promise that we can avoid the battles along the way. Trust in the Lord and be at peace.


From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 1st Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • February 20, 2026
As we begin the season of Lent, the Church invites us into 40 days of renewal and refocusing. Lent is not only about giving something up, but about making room for God. For Christian stewards, this season invites us to reflect on how we are using the time entrusted to us. In the first reading, Adam and Eve turn their attention away from God and allow doubt to take root. Trust is replaced by self-reliance, and the harmony of the Garden is broken. These same temptations remain familiar when our days become crowded with distractions that pull us away from God. In the Gospel, Jesus shows us a different path. In the desert, He gives time to prayer and fasting, remains grounded in Scripture, and places His complete trust in the Father. By intentionally giving time to God, Jesus resists temptation and remains faithful. Lent invites us to do the same. By making space in our schedules for prayer, Scripture, and quiet reflection, we grow in trust and gratitude. When we place God at the center of our time, stewardship becomes a way of life, and our hearts are prepared to celebrate the joy of Easter. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026) Pastoral Pondering  Folks often asks the priests, “Father, how do you pray?” The question is not that different from the request the apostles made of Jesus in Luke 11:1-4 when they asked Him to teach them how to pray. There are lots of possibilities out there. One of those that I find particularly helpful is Lectio Divina or Divine Reading. What follows is a brief outline of the method that some may find helpful. In our busy lives, it's easy to read the Bible quickly or skim through it like any other book. But what if we approached Scripture not just to learn information, but to encounter God personally? That's the heart of Lectio Divina, an ancient Catholic practice of "divine reading" that transforms ordinary reading into a profound prayerful conversation with the Lord. Lectio Divina dates back to the early monastic communities, encouraged by figures like St. Benedict, and has been a cherished method in the Church for centuries. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, it engages our thoughts, imagination, emotions, and desires to deepen our faith and draw us closer to Christ (CCC 2708). Today, it's experiencing a beautiful renewal as more Catholics rediscover this simple yet powerful way to let God's Word speak directly to our hearts. The traditional steps of Lectio Divina are four (sometimes with a fifth for action): 1. Lectio (Reading) Choose a short passage of Scripture—perhaps from the day's Gospel or a favorite psalm. Read it slowly, perhaps aloud, several times. Listen attentively, as if God is speaking the words to you personally. Pay attention to any word, phrase, or image that stands out or "shimmers" in your heart. This isn't about covering ground; it's about letting the Word sink in. 2. Meditatio (Meditation ) Reflect on what you've read. Ask: What is this passage saying? What does it reveal about God? How does it connect to my life right now? Ruminate on it like a cow chewing cud—slowly, thoughtfully. Let your mind and heart ponder the meaning, imagining yourself in the scene if it's a Gospel story. 3. Oratio (Prayer) Turn your reflection into a personal conversation with God. Respond honestly: Thank Him, praise Him, ask for forgiveness, seek guidance, or simply tell Him how the Word moves you. This is where prayer flows naturally from the Scripture—it's no longer just words on a page, but a dialogue with the living God. 4. Contemplatio (Contemplation) Rest quietly in God's presence. Let go of words and thoughts. Simply be with Him, allowing His love to envelop you in silence. This is the moment of resting in the peace that comes from encountering the Lord. Some traditions add a fifth step: **Actio (Action)**—carrying the grace received into daily life through concrete changes or acts of charity. Lectio Divina is for everyone—not just monks or scholars. You don't need hours; even 15-20 minutes can be transformative. Try it with the Sunday readings or start with a single verse like "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Find a quiet spot, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you ("Come, Holy Spirit"), and open your heart. As Pope Benedict XVI encouraged, Lectio Divina helps us hear God's voice in Scripture and respond with our whole lives. In a world full of noise, this ancient practice invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and grow in intimacy with Christ. Why not give it a try this week? Your soul—and God—will thank you.

From the Pastor - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • February 13, 2026
Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on the true state of our hearts as it relates to stewardship. Do we think of stewardship as something we take care of once a year, simply a matter of ticking off boxes on a commitment card — or do we choose to embrace it as a spirituality and a way of life that allows us to grow in conformity to Christ every day? Our first reading, from the Book of Sirach, teaches that our good God has given us the freedom to make this choice — “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” The concept of stewardship helps us live out this fundamental choice to put God first. Stewardship is not meant to be a mere external exercise that we participate in on an occasional basis. It is meant to be embraced as a way of life — a life that involves a continuous conversion of heart. In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus illustrates the difference between an external observance of the law and a true conversion of heart, saying, “You have heard that it was said … you shall not kill … But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Our Lord is asking us not only for exterior acts, but for a true change of heart. In stewardship terms, that means seeing everything as a gift from Him, to be used for His glory and the good of others. In the week ahead, let us examine the state of our hearts and ask whether we have allowed stewardship to shape the way we live each day. When we do, we open ourselves to its deeper meaning and its power to change our hearts. The choice is ours. Pastoral Pondering I am appreciative of the cooperation we have had with the recent changes in the distribution of Communion. Please be mindful that each person has the right to choose the manner in which he or she receives Holy Communion. As long as that choice is in conformity with what the Church allows, the individual is free to exercise that right. We all have preferences and pious practices that are important to us. It is important, however, that we do not pass judgment on the reasons someone else chooses differently from us. No one knows the heart of another; God alone knows those things. Clearly, if someone is doing something that is improper or sacrilegious, we have a moral obligation to say something. However, when another is making a legitimate choice, he or she is free to do so. We all need to be conscious of the importance of exercising charity, especially with one another. As we prepare to embark on our Lenten journey, please take time to pray and ponder what you need to do (and not do) to make this a truly fruitful Lent. Taking time for prayer and reflection and asking the Lord to guide you in choosing your Lenten sacrifices and works of charity, is a wonderful way to prepare for and to receive the full grace of this special season of the liturgical year. Penance, of course, is a regular part of Catholic life. Every Friday throughout the year is a day of penance. During Lent, every Friday is a day of abstinence from meat; outside of Lent, one may choose an alternative form of penance. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting for those between the ages of 14 and 60. Let us pray for one another that our Lenten observances may help us grow in holiness, become more attentive to the promptings of the Spirit, and be instruments of the light of Christ in the world.