From the Pastor - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 29, 2018

From the Pastor – 4 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel Reading from St. Mark, it is reported that Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach, but His teaching was somewhat different from that normally heard there “for he taught with authority and not as the scribes.” Often those who taught in Jesus’ time (the scribes) simply quoted others, a variety of Rabbis.

However, Jesus taught with authority because He had authority. Jesus’ divine message was not quoting other humans, but quoting God. Jesus was One with God so He knew what He was talking about. Jesus taught with authority because He believed what He was teaching. He was familiar with the information which allowed Him to teach boldly. People listening could perceive that this was someone Who knew.

Up until this time we have seen the Lord as the Son of Man Who submitted to His Father. He submitted to God in His Baptism, and to the Holy Spirit in the wilderness. To have authority also requires submission. We, too, are called to submit to God, but for us that is sometimes challenging because it requires humility, something that is not easy for many of us.

Later in the Gospel of John there is another account of the Lord teaching at the Temple. He is challenged, and His response is quite simply, “My teaching is not from myself; it comes from the one who sent me.” We are not divine, but we, too, are sent.

Pastoral Pondering

Every now and then it is good to make an assessment of where we are and where we need to be. This is what pastoral planning is all about. As I’ve said here before, the Pastoral Council has been diligently working on developing a new pastoral plan for the parish. This serves two purposes, first it helps us examine what the needs of the community are and how we are addressing those needs. Second, it helps us see what needs to be changed or modified in order to better respond to the the parish and the community.

Faith Formation and Religious Education has been one of those areas where the demands and needs seem to be ever changing and evolving. Our staff has to constantly look for ways to respond the various constituencies that we serve while at the same time utilizing available resources in a responsible manner. With that in mind, we have recently made some slight modifications to the Faith Formation Department. Michael Griffith who holds an MA in theology, with a concentration in catechesis from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, will assume the new position of Director of Catechesis. In this role he can better coordinate the overall catechetical programs that the parish offers, insure that we are implementing Diocesan norms and polices effectively, and helping us make the best use of contemporary methods of catechesis, including using the various social media. He will continue to supervise the departmental budget and data management.

Theresa Benson, who is finishing up her MA in theology, will assume the Director of Faith Formation position with special attention to school and parish relationships, interfacing with parents and encouraging and recruiting catechists and other volunteers. Theresa and Michael will be working closely together to insure that our overall program is effectively responding to our pastoral plan and developing ways to better promote faith formation at every level of the parish.

In order to be intentional disciples, we have to know who we are and what it is we profess. Faith Formation is essential in this regard. We will continue to foster a strong culture of formation and education in the parish, and I am excited that with these changes we can do that even more effectively.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Third Sunday of Easter

By John Putnam • May 2, 2025
In today’s Gospel, we find the Apostles dejected and discouraged following the death of our Lord. Poor Peter decides to throw in the towel on the whole disciple thing and go back to his old way of life, declaring, “I’m going fishing.” Upon hearing this, the other disciples follow him. How easy it is for all of us to backslide on changes we have made in our lives, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. But look how Jesus treats the disciples during their “backslide.” He is right there with them in the midst of it, already waiting for them on the shore when they come back from their unsuccessful return to the fishing business (after abandoning their mission as disciples). Our Lord greets them tenderly, gives them some fishing pointers, and then prepares their breakfast. How gracious He is to them! He is just as gracious today. When we find ourselves “out at sea” — discouraged by our failures or for squandering the gifts God has given us, or simply by a lack of progress in our faith life, Jesus is with us! He is calling to us from the shore to come back to Him without shame or embarrassment, but with hope-filled trust in His steadfast love. He never tires of offering “do-overs” if we just keep returning to Him. This constant process of turning back to the Lord, of reevaluating our goals and priorities as we aim for Heaven, is the essence of a stewardship way of life. Let us take heart as we continue our journey today, secure in the knowledge that Jesus is beside us every step of the way. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The process of electing a new Pope is one that has marked and impacted history for centuries. It is still a process, despite movies and books concerning the process, that is surrounded by some mystery. Once the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church declares that the Pope is dead, a whole set of processes are set in motion. While the daily work of the Holy See continues, there can be no innovations. The task of preparing for the funeral of the deceased pope and preparing for the coming conclave is entrusted to the Cardinal Camerlengo (Kevin Cardinal Farrell) under the guidance of the body of cardinals. All cardinals, regardless of age, can participate in the various consultations that occur prior to the conclave. Only those cardinals who are less than 80 years of age can actually participate in the conclave and choose the next pope. The voting cardinals are sworn to secrecy and are locked into the Sistine chapel where four votes can occur each day. A two-thirds majority of the cardinal-electors is required for a new pope to be chosen. If a ballot is indecisive, the ballots are burned, and black smoke is released from the chapel. When a pope is elected, the ballots are burned, and white smoke is released. When a new pope is chosen, he has to accept his election and, if he accepts, choose his pontifical name. He then changes into papal garb and is presented from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.  As we await the Papal election, please continue to pray for the Church and the cardinal-electors. Their task is a heavy responsibility. Our union with them in prayer will assist them to be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and carry out their task with fidelity and determination.

