From the Parochial Vicar - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 30, 2019

From the Parochial Vicar - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

After the joy of Easter, Pentecost, and the last two Sunday’s feasts of the Trinity and Eucharist, today we have returned to “Ordinary” Sundays. Instead of thinking about Ordinary Time as a “not-so-special” time of year, we should think of it as “ordinal” Sundays. We count the Sundays throughout the year as we journey with Christ throughout his three years of public ministry. These are the “ordinary” moments of Christ’s life in which his disciples followed him and learned from him as he journeyed and taught.

In today’s Gospel, Christ responds in a puzzling way to someone who wants to be his disciple: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Foxes and birds build their homes simply by making use of what they find daily. They don’t employ an architect or a contractor. They scrounge up little bits of lint, find some twigs, and pick up some pine needles they come across. They make the most of the daily things that creation provides.

We can learn from the foxes and birds by making the most of the daily blessings our Creator provides. Our Lord doesn’t have a place to rest his head in our hearts because we make our hearts about many things. We try to compartmentalize our relationship with him to a certain part of the day or a certain place (“I already had my prayer time today, and I can’t bother to stop right now and praise him or ask him for what I need” or “I’ll grow in my love of Jesus on Sunday when I’m at church”). Throughout the day as we go from activity to activity, we should try to practice a greater recollection in order to identify the gifts, blessings, and graces that the Lord shares with us during our ordinary activity. That way, “ordinary” becomes extraordinary as we see how cooperating with his will orders our heart towards his glory. Then Our Lord can say, the heart of that Christian is a place where I may make my home and rest my head.

Thank You

The process of a priest’s transfer can seem very shrouded in the eyes of the lay faithful. One week a priest is talking about the future of some program or apostolate and the next week he is announcing his departure. Each year in the Diocese of Charlotte, the bishop requests input from his priests about their assignments. We have a chance to let him know how our current assignment is going and make certain requests if we are seeking a transfer. A priest’s obedience to his bishop is not a military-style, blind obedience. It is a filial obedience that implies trust and detachment. Two years ago, upon returning from my studies in Rome, I received a phone call, “If you are offered the position of pastor at __________, will you accept it?” I was never offered that parish and was assigned to St. Mark. And for these past two years, I am incredibly grateful. I could have been made a pastor two years ago, but I see how God in his good providence wanted me to experience for my own sanctification and maturation this wonderful parish community.

Serving with Fr. John and Fr. Becker has been a blessing to my priesthood and growth. They are wonderfully kind, cheerful, and very patient with me. Fr. John and I had a feeling that I would be transferred this year, and he said to me at one-point last fall, “You need your own parish. You are wasting your gifts here.” He didn’t mean that as a put-down or that I wasn’t making a difference. In fact, I was very humbled by that. I would very much be delighted to stay at St. Mark, but that would be a selfish request. A priest of 25+ years and a man who had known me since I was in middle school was telling me that I was ready to be a pastor. That instills great confidence, certainly. Fr. Becker also has been very supportive in this transition. His words were, “Gooder. It’s about time.” Granted, his reaction is biased because he will no longer be the “junior vicar,” he gets my car space in the garage, and he will no longer have the “on-call” line 90% of the week. In all honesty, though, I hope that his experience accompanying a newly ordained priest in his first assignment is as inspirational and rewarding as it was for me to walk with him in his first two years of priesthood.

To each and every household at St. Mark, I want to say thank you. You have been a great blessing to my priesthood. Fr. Becker quoted, I think, St. Augustine in one of his first homilies at St. Mark: “For you I am a priest, with you I am a Christian.” Yes, I have given my life to minister at the altar of God and be a priest for the Church and the salvation of souls, but alongside you I am a fellow Christian man in need of salvation. I have been humbled and inspired by those of you who have invited me to share in your lives and welcomed me into your homes. I am energized by the families and individuals who take their faith to the streets, their jobs, their schools, and their friendships in a way that draws others to love Jesus more. I am grateful for the hundreds of people who have been saying, “We’re gonna miss you.” In reality, I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss St. Mark Church. There is the excitement of becoming a pastor for the first time, but I would be lying if I said that there isn’t a profound grief in my heart as I face the reality of leaving such a vibrant community of faith.

