From the Pastor – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

September 20, 2020

From the Pastor – 25 th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

In our First Reading from the Book of Isaiah, God reminds us that He does not think in the same way that we do. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts.” That is quite clear in our Gospel today from Matthew, which relates the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.

In the Gospel parable, God (who is represented by the landowner ) does something which from our human perspective may seem unfair and unjust. What we must keep in mind is that the landowner did not treat anyone unfairly. He may have seemed more generous to some than to others, but again that is from our perspective.

We can be absolutely certain that God will never be unfair to us. The Lord may bestow greater blessings on others, some of whom again from our perspective may seem less deserving. God is a righteous God. Through stewardship we acknowledge that everything comes to us from God. All our blessings may seem to be more or less than we deserve, but if we are grateful for what we have and what we are, we will then recognize God’s generosity and His grace.

The important thing to us should not be and cannot be whether we are first or last. What is central is that we are part of the Kingdom of God. That should be sufficient for us. We get into trouble when we conclude that God should think the way we do. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2017.

Pastoral Pondering – I would like to welcome Sr. Zeny and Karen Kramer to our parish staff. Sister is a Dominican Sister of St. Catherine of Siena, an religious order from the Philippines. Sister will be our Director of Faith Formation. Mrs. Kramer is well known to our St. Mark School students. She taught Middle School religion before having her first child. Mrs. Kramer will be assisting with our Middle School Edge and Middle School Youth Ministry.

I want to thank everyone who helped putting together our parish Eucharistic Congress observance. Such events take a lot of work, but they are wonderful opportunities to celebrate our faith and the centrality of the Eucharist. Since we could not come together as a Diocese this year, we are afforded the opportunity to celebrate as a parish community the “source and summit” of our faith.

A little over a week ago (by the time this goes to print) I learned that one of father’s last surviving sisters, Aunt Betty, had passed following a brief battle with cancer. She was one of my favorite people because of how she radiated love and concern for others. It was always Aunt Betty who would open up her phone diary and start calling members of the family to see how they were doing and let them know that she loved them and was praying for them. She was a bridge between the generations, and she will be sorely missed. Her death reminds me of the importance of reaching out. We have been trying intentionally to increase our Christ-Centered culture here at the parish. There are many programs, some of which we use, that are great resources, but when it all gets boiled down, true evangelization is about Jesus and sharing His love.

Creating this culture is not always easy, especially in a pandemic-conditioned society. Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit continues to work and continues to inspire the children of God to act and respond to His promptings. An example of this occurred a couple of weeks back. I was invited to dinner by a few men from the parish who have been praying and discerning what God is asking of them. In so doing, they realized that they were being strongly called to take Jesus into the community through public prayer and witness. They have called their group Return to God and have described their mission “to be fed by God and to call ourselves, our Church and our country back to God.” This will be put into practice through coming together in public places to be a presence of prayer. While not a sponsored apostolate or ministry of the parish, I have no doubt that this is a work of the Holy Spirit, and I support their efforts. I also encourage anyone who might feel a similar “tug of the heart” to join them.

