From the Pastor – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 8, 2017

From the Pastor – 27 th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10/8/17)

One of St. Paul’s favorite topics was prayer, and today’s reading from his letter to the Philippians is no exception to that. He says, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” For Paul all topics are appropriate for prayer because we need to share and consult with the Lord about everything.

God knows what is on our minds already, of course, but He also desires that we make a conscious effort to communicate with Him on these subjects. In addition, Paul points out that our prayers need to be infused with thanksgiving. We should not just petition the Lord and make requests. It is equally important that we think about, identify, and acknowledge our blessings.

We have often pointed out that stewardship is a life of gratitude, a way of living which encourages us to focus on gifts, not on problems and challenges all the time. If we strive to have grateful hearts, our prayers come much more easily, and we tend to be much happier and more upbeat in our lives.

The noted author, philosopher, journalist, and theologian G. K. Chesterton is well known in Catholic circles because he converted to Catholicism during his life, and was an excellent conveyor of the faith. In terms of living grateful lives he said, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” That includes thanks to God.

Pastoral Pondering

From the survey: I know there are a lot of needs all over the place, but it seems like we are having second collections almost every week. At times, it seems overwhelming.

I agree with the sentiment. Certainly, there are at times special circumstances such as the hurricanes and earthquake that require an extraordinary response, but it seems things are coming from all sides. This has been a topic of discussion in various leadership groups in the parish. One proposal that I like very much is to eliminate ALL second collections. The exception would be an extraordinary circumstance such as noted above. We would then simply budget for the annual second collections and others would simply apply to the Charitable Giving Committee for consideration. This would, of course, require everyone to increase their weekly giving to take account of this, but then everyone knows what is budgeted, and we can be more intentional about our giving and not worry about being overwhelmed. Last week the annual report was included in the bulletin which outlines the last fiscal year and the proposed budget for the present fiscal year. With the Finance Council’s help and your generosity, we were able to increase charitable giving significantly and plan to continue working towards a true “tithe” of our resources. This requires faith and generosity of all involved, but I firmly believe that the Lord cannot be outdone in generosity. We just have to take Him at His word.

From the survey: We moved here about two years ago, and I was surprised that there is no Faith Formation on Sundays. It can be difficult for families in our busy world to manage faith formation during the week.

Since I have been pastor at the parish, there have been limited Faith Formation opportunities on Sunday morning; although, Sunday evening is regularly used for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry. In previous assignments, Sunday along with weekdays were utilized. In looking at the Sunday Mass schedule, we would need to see what adjustments could be made to provide an adequate time slot for Faith Formation. The benefit of this, would be to provide a time slot for some type of Adult Education while the children are in class, e.g. “Doughnuts and Dogma” or “Faith Facts with Father”. The down side would be changing the Sunday Mass schedule. People get very used to routines, and change can bring challenges. I do think this is something that needs further consideration. The most logical change would be to shift the 7:30 am Mass to 7:00 am, and move the 9:00 am to 8:30 am. This would provide 45 minutes before the 11:00 am Mass that could be used for faith formation. Should such a change be implemented, Diocesan approval would be required and enough lead time to give everyone an opportunity to adjust.

Communion notes: There have been ongoing questions about the discontinuation of distributing the Precious Blood at the 11 am Mass. As I indicated several weeks back, it was decided to do this to help expedite the distribution of Communion at this Mass. So far this has been helpful. I would also ask your assistance in maintaining a proper care and reverence when receiving. In recent weeks, we have seen an increase of spillage of the Precious Blood and Hosts falling to the floor. Most of this can be avoided by slowing down. I would also ask parents to take some extra time in reminding children how to properly receive. Many of the spills have been younger children receiving. Also, please remember that if you do not have the use of both hands when receiving, the host will be placed on your tongue. It is not acceptable to receive with one hand. This is often what leads to Hosts falling. Thanks for your help with this!

