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From the Pastor - Feast of the Holy Family

December 27, 2024

The Holy Family experienced many of the same joys and trials that all parents and children experience today. And so, we can look to this Family for help in our own family lives and see in them a model of stewardship in family life.


The Gospel passage from Luke starts by telling us something about Jesus’ parents: “Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, and when he was 12 years old, they went up according to festival custom.” This Family took seriously the stewardship of their time. The “Holy Couple” carefully observed the traditions and practice of their Jewish faith and brought up their Son to do the same. They worshiped as a family, and with their faith community. And they did so faithfully.


We can take their example to heart by making Sunday Mass attendance a priority for our families, by making prayer with our family a priority every day, by making sure that we regularly celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and by observing in our family life the feasts and fasts appropriate to the liturgical calendar. When we, as families, prioritize our Time with God and worship of Him we will be imitating the Holy Family.


On this Feast of the Holy Family, let us reclaim the beauty and importance of family life. Let’s commit to steward our families well in the coming year, making time spent with God and practicing our faith the most important appointments on our family calendars.

© Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024


Pastoral Pondering

From a Catholic perspective, family life holds a central and sacred place as it is considered the foundation of both society and the Church. The importance of family life can be understood through the following key principles:


1. The Family as a Domestic Church

The Catholic Church views the family as the "domestic church," where faith is nurtured and lived daily. Parents are the primary educators of their children in the faith, passing on values, traditions, and the love of God.
Family prayer, participation in the sacraments, and fostering a spirit of charity and forgiveness help the family grow in holiness.

2. A Reflection of the Holy Trinity

The love shared among family members is seen as a reflection of the Holy Trinity's divine communion. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in perfect love, family members are called to live in self-giving love and unity.

3. Marriage as a Sacrament

Marriage, as a covenant between a baptized man and a baptized woman, is a sacrament in the Catholic Church. It symbolizes Christ's love for His Church and provides the foundation for a stable and nurturing environment for children.

The Church teaches that the marital bond is permanent and open to life, emphasizing the procreation and upbringing of children as fundamental purposes of marriage.

4. The Role of Love and Sacrifice

Family life is a school of love, sacrifice, and service. Through mutual respect, understanding, and selflessness, family members learn to imitate Christ's sacrificial love.

Challenges in family life are seen as opportunities for growth in virtue and reliance on God's grace.

5. A Source of Moral Formation

The family is the first place where individuals learn moral values, discipline, and social responsibilities. Parents are tasked with guiding their children toward virtuous living and preparing them for life in the broader community.

This role is rooted in the belief that the family is a cornerstone for the moral and spiritual health of society.

6. A Witness to the Gospel

A loving, faithful family becomes a visible witness to the Gospel in the world. Families are called to be missionary by spreading the love of Christ through their actions and relationships, both within and outside the home.

7. Support in Challenges

The Church acknowledges the difficulties families face, such as financial strain, health issues, or relationship conflicts. It offers pastoral care, counseling, and support, urging families to rely on prayer, the sacraments, and the wider Church community for strength.


In summary, from a Catholic viewpoint, family life is essential for personal growth, faith development, and societal well-being. It is a sacred vocation that calls for love, commitment, and trust in God's plan, emphasizing the role of the family in building a strong, faithful, and loving Church and society.

 

 

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • February 10, 2025
Our readings today remind us of the great privilege we have in calling ourselves both children and disciples of the Most High God.  The First Reading from Isaiah describes a vision of the prophet in which angels surround the Lord proclaiming, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” Our God invites us to such deep intimacy and friendship with Him that sometimes we can forget just how majestic and unspeakably holy He truly is. In the Gospel passage, from Luke, Jesus instructs Simon to lower his nets for a catch despite an unsuccessful night of fishing. Peter is skeptical but obeys and is amazed at the catch of fish that he makes. He kneels down before Jesus in astonishment. This sense of awe and reverence before God should motivate us to deepen our stewardship way of life. As we contemplate the holiness of God, we come to a heightened awareness of what a privilege it is that He has chosen to include us in His work of spreading the Gospel to others through the grateful sharing of the gifts He has given us. Aware of this privilege, we will then make the words of Isaiah our own: “Here I am Lord, send me!” © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025

From the Pastor - Presentation of the Lord

By John Putnam • January 31, 2025
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, when Mary and Joseph brought their infant Son to the Temple in obedience to the laws of their Jewish faith. This is a beautiful, and in many ways, mysterious feast — and one that is filled with lessons for a stewardship way of life. Our Gospel passage from Luke, recounting the details of the Presentation, teaches us a stewardship lesson through the example of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother, the “Holy Parents.” Even knowing their Son was God, they still carefully observed the faith practices of their day bringing him to the temple “to present Him to the Lord just as it is written in the law of the Lord.” Later in the passage we read that, “When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to their own town of Nazareth.” The Holy Parents were good stewards of their child, teaching Him to live in obedience to the practices of their faith from his infancy and throughout His “growing up” years. Those of us entrusted with the care of children, whether our own children, godchildren, nieces, and nephews, grandchildren, or students, have a vital role to play in the faith formation of these young ones. We, like the Holy Parents, must steward these children well, forming them in the faith by both instruction and example throughout their lives. What a privilege and high calling we have as Christian stewards. Let us take these stewardship lessons to heart and present our gifts and our young ones joyfully to the Lord. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024 Pastoral Pondering  I to offer a special thanks to all those who helped us celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Catholic education is central to the evangelizing mission of the Church as a means of assisting parents to fulfill their duty as the primary educators of their children. Today, this education takes place through our Catholic schools, our homeschools, and our private schools who maintain a Catholic ethos. None of the Church’s efforts in this arena, however, will be effective without the cooperation and support of parents. Instilling the faith and virtue in the lives of our children is essential to creating a truly Catholic culture in the parish that has the capacity to transform the local community. We are all called to be Missionary disciples who have hearts for evangelization. If we believe in Jesus, if we are worthy to claim His name, then we must learn to be instruments of His grace in the world. This is an especially important role of the lay faithful. The laity have the opportunity to reach parts of the world and the culture that priests and religious cannot. This is the evangelization that can take place in the workplace, in the grocery store, in the mothers’ groups, over even over morning coffee in the kitchen or coffee shop. The role of the parish clergy, religious and staff is to empower and form the laity to embrace this role. Over the last few years, St. Mark has partnered with Evangelical Catholic, Amazing Parish, and other apostolates to assist with these efforts. Our various evangelization programs contribute to this as well. I do hope that during the course of the year, you look for and take advantage of opportunities to take your rightful place as a missionary disciple.
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