From the Pastor - 4th Sunday in Lent

March 8, 2024

It has been said many times over and in a variety of ways that stewardship is based upon gratitude. Gratitude for what, we might ask? For the variety of blessings each of us receives, understanding full well that each of us is gifted in different ways and perhaps even in different measures. However, there is one gift in which we all share equally.


“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). It is difficult for us to even conceive of the magnitude of that multifaceted gift, from God’s unconditional love for us to the extraordinary gift of his son Jesus to the fabulous gift of everlasting life.


Stewardship calls us to appreciate all of God’s gifts, but if we only focus on the gifts listed above, our gratitude should know no bounds. Pope Francis has said, “God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. We all have the ability to understand and receive God’s gifts.” We need to recognize God’s gifts and especially during our preparations for Easter, find ways to show and live out our gratitude. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024


Pastoral Pondering

Over the last few years, our parish has been blessed with both priestly and religious vocations. The parish has been tremendously supportive of our seminarians, so I wanted to give you an update on our men and where they are in their discernment. This summer Joseph Yellico will be ordained deacon on June 1st and Deacon Christian Goduti will be ordained priest on June 15th.


Bradley Loftin has discerned a call to the monastic life and will enter Belmont Abbey Monastery on March 16th. Luke Martin, after a pastoral year at Sacred Heart in Salisbury has discerned out of the program. He hoped to pursue a career in education. Jonathan Hernandez is taking some time away from formation to work on academics and get some experience in the workforce. At present, there are a few men considering entering in the fall. Please continue to pray for all of these as well.


During the week of Ash Wednesday there was a lot of media attention about a scandalous funeral that took place at St. Patrick Cathedral in Manhattan. While the rector of the Cathedral released a strong condemnation of the event, there has still been a lot of wonderment of how it happened in the first place since the deceased was a well-known atheist and transgender activist. Hence, I thought it might be useful to discuss who has a right to a Catholic funeral as well as to consider in what situations and circumstances the celebration of a funeral can be denied.


The fundamental law regarding funerals is expressed in canon 1176 of the Code of Canon Law which states §1 Christ’s faithful who have died are to be given a Church funeral according to the norm of law. This is a straightforward canon. Catholics have a right to have a Catholic funeral.


Canon 1184 provides the norm governing the denial of Catholic burial rites. It states: §1 Church funeral rites are to be denied to the following, unless they have some signs of repentance before death: 1) notorious apostates, heretics and schismatics; 2) those who for anti-Christian motives chose that their bodies be cremated; 3) other manifest sinners to whom a Church funeral could not be granted without public scandal to the faithful. §2 If any doubt occurs, the local Ordinary is to be consulted and his judgment followed.


Returning now to the funeral at St. Patrick’s, this funeral should have never taken place. The deceased was well known and had a public profile. Even though baptized Catholic, the deceased had identified himself as an atheist (apostate) as well as promoted positions contrary to the Catholic faith. Hence, both the first and the third norm identified above would be applicable. In discussing the matter, the Cathedral staff indicated that they were told that a funeral would be a great consolation to the family. However, as laudable as this might be, it is not a reason to offer a Catholic funeral to one who, by the example of life, had no desire for it. A little time and effort would have gone a long way to prevent such a scandalous display of blasphemy and desecration. Parishes have the responsibility of vetting any type of celebration that is to take place so as to avoid such conflicts and ensure that the sacred nature of the church building is preserved and avoid any scandal that might arise.



