From the Pastor - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 11, 2022

Today’s readings speak of an essential quality for the Christian steward — hope. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1817).” In many ways, this is the very definition of a stewardship way of life — focusing on eternity as we live our daily lives and relying on God to provide for our needs and satisfy our deepest longings for meaning and happiness right now. 

In today’s Gospel from Luke, Jesus describes the true richness of life that is possible for those of us who are willing to live as his hope-filled disciples. We are all familiar with this passage in which Jesus reveals the Beatitudes: blessed are the poor; they have the kingdom of God. Blessed are those now hungry because they will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep because they will laugh. Blessed are those who are hated, excluded, and insulted because they are disciples of Jesus; they will be greatly rewarded in heaven. Jesus is describing here the character of one who is living a life of hope – the life of a Christian steward whose trust is firmly rooted in God and who is focused on others and eternity. It is not always an easy life, but it is a deeply meaningful life and one that leads to eternal reward. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2022


Pastoral Pondering – I love the writing of G.K. Chesterton. The most recent issue of The Chesterton Review was dedicated to Father Stanley Jaki, a priest and physicist who was also devoted to GKC. In fact, he wrote a book entitled, Chesterton: Seer of Science in 1986. In reading some of the essays, I was moved to write a few reflections here in light of what we have all experienced since the beginning of 2020.


Over the course of the pandemic, if we have heard it once, we have heard it a thousand time, that we should “follow the science”. On the surface, of course, this is not bad advice; however, when examined a bit more critically and closely, such a slogan can become a form of idolatry. This can only be avoided when we actually follow a truly scientific way of thinking; meaning, not simply accepting things at face value and not being afraid to question particular conclusions in order to seek a deeper understanding of the truth by challenging, questioning, looking at other possibilities, and searching for a deeper awareness of reality. This is certainly what I was taught to do in my undergraduate studies in the natural sciences in biology.


This approach, historically, is rooted in a philosophical understanding of the world along with a true humility that recognizes that there is more going on around us than we can know or comprehend. In many respects this was Chesterton’s approach to life. GKC was certainly not a scientist by training. He was a writer, a journalist, and a philosopher. “Following the science” would have been offensive to Chesterton because he recognized the imperfect nature of the natural sciences and the danger of following the science devolving into scientism which basically argues that science is the only answer to reality.


With that in mind, the slogan, “follow the science” appears to demand that we suspend the use of critical inquiry when we need it the most, and in some arenas require not thinking but blind obedience to the will of those in power. If we truly want to follow the science, however, we must continue to question, test, and challenge because we recognize that science, as it presently exists, does not have all of the answers. True science is open to being proven wrong. In his book, Orthodoxy, Chesterton notes that “Complete self-confidence is not merely a sin. Complete self-confidence is a weakness.”


We have seen this play out in any number of ways in connection with the responses to COVID both here and throughout the world. As new studies and new information come out, many have asserted that the cure seems to be worse than the disease. While every level of society has been impacted in some way, it seems that our children have been especially burdened. The scientific data indicates that the childhood demographic is the least likely to spread or to have serious complications from COVID. Nonetheless, they are often the ones who suffer the most from masking, isolation (whether at home or being segregated due to vaccination status), on-line learning and the constant fear-mongering on much of mainstream and social media. The resulting fear and anxiety have proven to be far worse than the disease itself. We have a long way to go before all of the ramifications become apparent. One child who was playing outside while wearing a mask indicated that if he didn’t wear a mask, he might “kill grandma”. It is so very sad that those entrusted with leadership and the common good would spread such a message when it is simply not true. We all have friends and relatives who might be particularly susceptible to airborne pathogens. My own nephew, whom I love like a son, was born with cystic fibrosis. With that in mind, we all take special precautions on his behalf, but he is not living with constant fear and anxiety. He takes each day as a gift, does what he knows he needs to do to protect himself, and entrusts the rest to God’s providence.


When all of this began, none of us really knew what was ahead of us. As time has gone on, however, it has become apparent that COVID, like other viruses, is not going away. It is going to be something that we have to live with. Certainly, particular demographics with higher risks need to be especially careful and cautious, but with significant vaccinations and natural immunity, much of society is in a much better position to live with this new reality than we were back at the beginning. We have to realize that the promotion of fear and a “one size fits all” response to this disease is polarizing families, dividing communities and destroying civil society at large. It is wrong and we should do what we can to stop it.


First and foremost, we need to be people of faith who renounce the spirit of Fear that has been running rampant through society. We need to demand transparency from our elected and public health officials by having honest conversations about what has worked and what has failed. AND we need to trust that God is still in charge.


My favorite quote of St. Teresa of Avila, the Nada te turbe, is apropos here:


Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things pass away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things.

He who has God

Finds he lacks nothing;

God alone suffices.


