From the Pastor – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 4, 2020

From the Pastor – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Paul echoes Christ in many ways. In the 13 th  Chapter from his letter to the Romans, he continues with his thoughts on how we should live to please God, and he uses a sentence which Christ often repeated. After listing several of the 10 Commandments, Paul states, “…whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.”

There is always much that gets debated in that admonition, such as loving yourself, and who exactly is your neighbor? Paul’s point, like that of Jesus, is simply that we are called to treat others as we may like to be treated. We need to show them the respect and caring that we may hope for and wish for. God loves us, and if we realize that, we may ultimately come to the conclusion that we are loveable.

Most of us know someone whose love is evident by how they treat others and how they live. Loving neighbor is a visible expression of everything that Jesus taught. It is a way of expressing the depth of our faith and our belief that we are Disciples of Christ.

St. Francis de Sales captured all about what this love is and who is your neighbor when he wrote, “Examine your heart often to see if it is such toward your neighbor as you would like his or hers to be toward you in his or her place. This is the touchstone of true reason.” It is relatively basic and simple — our neighbor is everyone with whom we have contact and love is what makes it all work. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2017.

Pastoral Pondering

In the news recently, you may have seen a story about a priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Father Matthew Hood, who learned that his baptism as an infant was invalid because the deacon who celebrated it, changed the words of the Baptismal rite. Quite a number of folks have asked me about this. Because he was not validly baptized, his subsequent sacraments, up to and including his ordination, were also invalid. This of course had an impact on the validity of most the sacraments that he celebrated as a priest.

Some may see this as simply an exercise in semantics, but it is much more that that. As the Archbishop of Detroit pointed out in his letter regarding the matter, God is not limited by the sacraments, and even though sacraments that Father celebrated were invalid, God can and does continue to work in some mysterious way for the benefit of those who received in good faith. Nonetheless, the situation underscores, that being faithful to the Church’s teachings is important and not something that should be taken lightly. There was certainly a time in recent history where, among ecclesiastics, it was considered “enlightened” to “do your own thing” with the sacraments, e.g. make up your own words for consecration, use different elements from what the Church requires, etc.

Yet, sacraments are celebrated by the Church for the benefit of the people. The celebration is never to be considered “Father’s Mass”. The sacraments belong to everyone, and, therefore, they should be celebrated as the Church intends them to be celebrated with the proper matter and form. Failing to do so, has serious consequences as in the example cited above. This is so because the shepherds of the Church have the responsibility to guard the deposit of faith, a treasure that is to be preserved and handed on in fidelity.

If anyone is looking at old videos of his baptism or if you have any questions regarding this topic, feel free to reach out. We will do our best to assist you.

Parish Celebration of the Eucharist – With the Congress being cancelled this year, we are looking forward to having the opportunity to offer a parish-wide celebration September 11-12. Father Gámez along with those assisting him have been working hard to provide an enriching experience for all ages. I do hope you will come and enjoy.