I want you to remember one thing: a parish is not a vibrant community of faith because of its priests. A parish truly is alive when each individual chooses to live in Christ and for Christ. That is why I do not worry about you as I leave; I know each of you will continue choosing Christ and seeking to dwell in a deeper communion with him. Yes, priests at St. Mark come and go. Don’t forget, however, that they are living instruments in the hand of God for your sanctification. But you are the parish and, by living freely as sons and daughters of the living God, the parish becomes what God intends it to be: a city set on a hill and toward which all come for life-giving water.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • February 13, 2026
Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on the true state of our hearts as it relates to stewardship. Do we think of stewardship as something we take care of once a year, simply a matter of ticking off boxes on a commitment card — or do we choose to embrace it as a spirituality and a way of life that allows us to grow in conformity to Christ every day? Our first reading, from the Book of Sirach, teaches that our good God has given us the freedom to make this choice — “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” The concept of stewardship helps us live out this fundamental choice to put God first. Stewardship is not meant to be a mere external exercise that we participate in on an occasional basis. It is meant to be embraced as a way of life — a life that involves a continuous conversion of heart. In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus illustrates the difference between an external observance of the law and a true conversion of heart, saying, “You have heard that it was said … you shall not kill … But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Our Lord is asking us not only for exterior acts, but for a true change of heart. In stewardship terms, that means seeing everything as a gift from Him, to be used for His glory and the good of others. In the week ahead, let us examine the state of our hearts and ask whether we have allowed stewardship to shape the way we live each day. When we do, we open ourselves to its deeper meaning and its power to change our hearts. The choice is ours. Pastoral Pondering I am appreciative of the cooperation we have had with the recent changes in the distribution of Communion. Please be mindful that each person has the right to choose the manner in which he or she receives Holy Communion. As long as that choice is in conformity with what the Church allows, the individual is free to exercise that right. We all have preferences and pious practices that are important to us. It is important, however, that we do not pass judgment on the reasons someone else chooses differently from us. No one knows the heart of another; God alone knows those things. Clearly, if someone is doing something that is improper or sacrilegious, we have a moral obligation to say something. However, when another is making a legitimate choice, he or she is free to do so. We all need to be conscious of the importance of exercising charity, especially with one another. As we prepare to embark on our Lenten journey, please take time to pray and ponder what you need to do (and not do) to make this a truly fruitful Lent. Taking time for prayer and reflection and asking the Lord to guide you in choosing your Lenten sacrifices and works of charity, is a wonderful way to prepare for and to receive the full grace of this special season of the liturgical year. Penance, of course, is a regular part of Catholic life. Every Friday throughout the year is a day of penance. During Lent, every Friday is a day of abstinence from meat; outside of Lent, one may choose an alternative form of penance. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting for those between the ages of 14 and 60. Let us pray for one another that our Lenten observances may help us grow in holiness, become more attentive to the promptings of the Spirit, and be instruments of the light of Christ in the world.