Finally, as many of you know, we have begun “opening up” the Kerin Center. The adoration chapel is already up and running, and we are excited to be able to welcome some activity, over and above worship and sacraments, back to parish life. Because of continued guidelines from the Diocese, we are observing the recommendations set out by the Governor of NC whose executive orders have been based on CDC guidance. While some can see this as cumbersome, and even a violation of personal freedoms, as a priest and pastor of the Diocese, I am duty bound to implement the guidance given to us by the Bishop and his officials. My personal opinions and preferences are immaterial. We all want to open up more fully, and we have certainly done everything we can to promote and encourage participation at Mass. This is one more step to finding our way back to normal parish life, and I am thankful that we are able to take this step and thank the parish leaders who are helping to make this step possible.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • October 17, 2025
The four pillars of parish stewardship are hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. Today’s readings show us the immense value of prayer and the privileged place it must have in our individual lives and in our parish community Our Lord Himself calls us to prayer — and persistence in prayer — in the Gospel passage from Luke. Jesus tells the parable of the nagging widow who finally wears down the judge with her unrelenting persistence in her pursuit of a just ruling from him on her behalf. Jesus goes to great lengths to describe this judge, saying he “neither feared God nor respected any human.” Yet even this corrupt judge responds with a just judgment because of the widow’s persistence. Jesus uses this outlandish example to draw a vivid contrast between a reluctant, dishonest judge and our loving, all-merciful Father. If even a bad judge will give a good result in response to a persistent request, how much more (infinitely more) eagerly and perfectly will our good Father respond to our persistent prayers to Him. If he delays in responding, if he provides a different response from the one we were expecting, we can remain confident and trusting in His goodness, knowing that His response, whenever it comes and in whatever form, will be the very best one for us. Our job then, as Christian stewards, is simply to remain faithful to our relationship with God through prayer. We must lean on each other in our communities — family and parish — as we support each other in prayer. A strong pillar of prayer will make all our other stewardship efforts fruitful. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering I have noticed for a while now that many folks in the parish, and many Catholics in general, seem to have an erroneous or at least a confused understanding of the “Sunday obligation.” The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days is rooted in our fundamental obligation to worship God and keep the Lord’s Day holy. In light of this, I thought it opportune to present a summary of the Church’s teaching in this regard. I hope you find it helpful. Catholics are obligated to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation primarily because it is a precept of the Church, rooted in both divine law and ecclesiastical authority. This obligation stems from the Third Commandment (“Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day”), which in Christian tradition applies to Sunday as the day commemorating Christ’s Resurrection, marking it as a day of worship, rest, and renewal. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains this in detail, particularly in sections on the precepts of the Church and the Third Commandment. Biblical and Theological Foundations The obligation draws from Scripture, where God commands the sanctification of the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15). For Christians, this shifts to Sunday—the “Lord’s Day”—to honor Jesus’ Resurrection on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10). The Eucharist is seen as the “source and summit” of the Christian life (CCC 1324), making participation essential for spiritual nourishment, community unity, and fulfilling one’s relationship with God. As CCC 2180 states, the faithful are bound to participate in Mass on these days to sanctify them through worship. Holy Days of Obligation are additional feasts (such as Christmas, Assumption of Mary, or All Saints’ Day, varying by region) that the Church designates as equally important for similar reasons—honoring key mysteries of faith, the Virgin Mary, or saints—requiring the same level of observance. Church Law and Precepts This is formalized as the first precept of the Church: “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor” (CCC 2042). It requires active participation in the Eucharistic celebration and abstaining from work that hinders sanctification or rest. Canon Law reinforces this: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass” (Canon 1247). The Sunday Eucharist is described as the “foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice,” making attendance obligatory unless excused by serious reasons like illness, infant care, or a dispensation from a pastor (CCC 2181). Deliberately missing without such cause is considered a grave (mortal) sin. Practical and Spiritual Reasons Attending Mass orients believers toward God at the start of the week, fosters community, and provides grace through the sacraments. It’s not just a rule but an opportunity for encounter with Christ. The Church emphasizes this as the highest form of worship, essential even during travel or vacations, underscoring its priority in Catholic life. This obligation applies to all Catholics who have reached the age of reason (around 7 years old) and are physically able, with exceptions for valid impediments. Parents have a very important obligation to assist their children to fulfill this obligation. In general, children under the age of 16 cannot get to Mass without the assistance of the adults in their lives. Hence, the culpability for missing Mass usually falls to those adults rather than the children.  In the end fulfilling the “Sunday obligation” is more about loving God than anything else. Do we love Him enough to give Him at least an hour on Sundays and holy days? It would seem this is the least we can do in offering this act of love to the One who loved us first.