From the Pastor - Divine Mercy Sunday

By John Putnam • April 25, 2025
Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Gospel reading from St. John is often called the story of “Doubting Thomas” but the passage involves so much more than the encounter with the skeptical apostle. It is rich with lessons of Christ’s mercy to all, including an encouraging word from our Lord especially for us, His modern-day disciples. While Thomas traditionally takes all the bad rap for his doubts, we see that none of the Apostles were at their best when Christ first appeared to them after His resurrection. They were actually in hiding, cowering behind a locked door, paralyzed by fear and doubt. But Jesus appeared right in their midst in spite of the lock on the door. Was it to rebuke them for their lack of faith? Quite the contrary. He comes on a mission of mercy. He comes to offer them peace and the restoration of their relationship with Him. And even more, He commissions them to become ministers of His mercy, by giving them authority to forgive sins. At that moment Christ gives to all of us the supreme gift of mercy — the sacrament of Reconciliation. What a precious and powerful gift! This Sunday is a perfect time to reflect on how well we make use of this gift. Do we really appreciate its healing power? Could we become better stewards of this gift by going to Confession more often? We must also reflect on how well we extend mercy to others as Jesus did to Thomas that day. Let’s commit ourselves to becoming faithful disciples and stewards of Christ’s mercy. We will be those very ones to whom Jesus gave a “shout out” during His encounter with Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” — in His merciful love. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The mercy of God is at the very heart of the Catholic faith. It's not just one of God's many attributes — it is His very essence revealed in love . As Pope Francis often reminds us, “The name of God is mercy.” In Scripture, we see God's mercy from the very beginning. After the fall of Adam and Eve, though justice demanded consequence, God clothed them and promised a Savior. Time and again, throughout the Old Testament, we see Israel turning away from God — and yet, He never stops reaching out with compassion, calling His people back to Himself. That mercy takes on flesh in the New Testament — in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy. He dines with sinners, touches the untouchable, forgives the unforgivable. Think of the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.” Or the prodigal son - who finds not punishment upon return, but a father running to embrace him.  In the Catholic Church, mercy is not just a concept — it is sacramental. We encounter the mercy of God tangibly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There, in the confessional, we do not meet a harsh judge, but Christ the Good Shepherd, lifting us up and carrying us back home. No sin is too great. No past too far gone. St. Faustina, the apostle of Divine Mercy, reminds us that God’s mercy is an “ocean” — and we are just little drops. But mercy isn’t meant to stop with us. It flows through us. As we receive God's mercy, we're called to be merciful: to forgive, to withhold judgment, to show compassion to the poor, the suffering, the lonely. The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are concrete ways Catholics live this out. So, when we speak of mercy, we speak of the very Gospel. God, rich in mercy, reaches into our brokenness, and instead of turning away, He embraces it, transforms it, and redeems it. With the death of Pope Francis, the Church enters a period of transition. The Pope’s legacy is one of concern for the poor and those on the margins. His writing and teaching often focused on the immense mercy of God and his love of the Gospel. Our task is to follow his example and strive each day to allow Gospel joy to guide us and lead us to bring Christ to the world. Let us also pray for the Universal Church, the cardinal-electors who have the immense responsibility of selecting a new successor to St. Peter, and for all of us that we may come together as a Church family and ask God to bless us with a new shepherd.
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