Youth Ministry Activities and Programs – Our Youth Ministry team has been actively planning to offer activites and opportunities for our middle and high school youth. Due to ongoing COVID concerns, this is not an easy process. Some folks believe that, based on data and anecdotal evidence, it is all a waste of time and unnecessary. While I am certainly aware of the division of opinions about masks and social distancing, I also have to be concerned about the overall well-being of the parish. While recognizing our legitimate and God-given rights to assemble and worship, we also have a responsibility to be good citizens and to exercise proper concerns for those around us. The Diocese has asked us to follow the Governor’s orders and CDC guidelines to the extent possible, and that is what we have been doing and will continue to do. At the same time, we want to do all that we can to help our young people remain connected to the parish community during these trying times. Everyone’s cooperation is appreciated as we navigate these sometimes choppy waters.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • August 22, 2025
Today’s readings show us that it is not enough to be Christ’s disciples in name only. To be a real disciple, we must live for Christ every day and in every aspect of life. This kind of life takes strength and discipline. Intentionally and consistently offering the Lord the best of our Time, Talent, and Treasure through a stewardship way of life is a form of spiritual discipline. These spiritual disciplines teach us to become ever more aware of God’s constant provision for us and they keep us on the narrow path towards the Kingdom of Heaven. The more we embrace this way of life, the more we can be “trained” by the Lord in the ways of true discipleship. Though difficult, these disciplines become a source of spiritual strength. Our Lord Himself speaks of the difficult path to the Kingdom of Heaven in today’s Gospel passage from Luke. He is asked, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” Jesus responds, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” Showing up for Mass on Sunday while living as if Christ is an afterthought the rest of the week does not make us disciples. What’s more, this approach to our faith is an unjust and unloving response to our good God who has given us all that we have and are. Jesus does not want us to merely go through the motions of faith. He wants much more from us and for us. He wants to know us deeply and for us to get to know Him so that we become His holy disciples. This is not a burden; it is a privilege. But it does take discipline, the discipline of a stewardship way of life. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As the school year ramps up again, I wanted to let you know that another young man from the parish has begun his propaedeutic year at St. Joseph College Seminary. John Yellico, the son of Glen and Lissette Yellico, was accepted to the program earlier this summer. He is also the brother of Father Joseph Yellico, recently ordained and Sister Mary Agnes Yellico of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother. Please keep him and all of our seminarians in your prayers. Recently, the Diocese has been working on developing policies to govern the use of artificial intelligence for our employees and ministry sites. AI is almost constantly in the news and most everyone is familiar with Chat GPT, Truthly (the Catholic option) and any number of other efforts to harness this new technology. Earlier this year, the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document dealing with this topic. I thought it might be useful, therefore, to offer some thoughts that might be helpful to some of you. Here’s a pastoral reflection based on Antiqua et Nova, tailored for inclusion in a pastoral letter: In our time, we are witnessing extraordinary advances in technology, especially in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These developments bring both promise and challenge, and as your pastor, I feel called to reflect with you on what this means for our faith, our humanity, and our shared journey toward holiness. The Vatican’s recent document, Antiqua et Nova, reminds us that while AI may imitate certain aspects of human intelligence, it cannot replicate the fullness of what it means to be human. Our intelligence is not merely computational—it is relational, moral, and spiritual. It is a gift from God, rooted in our capacity to love, to discern, and to seek truth. AI can assist us in many ways, from medicine to education to communication. But we must never forget that machines do not possess souls. They do not pray, suffer, or hope. They do not know mercy or grace. Only we, created in the image and likeness of God, bear the responsibility to use these tools wisely, ensuring they serve the dignity of every person. Let us not be seduced by the illusion that technology can replace human wisdom or divine guidance. Instead, let us cultivate a “wisdom of heart,” as the document urges—a wisdom that listens to the Spirit, that seeks justice, and that places love above efficiency. In our homes, schools, and parishes, may we teach our children not only how to use technology, but how to remain human in a digital age. May we accompany one another with compassion, and may our choices reflect the Gospel values of truth, humility, and care for the vulnerable. Let us pray for discernment, for courage, and for a renewed commitment to the common good. And may we always remember: the most powerful intelligence is not artificial—it is the wisdom that comes from walking humbly with our God. The full document is worth the read and may be found on the Vatican website at Antiqua et nova. Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence (28 January 2025)

From the Pastor - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • August 22, 2025
Today’s readings set a high bar for us Christian stewards, reminding us that a stewardship way of life is meant to be a challenging way of life. In the second reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told to live as Christ lived. And how did Christ live? “For the sake of the joy that lay before Him He endured the cross.” If we are tempted to complain about the sufferings we must endure in living as Christ’s disciples, we are told, “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” In other words, “If you’re not bleeding, what are you complaining about?” That is quite a high bar! The Gospel reading from Luke continues this challenging theme. Our Lord tells His disciples “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing.” A couple of verses later Jesus adds, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Jesus’s life on this earth and the message He brought were not meant to simply make us feel good. In fact, His words can make us downright uncomfortable at times. That’s because His Good News (and it is indeed good news!) is meant to change us, to make saints of us. The stewardship way of life sets a high bar indeed. But deeply embraced, this way of life focused on God and others will make us the saints we are called to be. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering Most of you are probably familiar with a non-Catholic who accuses Catholics of “worshipping Mary and the saints”. This is, of course, false, but it shows a misunderstanding of Catholic theology and Catholic understanding of the various types of worship and veneration. I thought it would be helpful to lay this out in a simple way for everyone’s benefit. In Catholic theology, dulia , hyperdulia , and latria are terms used to describe distinct types of reverence or worship offered to God, the saints, and the Virgin Mary. - Latria : This is the highest form of worship, reserved exclusively for God (the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). It involves adoration, acknowledging God's supreme divinity and sovereignty. Latria is expressed through acts like the Mass, prayer, and sacrifice, directed solely to God. - Dulia : This is the veneration or honor given to saints, recognizing their holiness and their role as intercessors before God. Dulia is a lesser form of reverence compared to latria, as saints are not divine but are honored for their exemplary lives and closeness to God. This is expressed through prayers asking for saints' intercession, feasts in their honor, or devotion to their relics. - Hyperdulia : This is a special, elevated form of dulia reserved exclusively for the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Hyperdulia acknowledges Mary's unique role in salvation history, surpassing the honor given to other saints due to her divine maternity and sinlessness, but it remains distinct from and subordinate to latria. It is expressed through devotions like the Rosary or Marian feast days.  In summary, latria is worship for God alone, dulia is veneration for saints, and hyperdulia is a higher veneration for Mary, all carefully distinguished to maintain the centrality of God’s worship in Catholic practice.