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From the Pastor - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 9, 2024

Today’s First Reading from the First Book of Kings, as well as the Gospel passage from Mark, both center on the actions of two seemingly poor and helpless widows who show themselves to be faith-filled and generous stewards.


In the eyes of the world, particularly in biblical times when there was no life insurance or Social Security, these widows were weak and dependent on others to take care of them. They each found themselves in desperate situations — one in the midst of famine with a child for which to care, and the other clearly impoverished. Yet, each demonstrated strength and generosity that distinguished them from those around them. From where did this strength come?


It came from knowing who they are, and Whose they are. These women must have known their security would not come from a good life insurance policy or connections to someone with a hidden storehouse of flour.


No, their security came from knowing they were daughters of the Most High God and from putting their faith in Him. They had no need to panic in the midst of natural disaster or cling desperately to their menial resources. Their faith in God set them free to trust Him when all seemed hopeless. Their faith kept them detached from material possessions. Their faith allowed them to be brave and generous, to think of others despite their own trials.


These women saw themselves as stewards, not owners, of the resources God gave them, regardless of how much or how little they had. And acting as stewards made them gracious, generous and mighty indeed. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024

 

Pastoral Pondering

At the end of October, I attended the Investiture ceremonies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, of which I am a member. The Order is an ancient chivalric order that was founded to protect the Christian pilgrim sites in the Holy Land. The Order is a papal order that today supports the work of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.


During the weekend, we always receive a report about the situation on the ground in the area, and I thought you might find it helpful to hear some of the statistics that were shared. Obviously, the events of October 2023 up to the present have had dire effects on the regions. The Christian community often gets caught between two worlds, the Israelis on the one hand and the non-Christian Palestinians on the other.


In Gaza the level of destruction and innocent human loss is unprecedented. Over 41,300 deaths (60% women and children) and around 95,500 injured. 60% of all dwellings and 68% of roads demolished. 1.9 million (out of 2.2 million) have been internally displaced. Most hospitals, schools and universities have been destroyed. There have been 44 Christian deaths; 24 of whom for medical neglect. The Christian population (1017 before the war) has decreased by 640.


In the West Bank there have been 700 killed; 1,267 structures demolished; and 3,206 people internally displaced. Movement restrictions have impeded 782,000 students from attending school. The economy is shattered due to 120,000 work permits being revoked and the tourism collapsing. 180,000 civil servants have no income.


The Latin Patriarchate is committed to continuing to pay its teachers and keeping its schools open. There are 44 schools (13 in Palestine, 25 in Jordan and 6 in Israel). The schools employ 1,715 employees: 1,331 of them Christian. The schools serve 19,702 students. Of those, 10,893 are Christian (55%).


Preserving the Christian population in the Holy Land is essential to the preservation of the ancient Christian culture and preserving the places holiest to our Christian faith. Please pray for peace in the Holy Land and when opportunities to support our Christian brothers and sisters present themselves, please respond with an open heart.

 