From the Pastor - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • October 10, 2025
Gratitude is the key to a stewardship way of life. Today’s readings demonstrate the power and vital importance of gratitude in the life of the Christian disciple, for gratitude leads us to worship God who offers us salvation. We see the power of gratitude on display in the Gospel passage from Luke after Jesus heals ten lepers. “And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned.” Only one of the ten recognized the tremendous blessing he had received from Jesus and returned to thank him. While it’s easy to feel indignant at the failure of the nine others to return and thank Jesus, how often do we fail to recognize the blessings, answered prayers, and healings (both physical and spiritual) that the Lord showers upon us, day and night? The truth is that our very lives and every breath we take are His gift to us. But we can get so caught up in the stresses and distractions of daily life that we lose touch with this truth. The Samaritan reacts to his gift of healing with the proper response to our loving God. Recognizing what he had just received from the Lord, he “returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him.” He was grateful for what God had done for him, and this gratitude led to worship. And because of this response, Jesus offered him a far more precious gift than physical healing; He offered him the gift of salvation. “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Too often, we hear the phrase, “Count your blessings,” and write it off as nothing more than a trite saying. Today’s Gospel shows us otherwise. Gratitude is powerful. It deepens our faith in God and leads us to fitting worship of Him. ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering Over the past few weeks, St. Mark has had funeral after funeral. As we approach November, I thought it might be helpful to discuss the Catholic approach to death and dying. Rather than seeing the end of the earthly journey as something to be dreaded and avoided, Catholics approach death and dying with a blend of spiritual practices, rituals, and theological beliefs rooted in their faith, emphasizing hope in eternal life, God’s mercy, and the communal support of the Church. Here’s a concise overview: 1. Theological Perspective on Death Eternal Life and Resurrection : Catholics believe death is not the end but a transition to eternal life. Based on Christ’s resurrection, they hold that the soul separates from the body at death, awaiting the final resurrection when body and soul are reunited (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 989–1001). Judgment and Afterlife: After death, each person faces a particular judgment, determining their eternal destiny: heaven (often via purification in purgatory), or hell if unrepentant of serious sin (CCC 1021–1022). This belief shapes their approach to preparing for death. 2. Preparation for Death Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick: This sacrament is administered to those seriously ill or near death, offering spiritual healing, forgiveness of sins, and strength. It’s often paired with Confession and Holy Communion (called Viaticum, meaning “food for the journey”) to prepare the soul for eternity (CCC 1499–1532). Prayer and Repentance: Catholics are encouraged to reflect on their lives, seek forgiveness through Confession, and entrust themselves to God’s mercy. Prayers like the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet are common for the dying and their families. Spiritual Support: Priests, family, or Catholic communities often pray with the dying, offering comfort through scripture, hymns, or the Commendation of the Dying, a ritual to entrust the soul to God. 3. Rituals and Practices After Death Funeral Rites: The Catholic funeral consists of three parts: Vigil (Wake) : A time for family and friends to gather, pray (often the Rosary), and share memories. Funeral Mass/Mass of Christian Burial : A liturgy celebrating Christ’s resurrection and praying for the deceased’s soul, often emphasizing hope over despair. Committal : The burial or cremation (permitted since 1963, though the Church prefers burial) with prayers entrusting the deceased to God. Masses for the Dead: Catholics offer Masses for the deceased, especially for souls in purgatory, believing these prayers aid their purification (CCC 1032). 4. Grieving and Community Support Hope in Resurrection: Grief is acknowledged, but Catholics are encouraged to focus on the hope of eternal life, which tempers sorrow (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14). Community Role: The Church community supports the bereaved through prayers, Masses, and practical help, reinforcing that death is a shared journey within the “communion of saints.” Memento Mori: The tradition of “remembering death” encourages Catholics to live virtuously, keeping eternity in mind, often through practices like praying for the dead on All Souls’ Day (November 2). 5. Cultural Variations While core beliefs and rituals are universal, cultural practices vary. For example: In Hispanic Catholic communities , *Día de los Muertos* blends indigenous traditions with Catholic prayers, honoring the dead with altars and Masses. In some European traditions , month’s mind Masses (a Mass one month after death) are common to continue praying for the deceased. 6. Practical Aspects End-of-Life Decisions: The Church teaches that life must be respected, but extraordinary medical measures aren’t required if they’re burdensome or futile (CCC 2278). Palliative care is supported to alleviate suffering while respecting natural death. Advance Directives: Catholics are encouraged to prepare advance directives aligned with Church teaching, ensuring their care respects their faith. 7. Comfort in Faith Catholics draw comfort from scriptures like John 11:25 (“I am the resurrection and the life”) and prayers like *Eternal Rest* (“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord”). The belief in purgatory offers hope that loved ones can be aided through prayer, even after death, and reminds us that death never has the last word.