From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Third Sunday of Easter

By John Putnam • April 17, 2026
Today’s readings focus on a theme of “sojourning.” As Christian stewards, we know our lives are a sojourn toward the ultimate destination of heaven. Our Gospel passage today describes the sojourn of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The two are dejected and despondent after Jesus’ death. They knew Jesus personally. They had heard the Gospel message directly from His lips. They heard the testimony of the women who discovered our Lord’s empty tomb and saw a vision of angels announcing He was alive. They had been informed by other disciples who went to the tomb that all was exactly as the women reported. How much more obvious could the Good News be? And yet, at times, the reaction of the two disciples describes our own stewardship journey, doesn’t it? We have the fullness of the Catholic faith, the power of the sacraments, and the support of our parish family. Yet, we often lose our way. We fail to see all the gifts we have been given. We lack trust in the perfect goodness and almighty power of God. But notice what happens to the two men when their eyes are opened once again, and they recognize Jesus in the Eucharist — the “breaking of the bread.” They are transformed! Their hearts are set on fire with love for the Lord and for their faith. They recall that their hearts began “burning within” as the Lord was explaining the Scriptures to them. When we find we have lost our way, we can go to the same sources as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus — the Scriptures and the Eucharist. In this Easter season, resolve to feast deeply on these two sources of grace. They are the fuel that will propel us on our journey toward heaven. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026 Pastoral Pondering Returning to a review of Catholic teaching basics, as we move into Spring, we often see an increase in the number of weddings requested. Sadly, it is not uncommon these days to find couples choosing to live together prior to their marriage. Hence, I thought it would be a good idea to lay out the Church’s teaching on this matter in a concise way. Living Together Before Marriage: A Catholic Perspective From the Catholic Church’s teaching, living together (cohabitation) before marriage is morally wrong, primarily because it typically involves fornication —sexual relations outside of marriage—which is gravely sinful (CCC 2353). Human sexuality is a sacred gift ordered by God to the unitive and procreative purposes of marriage alone. Sexual intimacy outside marriage cannot express the total, faithful, and permanent self-giving that spouses vow in the sacrament. Instead, it says with the body what is not yet true in commitment: “I give myself to you completely and forever.” This makes the act a contradiction, contrary to the dignity of persons and God’s plan for love (see CCC 2391; USCCB resources on marriage preparation). Cohabitation also: Creates a near occasion of sin , placing the couple in a situation that strongly tempts them toward grave immorality. Gives scandal , leading others—especially the young—to doubt or dismiss the Church’s teaching on chastity and the sacredness of marriage. Treats marriage as a “trial” rather than the definitive covenant it is meant to be. True love “demands a total and definitive gift of persons to one another” and cannot be an arrangement “until further notice.” Additionally, studies cited by Catholic sources show that couples who cohabit before marriage face higher risks of divorce, instability, and weaker commitment compared to those who do not. The Church calls engaged couples to practice chastity in continence during preparation for marriage—an “apprenticeship in fidelity” that builds mutual respect and prepares them to receive the grace of the sacrament (CCC 2350). Priests, deacons and pastoral ministers accompany cohabiting couples with mercy and truth, encouraging them to live separately or chastely while preparing for a valid sacramental marriage. In a culture that often views cohabitation as practical or normal, the Church invites couples to witness the beauty of God’s design: chastity before marriage, followed by a joyful, lifelong union blessed by the sacrament. For more, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church (esp. 2331–2400).

From the Pastor - Divine Mercy Sunday

By John Putnam • April 10, 2026
The great feast of Easter has begun, Christian stewards. Let us rejoice and be glad! Just as we embraced the discipline and fasting of Lent, let us fully embrace the joy and feasting that the next 50 days offer. We are called to be good stewards of the Easter season. Our first reading, from Acts, gives instruction on how to do this. Here, St. Peter says that our Lord, “commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead… that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” How do we ordinary people preach and testify to all God has done? We do so through how we live our ordinary lives — through the intentional use of our time, talent, and treasure for the kingdom of God. Putting God and others ahead of ourselves in every aspect of our lives is the most eloquent preaching we can do. Boldly and joyfully embracing a stewardship way of life is our most powerful testimony. As Christian stewards, we are the modern-day witnesses of an incredible miracle prompted by unfathomable love — the death and Resurrection of our Savior for us. Let us rejoice and be glad and let’s make sure our lives are a testimony to this amazing grace! © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026  HAPPY EASTER!