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • September 5, 2025
Today’s readings make very clear the demands that will be made of those wanting to be called disciples of Christ. We must be prepared to give our all to Him. But in the end, the life of discipleship — the stewardship way of life — is the only life that can truly satisfy. In the Gospel passage from Luke, Christ says, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Our Lord is speaking here not of emotions but rather of priorities. He must come first in all aspects of our lives. Period. He goes on. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” In other words, it’s all or nothing. Compromise is simply not possible. Christ wants us to give all of ourselves, all aspects of our individual lives, our family life, our parish over to Him and to the pursuit of His kingdom. And just when we think our Lord might soften His message to make it a little more palatable, He goes further! “Anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Why is our Lord being so demanding? Only because He knows us so well and loves us so much. He knows that if we do not live by putting Him first before all else, we will easily be swallowed up by the earthly cares that weigh us down — our material things, our status, and our egos. He knows these things cannot satisfy us. He knows this because He is our Maker, and He made us for more. We are made to be His disciples, to seek after Him and His Kingdom. Embracing stewardship as a way of life allows us to count the cost and then run after Him with all our might. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering Over the last several years, I have noticed, and statistics seem to bear this out, that suicides and attempted suicides have been on the rise, especially among young people. The 18-30 demographic seems to be especially susceptible. I’m sure the roots of that type of despair start much younger, but funerals that I have celebrated or know about are always very heavy, spiritually. I have been speaking with my leadership team about ways that we, as a parish, could address this issue and be proactive in providing outreach and support. I thought it would be helpful to provide an outline of the Church’s teaching on the topic and encourage us all to think of ways that we can be a help in slowing the tide. Hope in Christ: A Catholic Reflection on Suicide The Gift of Life The Church proclaims that every human life is sacred and created in love by God. “God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2258). Suicide is a grave matter, because it rejects the gift of life entrusted to us (CCC 2280–2281). Yet the Church also teaches that grave psychological suffering, fear, or illness can lessen a person’s responsibility. For this reason, we do not despair of the salvation of those who have taken their own lives but entrust them with hope to the mercy of God (CCC 2282–2283). Why Young Adults Are at Risk Many young people today face loneliness, anxiety, and the pressure to be “perfect.” Pope Francis, in Christus Vivit, reminds the Church that young adults need to know they are not alone: “The Church must be a place of compassion, where they are listened to and accompanied with respect” (CV 242–247). Suicide often grows out of a crisis of meaning, when life feels empty or burdensome. The Gospel answers with a promise: each life has a God-given purpose that no failure or suffering can erase. Our Christian Response Compassion and Mercy. The Church rejects judgment and instead offers prayer, accompaniment, and hope for those who have died and for their families. A Community of Belonging. Gaudium et Spes teaches that we only find ourselves through sincere gift of self (GS 24). Our parishes must be places where every young person knows they belong. Seeking Help Is Holy. The Catechism calls care for health a moral duty (CCC 2288). Turning to counseling, medical support, or trusted mentors is a way of honoring God’s gift of life. The Cross Brings Meaning. Saint John Paul II wrote that our suffering, united with Christ’s Passion, can become a source of redemption (Salvifici Doloris 18–19). No suffering is meaningless in Christ. A Word of Hope As followers of Jesus, we must say clearly: if you are struggling, you are not alone. Your life is not a mistake. God loves you. The Church loves you. Reach out — to a friend, to your priest, to a counselor. Asking for help is an act of courage and faith. Prayer God of mercy, embrace all who struggle with despair, especially our young people. Fill their hearts with the light of Your love. Receive into Your peace those who have died, console their families, and make our parish a home of hope, healing, and belonging. Amen. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. 📞 In the U.S., dial 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