From the Pastor - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • February 6, 2026
Today’s readings are both encouragement and instruction for us as Christian stewards. They offer clear direction on what matters most to God and how He calls us to use the gifts He has entrusted to us. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah gives us straightforward guidance: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.” There is no ambiguity here. Caring for our brothers and sisters in need is not optional — it is a fundamental responsibility of the Christian steward. Yet the Lord also reminds us of His generosity when we live this way. “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed.” When we give of ourselves, we do not lose — we gain. God’s grace grows within us, and we experience deeper joy and peace as our lives become more aligned with His will. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks plainly to His disciples — and to us — calling us the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” But salt loses its purpose if it goes stale, and light cannot shine if it is hidden. Our faith must be lived, not concealed. We are called to act so that others may see the way we serve, how we care for the vulnerable, how we prioritize our families, and above all, how we love God — and through our witness, give glory to Him. Pastoral Pondering With everything that’s been going on in Minneapolis and in other areas of the country, I have had a number of folks ask me how we should respond as Catholics. The following is my opinion, based on sound Catholic teaching. First and foremost, Catholics are called to respond to civil unrest neither with indifference nor with partisan reflex, but with faith‑formed conscience, rooted in the Gospel, the dignity of the human person, and the pursuit of the common good.  The Church offers clear moral principles—even when facts are still unfolding or emotions are intense. 1. Begin with the Dignity of Every Human Life The Catholic response must start with mourning the loss of life, regardless of ideology, immigration status, profession, or political alignment. Recent unrest in Minneapolis followed multiple fatal shootings involving federal agents, resulting in the deaths of American citizens and triggering widespread protests and confrontations. Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCB, emphasized: “Peace is built on respect for people… Public authorities especially have a responsibility to safeguard the well‑being of people in service to the common good.” Catholics must resist any rhetoric that dehumanizes protesters, immigrants, law‑enforcement officers, or public officials. Every person involved is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; USCCB, Life and Dignity of the Human Person). 2. Reject Violence — from Any Side The Church is unequivocal: violence against persons is morally unacceptable, whether it comes from rioters, vigilantes, or excessive use of force by authorities. Recent demonstrations in Minneapolis have included street takeovers, clashes with law enforcement, and use of tear gas, batons, and flash‑bangs. Catholic leaders have consistently called for restraint and nonviolence. Also, as Bishop Robert Barron warned, destroying property, interfering with law enforcement or intimidation or mob action do not advance justice and instead deepen wounds. The same can be said of the disruption of church services. At the same time, the Church also insists that the use of state power must be proportionate and accountable, especially when lethal force is involved (CCC §§2263–2267). 3. Pray — Publicly and Persistently — for Peace and Conversion The Church’s first response is spiritual, not performative. In January 2026, Archbishop Coakley asked dioceses across the country to hold a Holy Hour for peace, explicitly in response to unrest connected to immigration enforcement and deaths in Minneapolis. As Catholics we should pray for the dead and their families, pray for healing in affected communities, pray for law‑enforcement officers placed in morally complex situations, and pray for public officials making consequential decisions. This is not passivity. It is placing the crisis under the Lordship of Christ. 4. Support Lawful Protest — Not Lawlessness Catholic teaching affirms the right to peaceful protest against injustice. The USCCB teaches that political participation, including protest, is legitimate when it respects human life, respects the rule of law, and seeks the common good rather than domination or chaos (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship). However, Catholics must refuse participation in rioting, property destruction, intimidation, or disruption of worship (explicitly condemned by bishops). As several Catholic leaders noted, anger does not sanctify actions. 5. Insist on Truth, Due Process, and Accountability Catholics should resist both instant condemnation without facts, and blind defense without accountability. The Church supports transparent investigations, lawful oversight of enforcement agencies, and respect for constitutional and human rights. Ongoing legal review and court interventions in Minnesota illustrate the importance of due process in moments of unrest. 6. Engage Politically — but Never Reduce Faith to Politics Catholics may contact elected officials, advocate for humane immigration policies, and support reforms aligned with human dignity. But the bishops repeatedly warn against substituting ideology for the Gospel. As Catholic World Report summarized: “The current climate of fear and polarization… does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel.” No party, platform, or protest movement substitutes for Christian charity and moral clarity. 7. Build Peace Locally Finally, Catholics are called to act close to home by supporting local parishes offering prayer or aid, participating in dialogue rather than online outrage, and assisting immigrants, families of victims, and first responders. Catholic Social Teaching emphasizes that peace is built from the ground up, in families, parishes, and neighborhoods (Call to Community and Participation).