From the Pastor - Solemnity of Christ the King

November 26, 2021

On this last Sunday of Ordinary Time for the liturgical year, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, at a time when the world was experiencing a rise of secularism, materialism and individualism, and an increasing denial of Christ’s existence and authority.


The hope was that the establishment of this feast would accomplish three goals: that nations would see that the Church has the right to freedom, that leaders and nations would see that they are required to give respect to Christ, the King of kings, and that the faithful would be strengthened and encouraged by the reminder that Christ must reign in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies.


This feast is needed more than ever for all people and for us especially, as Christian stewards. It reminds us of three vital truths. First, even when it seems the world is spinning out of control, we need not fear because we have a King of kings who is very much in charge and who is loving, merciful and just. Second, if Christ is king of all, then He is also king of me, personally. I am not “lord” of my time, talents, and treasure. He is. I am a servant of the King and a steward of His gifts to me. Third, as His disciple, I am called to imitate my King. Christ’s kingship is characterized by humble service, by emptying Himself for the good of others, The Scriptures tell us He went about doing good and He says of Himself, “I came not to be served but to serve.” How can I live in any other way than as a humble servant like my King? © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2021.


Pastoral Pondering – Last week at all of the Masses Bishop Jugis asked that a letter from him regarding the upcoming Synod and our participation in the preparation process. The three pillars of the synod are Communion, Participation, and Mission. The purpose of the process is to recognize that we are on a journey together and, in order to be fruitful along the way, we need to listen for and be open to the voice of the Holy Spirit.


The Bishop proposed several questions that we, both individually and collectively, are to ponder, pray and reflect upon. Specifically, these are:

·        What is your experience of ecclesial communion, mission and participation in your life?

·        What challenges or struggles are you facing as you try to embody them?

·        What steps is the Holy Spirit suggesting to call us to live our vocation as a pilgrim people that journeys together toward salvation more fully?


The Bishop identifies three opportunities in participating in this process:

1.   The Synod is an opportunity to encounter the Lord and what He is calling us to both as individuals and as a Church.

2.   The Synod is an opportunity to learn that the Lord uses all circumstances on our lives to summon us to closer unity with Him.

3.   The Synod is an opportunity to discover that “the other” is a gift for our journey of faith.



St. Mark will of course be participating in this process and doing our part to contribute to this exercise of faith, prayer, and trust. I expect that we will receive more concrete recommendations of how to facilitate the consultation, but, at present, I plan to engage the Councils and Commissions already functioning in the parish along with the various groups, ministries and apostolates. It is my hope that St. Mark responds robustly and enthusiastically to this effort, especially in growing in our awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence and call in our lives. The Bishop’s heartfelt desire, “for the Synod to allow us to grow in unity with one another and with the Lord” is mine as well, and I am confident that much fruit can be realized as we seek to listen to the Lord together. Please keep this important effort in your prayers.


From the Pastor

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.

From the Pastor - 2nd Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • February 27, 2026
Our readings for this second Sunday of Lent offer us, as Christian stewards, the motivation to continue our 40-day journey toward deeper holiness. The first reading from the book of Genesis describes God’s call to Abram (who would later be called Abraham). God instructs Abram to leave his home and set out to a land that God had chosen for him. Abram’s response is an ancient example of good stewardship. Instead of clinging to his comfortable home and way of life, he recognizes that all he has is a gift from God, puts his trust in God, and obeys. And God rewards him, saying, “I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” To “be a blessing” is the true aim of a stewardship way of life. It is also an excellent way to live out the season of Lent. The sacrifices we take on, the spiritual disciplines we practice, and the extra acts of service we perform during this season — all give glory to God and transform our lives into a blessing for others. Lest we grow weary on this path, our Gospel passage today, from Matthew, offers us a powerful image of the great God we serve. It is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus, when our Lord reveals Himself in His true glory and the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The apostles who witnessed this were awestruck. But our loving Savior reassured them saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” As we continue our Lenten journey, let us take these two verses, “Listen to him,” “Rise, and do not be afraid” to heart. Let us rely on God’s strength to aid us in our spiritual disciplines as we move through Lent. We will arrive at Easter with deeper holiness, as a blessing to God and others — and as better stewards of all God’s gifts to us. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026) Pastoral Pondering Stewardship holds profound importance in Catholic teaching because it is fundamentally an expression of discipleship and a grateful response to God's immense love and generosity. Catholics believe that everything —our lives, time, talents, treasure (material resources), the earth itself, and all creation—belongs to God as the Creator and Owner. We are not owners but stewards , entrusted with these gifts to manage responsibly, not for selfish purposes but to honor God, serve others, and build His Kingdom. This concept is rooted in Scripture and has been articulated clearly by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in their 1992 pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple's Response. The bishops describe a Christian steward as one who: - Receives God's gifts gratefully - Cultivates them responsibly - Shares them lovingly in justice with others - Returns them with increase to the Lord  Stewardship is not optional for Catholics; it flows naturally from becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. As the USCCB explains, "once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option." It is a way of life that shapes how Catholics understand and live out their faith daily.