From the Pastor - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • August 29, 2025
Today’s readings remind us of a chief virtue that characterizes the Christian steward: humility. This is a virtue that is widely thought of as a form of self-abasement. That understanding, however, is off the mark. Humility is simply the awareness of who (and Whose) we truly are. On one hand, we are children of the Most High God who loved us into existence and who, by virtue of our Baptism, have the Holy Trinity dwelling within us. On the other hand, we are children who are completely dependent on God for our existence and for every breath we take. Our Lord speaks of true humility in our Gospel passage from Luke, telling the parable of the guests invited to a wedding banquet and instructing us not to seek a place of honor at the banquet table, lest a more distinguished guest arrives and we are asked to move to a lower place. Jesus has much more in mind here than an etiquette lesson. He is reminding us that all glory belongs to God. The visual image He offers in having to slink down to a lower seat at the table points out how silly we are when we forget to give God the credit for our blessings and talents. On the other hand, when we live in humility — recognizing that all we have is a gift from God and using those gifts to serve Him and others — then God “exalts” us by filling us with even more of Himself and His grace. Jesus goes on to encourage us to serve and share our blessings with people facing circumstances that would make it impossible for them to offer us any worldly advantage or prestige — “the poor, the crippled, the lame.” Our attitude and how we serve and share should be centered on true humility — recognizing that we are all “little” ones in the eyes of God. We are all His children; brothers and sisters invited to our Father’s heavenly banquet. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering  In the last couple of weeks, I have heard various news stories regarding a push to legalize marijuana nationally. I thought, in light of that, it might be helpful to review Catholic teaching. In Catholic thought, the morality of marijuana use is evaluated through the lens of natural law, Church teaching, and principles of human dignity, reason, and stewardship of the body. While the Catholic Church does not have an explicit, definitive teaching on recreational marijuana use, its moral framework provides guidance based on related principles, particularly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and papal statements. Key Principles: Respect for Human Dignity and the Body : The Church teaches that the human body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and must be cared for responsibly. Actions that impair the body or mind without sufficient reason are considered morally problematic (CCC 2288-2291). Use of Substances and Reason : The Catechism addresses the use of drugs, stating: “The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense” (CCC 2291). This suggests that recreational use of substances like marijuana, which can impair reason, judgment, and health, is generally viewed as morally wrong unless justified by medical necessity. Moderation and Prudence : Catholic moral theology emphasizes the virtue of temperance, which governs the use of pleasurable things. Any substance use that leads to loss of self-control or addiction is contrary to this virtue. Intention and Context : The morality of an act depends on its object, intention, and circumstances (CCC 1750-1756). Using marijuana for medical purposes, under professional guidance and with legal approval, may be permissible if it alleviates serious suffering and does not lead to abuse. Recreational use, however, is often seen as problematic because it typically seeks intoxication or escape, which can undermine human flourishing. Obedience to Just Laws : Catholics are called to respect legitimate civil authority (CCC 2238-2243). If marijuana use is illegal in a given jurisdiction, using it recreationally would generally be considered sinful, as it violates just laws meant to protect the common good. Where marijuana is legal, the moral question shifts to its effects on health, reason, and responsibility. Application to Marijuana: Medical Use : If marijuana is prescribed by a competent medical authority for a serious condition (e.g., chronic pain, epilepsy), its use could be morally permissible, provided it is used responsibly and does not lead to dependency or impairment that harms one’s duties to God, self, or others. Recreational Use : Recreational marijuana use is generally viewed as morally problematic in Catholic thought, especially if it impairs reason, leads to addiction, or harms physical or mental health. The Church’s emphasis on sobriety and the proper use of human faculties suggests that using marijuana to achieve intoxication or euphoria is contrary to human dignity. Cultural and Social Considerations : Some Catholic theologians note that moderate use in a legal, controlled context (e.g., akin to moderate alcohol consumption) might not always constitute a grave sin, depending on the circumstances. However, the potential for abuse, addiction, and harm to self or others makes recreational use a serious moral concern. Papal and Magisterial Guidance: Pope Francis has spoken against the legalization of recreational drugs, including marijuana, stating in 2014: “Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise.” He emphasized the harm of drugs to individuals and society, particularly youth. The Catechism’s broad condemnation of non-therapeutic drug use (CCC 2291) is often interpreted to include recreational marijuana, though it does not explicitly name it. Practical Considerations: Discernment : Catholics are encouraged to discern their intentions and the effects of marijuana use. If it leads to escapism, neglect of responsibilities, or harm to relationships, it would be considered sinful. Addiction Risk : Marijuana’s potential for dependency raises concerns, as addiction undermines freedom and responsibility. Social Justice : The Church also considers the societal impact, such as the exploitation in the drug trade or the normalization of substance use in ways that harm vulnerable populations. Conclusion: In Catholic moral theology, marijuana use is permissible only for legitimate medical purposes under strict conditions. Recreational use is generally considered immoral due to its potential to impair reason, harm health, and violate the virtue of temperance. Catholics are called to exercise prudence, respect civil laws, and prioritize their responsibilities to God and others. For specific guidance, consultation with a priest or moral theologian is recommended, as individual circumstances can influence moral judgments.