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Fifth Sunday of Lent

By John Putnam • April 4, 2025
Once again, this week, we are reminded of what a loving and merciful God we serve. The theme of the readings for this fifth Sunday of Lent are summed up beautifully in today’s Gospel passage from Luke, which recounts the story of the woman caught in adultery. After all those who would have stoned this woman leave the scene, Christ says to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” When we turn to God for forgiveness, He is indeed gracious and merciful. So much so, that not only will He forgive our sins without condemnation, but He will also make us completely new creations in Christ. What is more amazing is that this all-perfect and holy God of ours draws so very near to us. Our sins do not drive Him from us, but rather to us so that He can set us free from them. Look carefully at Christ’s actions and posture in the Gospel reading as He deals with both the crowd of people, the Scribes and Pharisees, and the adulterous woman. “All the people started coming to Him and he sat down and taught them.” “He bent down and began to write with His finger.” He “straightened up” when He confronted the Scribes and Pharisees about their own sins. And he “straightened up” when He assured the woman that He did not condemn her for her past. Like a skilled teacher, or loving “big brother,” Christ bends down to where we are, He sits among us, He stands to confront us when needed and He stands to look us in the eye to remind us of our true dignity. We’re all unworthy of the great privilege of serving Him. But that, quite simply, is cause for greater joy in serving Him with all our hearts. ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering This Sunday begins the traditional Lenten period known as Passiontide which draws our attention to a more direct consideration of the Lord’s Passion and death. The images and statues in the church building are covered as a sign of mourning. In the Liturgy, there is a shift of focus from penance and preparation for Easter to a meditation on the suffering and death of Jesus. The readings during these final weeks of Lent increasingly focus on the events surrounding Jesus’ passion and crucifixion. Passiontide culminates in Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, followed by His Passion and death on Good Friday. The core themes of Passiontide are the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, which is seen as the ultimate act of love and redemption for mankind. Catholics during this time are called to enter into Christ’s suffering in a spiritual sense through prayer, penance, and reflection.  In summary, Passiontide is a deeply contemplative period in the Church, marked by somber liturgies, a focus on the suffering and death of Christ, and practices such as veiling statues and images. It is a time for the faithful to prepare spiritually for the resurrection of Christ at Easter, emphasizing the central role that Christ’s Passion plays in Christian salvation. This is our Lenten home stretch, so play to win!

From the Pastor - Fourth Sunday of Lent

By John Putnam • March 28, 2025
For too many of us, Lent is a season of doom and gloom, a time to feel bad about all the ways we are not “measuring up” in our spiritual lives. But this view could not be further from the truth. Lent is a season of refreshment and love, of awakening and rebirth. The Gospel Reading, the parable of the Prodigal Son, is filled with this theme of awakening and the extravagant, life-changing love that the Father has for each one of us. We are all familiar with this amazing story — the bratty younger son who has the audacity to ask his dad for his inheritance early, only to squander it sinfully away. It makes us bristle instinctively at his nerve when we read it. But isn’t that exactly what we do when we selfishly turn away from God (in big or small ways) in our own lives? We squander away the inheritance of grace He has given us. In desperation from the mess he had made of his life, the son finally “comes to his senses” — awakening to the truth that he is a beloved son of a loving and merciful father — and decides to return home. His contrition is faltering and imperfect and seems motivated in large part by his growling stomach. But it is enough for the loving father. In fact, as soon as the father catches sight of his son he is “filled with compassion for him” and immediately sets about preparing a feast and fine clothes for this son. What an extravagance of love! What a beautiful picture Jesus gives us of our Father’s love and mercy. Oh, how this should fill us with gratitude for such a Father! And how it should inspire us — with just the tiniest bit of spiritual “spring cleaning” we can be sure we will be swept up in our Father’s loving embrace and find ourselves feasting in His presence. That is what lent is all about. ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As I write this, I am recovering from some outpatient surgery. I chose to have it done during lent, so it would at least be beneficial spiritually. :) Thankfully, the weather has been so nice, it makes convalescence almost enjoyable. I do hope that your Lenten observances are going well. It is never easy to say “no” to ourselves, but it actually does wonders for our souls when we do. “Prayer, fasting and almsgiving” is not a gimmick. They are the pillars of the saints.  I wanted to update you on our construction plans. Over the course of the next 3-4 weeks, you will see activity across the street that the Ranson Road property. The house will be torn down and some of the prep work will be completed. The access to that property will be restricted when this work begins. We continue our Growing Home efforts and have made substantial progress to our goal. Remember, stocks, properties and other assets can be used to support the effort. We recently had a commitment of a property that is being sold, and the proceeds will benefit the campaign. Remember it is not about equal gifts but equal sacrifice. This is true with all of our stewardship. Thanks to all who have helped make our efforts successful thus far.
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