From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 24, 2025

In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, it states “If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is there are many parts, yet one body (1 COR 12:18-20).


What does this teach us as Christian stewards? It shows us that we all have equal dignity and worth in God’s sight, and that if God sees us as equally precious, we should view each other in this same light. It teaches us to humbly recognize our own gifts as well as the giftedness of every member of our parish family. And, while God designed us to be ultimately dependent on Him, it seems He has also designed us to need each other!


This is part of the beauty and richness of a stewardship way of life. No one person can “do it all in life — whether in family life or parish life. But God does not ask us to do it all. He simply asks us to share the gifts and talents we do have in the season of life we find ourselves right now.


It might feel uncomfortable at first. But the good news is you don’t have to do it all. Do your part, let your brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ do theirs, and know that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us all as we live out this stewardship way of life.

© Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024


Pastoral Pondering 
On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Bishop Martin visited the parish and celebrated the parish Mass at 11 a.m. In his homily he challenged everyone to live out their baptismal call and to realize that we are all called to respond to the Lord’s goodness to us. During the distribution of Holy Communion, the Bishop chose not to use the altar rails to distribute, and this was upsetting to a number of parishioners who have been used to our (almost decade-long) practice here; using the kneelers but allowing each person to choose how he or she receives in accordance with individual conscience. Hence, I wanted to address the concern, and, while not speaking for the Bishop in this regard, give some insight into his actions.


Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the universal norm for the reception of Communion was kneeling and on the tongue. Only a priest was allowed to distribute (normally there were no deacons). In 1967, by way of indult (a special permission) Pope Paul VI allowed experimentation with distributing Communion in the hand. This gradually became the norm, and, when the third edition of the Roman Missal was released, Episcopal Conferences were allowed to determine what the norm for Communion reception would be in their territories. In the United States the US Bishops determined that the norm would be to receive Communion standing and either in the hand or on the tongue, in English. However, altar rails were never prohibited. Altar rails are not forbidden in the Catholic Church. In fact, altar rails have a long tradition in the Church and are still used in many places. They serve as a physical boundary that symbolically separates the sanctuary, which is considered a sacred space, from the rest of the church. Historically, altar rails were also used as a place for the faithful to kneel and receive Holy Communion.


After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the architectural design of churches became more flexible, and some churches chose to remove altar rails to promote a sense of openness and community. However, this change was not mandated by the Church, and the decision to have altar rails or not is often left to the discretion of individual parishes or diocesan guidelines.

Ultimately, whether a church has altar rails can be influenced by pastoral considerations, liturgical styles, and architectural intentions. The presence or absence of altar rails does not affect the validity of the Mass or the sacramental life of the Church but can reflect different emphases in liturgical spirituality and practice.


In terms of the reception of Communion, the communicant retains the right to choose how Communion is received. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal indicates that the faithful may receive either kneeling or standing. The US norm does not nullify this general norm, and, in fact, the Congregation (now Dicastery) for Divine Worship in the document Redemptionis Sacramentum (n. 91) noted that a communicant who kneels is to be respected.



A diocesan Bishop is certainly within his right to request that the United States norm be observed and certainly Bishop Martin has indicated by action that this is his desire. He is presently preparing new liturgical norms to provide guidance and exercise his role as the high priest of the Diocese. Once these are produced, I am sure that they will clarify and expound upon what is presented here. Hence, I would encourage you and even caution not to negatively judge the Bishop. He is acting in harmony with the law and only desires a liturgical unity among his flock. This too should be respected while never denying the legitimate rights of the faithful.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

