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 - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • January 23, 2026
Today’s readings remind us that stewardship is not just a thing we do — rather, stewardship is at the core of who we are as disciples of Christ. Our first reading, from Isaiah, contains this prophecy of Christ and what His saving message would mean to all who embrace it. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” We are among those blessed people on whom the light of Christ has shone. By virtue of our Baptism, we, who were once in the darkness of original sin, have been reborn into the great light that is God’s grace in us. We are cherished members of God’s family. What a privilege! Yet, with this privilege comes the responsibility to actually live for God and to bring His Good News to all those we meet — at work, at school, in our community and right in our own home — in other words, to live as His good stewards. And there is a certain urgency that comes with the call to a stewardship way of life as we see in our Gospel passage from Matthew. Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words, turn away from selfishness, turn towards God and live as His disciple now — don’t wait! In this same passage, the very first disciples give us examples of a good steward’s prompt “yes” when the Lord called to them. Our Lord invites them to “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” They did not hesitate but “at once they left their nets and followed him.” They put our Lord and His will first. This is the essence of a stewardship way of life — to be always ready for the ways that our Lord is calling us to bring His light to others. It’s more than something we do — it’s who we are. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025. Pastoral Pondering  This past Thursday was the 53rd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Even though that decision and the one that followed have been overturned by the Court, the work of defending life continues. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion regulation to the states, the Catholic Church's commitment to the sanctity of human life remains unchanged and multifaceted. From a Catholic perspective, grounded in scripture, tradition, and teachings like those in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (e.g., CCC 2270-2275), advocacy for life isn't solely tied to one court ruling or legal framework—it's a holistic moral imperative that extends beyond abortion to all threats against human dignity. The key reasons why Catholics are called to continue this work: 1. Abortion Remains Legal and Accessible in Many Places Including NC The Dobbs decision didn't ban abortion nationwide; it simply decentralized the issue. As of 2026, abortion is still legal in over half of U.S. states, often with few restrictions up to viability or beyond in some cases (e.g., California, New York). Millions of abortions occur annually, and access has expanded through measures like mail-order abortion pills (e.g., mifepristone). Catholics are urged to advocate for protective laws at the state and federal levels to safeguard the unborn, as the Church views direct abortion as intrinsically evil and never justifiable. Beyond legislation, this includes supporting crisis pregnancy centers, adoption services, and policies that help women facing unplanned pregnancies, aligning with the Church's emphasis on mercy and practical charity. 2. Ongoing Cultural and Political Challenges Pro-abortion initiatives continue to gain traction, such as ballot measures in states like Florida and Arizona that have sought to enshrine abortion rights in constitutions, or federal proposals to codify Roe-like protections. The Church teaches that Catholics have a duty to participate in the public square (e.g., via voting, lobbying, and education) to counter these efforts and promote a "culture of life," as articulated by Pope St. John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae (1995). Globally, abortion rates remain high, and issues like international funding for abortion providers (e.g., through U.S. foreign aid) persist, requiring advocacy on an international scale. 3. The Broader Pro-Life Ethic Catholic pro-life advocacy isn't limited to abortion; concern for life issues encompass all stages of life. This includes opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide (now legal in 10+ U.S. states and parts of Canada/Europe), promoting alternatives to the death penalty, embryonic stem cell research, human trafficking, poverty, war, and environmental degradation that harms the vulnerable. Overturning Roe was a milestone, but it doesn't address root causes like economic inequality, lack of family support, or societal pressures that lead to abortion. Catholics are called to build a society where life is welcomed and protected through social justice initiatives, echoing Pope Francis's calls in Fratelli Tutti (2020) for integral human development. 4. Spiritual and Moral Witness Ultimately, the Church's stance is rooted in the belief that every human life is sacred, created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), and that protecting the innocent is a core Gospel mandate (e.g., Matthew 25:40). Laws may change, but moral truth doesn't—Catholics are to witness to this truth through prayer, education, and personal example, fostering conversion of hearts rather than relying solely on legal victories. Organizations like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) emphasize that the fight for life is ongoing, urging parishes to engage in initiatives like Walking with Moms in Need to provide tangible support. In summary, while Dobbs was a significant win, it's not the end of the road. The Catholic call to "stand up for life" is perpetual, driven by faith, compassion, and a vision for a just society.

From the Pastor - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • January 16, 2026
Today’s readings provide clear and inspiring reminders of the most fundamental aspect of our identity — that of servants of our most high and holy God, His modern-day disciples, and stewards. John the Baptist recognized the holiness of Jesus and the response due to Him when he encountered Christ in person on the day they met at the Jordan River. His response, which we read in our Gospel passage from St. John was, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world… He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” What a powerful description of our Lord and the place He should rightfully have in each of our lives. He is truly our Savior, the only one who can free us from our sinfulness. We are utterly and completely dependent on His power, love, and mercy. Therefore, He truly does “rank ahead” of us; he deserves to be first, above all other priorities and plans in our lives. Let us examine our daily lives and encourage our children to do the same. Does the way I spend my time reflect that God comes first? Do prayer and weekly Mass, regular confession, and time with my family “rank ahead” of everything else on my calendar? Do I use my talents, skills, and energy to serve my family, parish and community in thanksgiving and recognition that God’s kingdom ranks ahead of any other goals or ambitions? Do I spend my money and use my material possessions to glorify God? Challenge questions, to be sure. But questions worthy of our high calling as Christian stewards offered a glorious mission in service of our Lord and His kingdom. What will our response be? © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As I write this, I am just getting back from the Holy Land Pilgrimage with more than 20 of our seminarians. Spending the Octave of Christmas and celebrating the New Year in the Holy Land was very special and being with such a close-knit group was especially heartening. One of the questions that was posed before the pilgrimage began was, “Father, is it safe to go over there?” I can say without a doubt that it is safe to visit the Holy Land. We had no issues. What was sad was to see the Christian community suffering because of the lack of tourists. If you have the opportunity to go to the Holy Land, especially with Christopher Cross, I encourage you to go. The next scheduled trip is in March with Father Martinez. There are still slots available. We began the New Year on the Mount of Beatitudes with Mass and Holy Hour. One of the seminarians noted that it was amazing to the sermon of the Lord in the very place where He gave it while He was there on the altar in the monstrance. Another highlight was having two Masses in the Holy Sepulcher itself. Because of the size of the tomb, many in the group had to participate from the anteroom. One of the seminarians noted that it touched him deeply when the priest came out of the tomb to distribute Communion. “Literally, the Lord was coming out of the Tomb to give Himself to us.” For me personally, the Mass that we celebrated in Bethlehem in the Church of the Nativity complex was very moving. We celebrated Mass in the Chapel of St. Helena on the Feast of St. John the Apostle, just a short walk away from the grotto of the Nativity. The seminarians provided the music for the Mass, and it was “otherworldly”. I could feel the Lord’s presence and was overwhelmed with the reality that we were celebrating Christmas where Christmas was first celebrated. I have no doubt that the experience will impact the life and ministry of each of the seminarians who participated, especially those preparing for priestly or diaconal ordination this coming May. One cannot walk where Jesus walked without leaving with a new appreciation of all that He did for us.  Finally, thank you to all who made this pilgrimage possible. Through your kindness, you have enriched these men and helped them grow in their knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.