From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • November 6, 2026
Wisdom is at the heart of today's readings. It is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and an essential gift for living the stewardship way of life. As Christian stewards, we should continually ask the Holy Spirit to deepen this gift within us. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom. Five are wise, and five are foolish. The wise virgins prepare ahead of time, bringing enough oil to keep their lamps burning. The foolish ones fail to prepare and are caught off guard when the bridegroom arrives. Jesus concludes with this reminder: "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Stewardship helps us live with that same spirit of readiness. When we seek the Lord each day through prayer, the sacraments, and the faithful use of the gifts He has entrusted to us, we keep our hearts prepared to meet Him whenever He calls. That is the wisdom Christ desires for each of us. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026 Pastoral Pondering - Rooting Out Anger Few things disturb the peace of a home, a parish, or a soul as quickly as anger. A sharp word at the dinner table, a resentful silence after Mass, a flash of irritation in traffic-each seems small in the moment, yet the Fathers of the Church warn us that anger is a deadly poison. St. John Cassian, the great monastic teacher whose writings shaped Western spirituality, dedicated an entire book of his Institutes to this vice. His counsel is bracing and practical for us today. Cassian insists that anger must be "utterly rooted out from the inmost corners of our soul." As long as it remains, it blinds the eye of the heart. We lose right judgment, the capacity for true counsel, and even the ability to pray. "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). Whether the provocation seems just or unjust makes little difference: anger covers the eyes of the soul like a plate of gold or lead- the value of the metal does not restore sight. He rejects the common excuse that we may be angry with those who do wrong, or that Scripture's language of God's "anger" justifies our own passion. God is free from all disturbance; the biblical language of divine anger is metaphorical, pointing to His just judgment, not to a human emotion we may imitate. To use it as permission for our own resentment is, Cassian says, to draw from the Scriptures an occasion of sin rather than a remedy of holiness. There is, however, one legitimate use of the energy of anger: we may and should be indignant against the evil thoughts and disordered desires that rise within our own hearts. When we are ashamed of what we would never say or do before others, yet find it stirring inside, we are to rage against that disorder, trembling before the all-seeing eye of God. In this sense the psalmist's "Be angry and sin not" (Psalm 4:4) and St. Paul's citation of it (Ephesians 4:26) are understood: be angry with your own faults, lest the Sun of Righteousness set upon a darkened mind and the devil be given place. Cassian's remedies are simple and severe. First, make a firm resolution never to be angry at all-neither for good reasons nor bad. The moment the passion enters, discernment is lost and the soul can no longer be a temple of the Holy Spirit. Second, never attempt to pray while angry; such prayer is obstinate rebellion. Third, keep daily before your eyes the uncertainty of life and the certainty of judgment. All our other efforts- Mass, fasting, works of charity- profit nothing if anger and hatred alone bring us to eternal punishment. Practically, this means catching the first interior movement of irritation and turning it at once into sorrow for our own impatience. It means refusing to nurse the grievance past sunset, seeking reconciliation before the next Holy Communion, and enlarging the heart with patience so that the "waves of anger" are received and dissipated rather than confined and intensified. Peace, Cassian reminds us, does not depend on the conduct of others; it lies in our own control. In the confessional and in the daily struggle of parish life, I see how often this vice wounds families and friendships. Let us ask the Lord, who is meek and humble of heart, to give us the grace to root it out. May the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and our parish. In other news, due to an unexpected leave, I have been appointed as Vicar General and Chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte by Bishop Martin. While this appointment is expected to be temporary, during the interim, it will make my ability to take appointments rather limited. Please be patient with the office staff as they try to accommodate those needs along with my additional responsibilities.

From the Pastor - All Saints Day

By John Putnam • October 30, 2026
On this Solemnity of All Saints, we have the profound joy of celebrating our brothers and sisters in Christ, the saints. This is an especially meaningful feast for us as Christian stewards. At Baptism, each of us receives the call to holiness and discipleship. In other words, we are all called to become saints. Holiness is not reserved for a select few. It is God's desire for every one of His children. The stewardship way of life helps us answer that call each day. In today's Gospel from Matthew, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. They reveal the qualities that mark the lives of His disciples and point us toward authentic holiness. As we continue striving to live as faithful stewards, the Beatitudes provide a faithful measure of our growth in Christ. The "blessed" that Jesus describes are not different categories of people who make it to heaven. Rather, they reveal the character of those who belong to Him - the poor in spirit, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and all who remain faithful in the midst of trials. None of us can live this way on our own. But as beloved children of God, we receive the grace we need through prayer, the sacraments, and a life centered on Christ. May the example of the saints inspire us to persevere in our own call to holiness, trusting that one day we will join them in the everlasting joy of heaven. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026 Pastoral Pondering October brought us the Church's renewed attention to mental health. Pope Leo XIV has asked us this month to pray that our communities become places where those who carry unseen burdens find welcome, dignity, and hope- not judgment or silence. Many of those burdens are carried by women and girls. Some have lived through abuse, assault, or trauma that few around them even know about. Recent headlines, including those from Cornell University, have reminded the whole country how widespread these wounds are and how alone many survivors feel. Regardless of the outcome and veracity of the Cornell case, these types of cases exist closer to home. Women in our own parish and community often suffer quietly, unsure where to turn or whether anyone will truly understand. There is help, and there is hope. Healed and Restored, the local Catholic ministry founded by our own parishioner Elza Spaedy, exists precisely for this purpose. Through counseling, workshops, spiritual mentoring, retreats, and a supportive community, it walks with women and girls who have experienced abuse, assault, domestic violence, trafficking, or other trauma. Rooted in faith, it helps them encounter the Divine Physician who alone can restore what has been broken and discover that their wounds do not define them. Many of the women who have walked this path have found real freedom and a renewed sense of their dignity as daughters of God. If you are carrying a wound like this, or if you know someone who is, I encourage you to reach out. Information is available at healedandrestored.org. And if you simply want to stand with those who are hurting, please keep them in your prayers. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is to notice, to listen without fear, and to point someone toward the healing Christ offers. May the Lord who binds up the brokenhearted make our parish a place of true restoration.