By John Putnam • June 27, 2025
During June, we have celebrated key moments in the life of the Church — Pentecost, the Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi — culminating today with the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Though very different men, they are united in faith, mission, and martyrdom, and the Church has honored them together since the third century. St. Peter, the first Pope, was chosen by Christ as the rock on which the Church would be built. The Catechism tells us that because of the faith he professed, Peter remains the “unshakeable rock of the Church.” Despite his human weaknesses, Peter's loyalty, repentance, and leadership make him a powerful model of stewardship. St. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, became one of the Church’s greatest evangelists. In today’s second reading, Paul reflects on his mission, saying, “I have finished the race… the crown of righteousness awaits me.” The Greek word he used for “crown” — stephanos — refers to a victor’s crown, not a royal one, showing his view of faith as a race well-run for the sake of Christ. Though they were martyred separately, tradition holds that Peter and Paul were in Rome at the same time, and their shared witness and sacrifice tie them closely together in Church history. They embody two vital aspects of stewardship — Peter in his faith and leadership, and Paul in his zeal and wisdom. As stewards, we are called to follow their example — to build the Church through our commitment, to overcome our failures through God’s mercy, and to proclaim the Gospel with courage. Like Peter and Paul, we are invited to give all we have for the sake of Christ and His Church. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering  This Solemnity marks the beginning of summer vacation in Rome. The Holy Father will be traveling to Castelgandolfo for some time away from the heat of Rome. For the rest of us, the weeks of summer are in full swing, and as we move into July this week, I hope that families have an opportunity to spend some time in rest and relaxation. Spending time with family, friends, and the Lord, are among the best things that we can do with our “down time”. Leisure is essential to a well-lived life, but it has to be understood properly in the context of the Christian life. Anthony Esolen’s Leisure: The Basis of Culture is a contemporary reflection and expansion on the classic work of the same name by Josef Pieper. Esolen argues that modern society has lost its understanding of true leisure, mistaking it for mere idleness or entertainment. In contrast, he defines leisure as a contemplative, receptive state that allows individuals to encounter truth, beauty, and God. True leisure, according to the author, distinguishes leisure from passive consumption or busyness. True leisure is rooted in wonder, worship and reflection – activities that are ends in themselves, not means to productivity. He critiques how modern life has turned all human activity into something utilitarian. Education, art and even religion are often reduced to tools for social mobility or economic growth, rather than pursued for their intrinsic value. Esolen emphasizes that leisure finds its highest expression in worship and liturgy. Time spent in contemplation of the divine is the deepest form of leisure, because it directs the soul toward eternal realities. He draws on classical and Christian sources to affirm that man is not simply a worker or consumer but is made for contemplation and communion. In the end, he calls for a return to genuine leisure as the only path to restoring culture, education, and the dignity of the human spirit. The author argues that without true leisure, civilization cannot thrive, because it loses contact with what is eternal and meaningful. Leisure, rightly understood, is not a break from life – it is at the heart of what makes life worth living.

From the Pastor - Corpus Christi

By John Putnam • June 20, 2025
Today we observe the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This beautiful feast celebrates the gift of the Eucharist, which the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches is the source and summit of our Christian faith. “For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself” (CCC paragraph 1324). The very word, Eucharist, means “thanksgiving” or “gratitude” and so this feast is especially meaningful to all of us who are striving to live as grateful stewards of all God’s blessings to us. Surely the Eucharist is the greatest of all blessings because it is not only from God, the Eucharist, is God — the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reminds us of the depths of love our Lord has shown us in the gift of the Eucharist, recalling Christ’s words at the very first Eucharistic celebration. “The Lord Jesus… took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you.’” In that moment, and at every celebration of the Mass thereafter, Jesus gives us His very self in an act of complete humility and perfect love. How can we possibly show our gratitude for such a sublime gift? We can receive the gift of the Eucharist with the greatest possible reverence and love. And, following our Lord’s example, we can give ourselves generously to others in the week ahead. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ naturally follows the Solemnities of Pentecost and the Holy Trinity. Each of those celebrations highlight a profound experience of God. The Eucharist invites us into the very life of God which is the Holy Trinity. We are nourished by the Lord to sustain us as we strive to run the race and fight the good fight. The Church in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of Vatican II describes the Eucharist as the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows… At times perhaps we allow our assistance and participation at Mass and reception of the Eucharist to become habitual or common place. Such an attitude should always be avoided since it diminishes the centrality that the Eucharist is to play in each of our lives. Nonetheless, it is a common pitfall that many of us fall into. There are a number of ways in which we can help ourselves to avoid falling into that trap. First and foremost, we should prepare ourselves for participation at Mass. This can be accomplished in a number of ways but especially by taking some time to read and reflect on the Scriptures before we arrive at the church. Arriving early at Mass so that we can actually spend some time in prayer, quieting our hearts and minds before the celebration begins is also helpful. Outside of Mass, we can make spiritual Communions and make visits to the Blessed Sacrament. These moments of grace can also inspire us to live more authentically Christian lives by our concern for and service to the poor. Serving our neighbor and loving the neighbor as we love ourselves is a true expression of our love for God.  I also want to offer a word of thanks to all those who assisted with the diaconate and priestly ordinations the previous two Saturdays. A great deal of work goes into these events, and the St. Mark staff and volunteers always “step up” to do their part. We as a parish are honored to host these important Diocesan events and appreciate all of those who contribute to their success.
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