From the Pastor - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 4, 2019

From the Pastor - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

How do I know if the Time, Talent and Treasure I offer God in grateful return is “enough?” What is the measure?

St. Paul tells us in the Second Reading today — the “measure” is the love that we put into each of these aspects of our lives.  “If I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own and hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.”  God is not after a particular number. What He wants us to give over to Him is our very selves.

Real love is not a sentiment. Real love is manifested in living a virtuous life.  We read later in St. Paul’s letter that real love takes strength: it is patient, kind, humble, other-centered, truth-seeking and long-suffering. Love is the heroic giving of oneself even when it is uncomfortable; especially then. Love looks like Jesus. It lives like Jesus.

Sometimes, living like Jesus is difficult. We see this in the Gospel Reading today where we find Jesus in action, preaching in the synagogue in His hometown. He speaks truth to the people He loves, the ones He grew up with and shared His early days with. How do they respond? They are filled with fury and run Him out of town, intent on throwing Him from a cliff! Yet Jesus is undeterred. He passes right through them and presses forward with the mission His Father has entrusted to Him.

We are called to live with this same strength and determination, fueled by the power of love and by gratitude for all God has given us.

Pastoral Pondering

I wanted to give another update to the Stained-glass window project. As of today, all of the windows are fully funded with the exception of two (2): the parishioner window, the Coronation of Mary and the clergy window, the Church – St. Peter. At present the Coronation has received $7,433.00/$14,567.00 in donations, and the St. Peter window has received $6,975.00/$15,025.00 in donations. We are continuing to accept donations for both of these windows, and those can be made on-line or via the parish office.

We are finalizing the schedule for replacing the sound system in the church. It will tentatively take place the last full week of February (beginning on President’s Day). To facilitate the work, it may be necessary to move the weekday Masses to the Kerin Center during that time. Please pay attention to the bulletin and our social media for updates to this schedule.

Now is a good time to start preparing for Lent which begins with Ash Wednesday on March 6. Oftentimes it slips up on us and then we have to rush to make our Lenten plans. Taking those to prayer can be very helpful. “Lord, help me to prepare for a fruitful Lent. Show me what I need to sacrifice and what I need to do. Help me to use this time of penance for my ongoing conversion and growth in holiness. Amen.”

Spend some time with the Lord and allow Him to guide you. If you make the space, it is amazing what He will do.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Divine Mercy Sunday

By John Putnam • April 10, 2026
The great feast of Easter has begun, Christian stewards. Let us rejoice and be glad! Just as we embraced the discipline and fasting of Lent, let us fully embrace the joy and feasting that the next 50 days offer. We are called to be good stewards of the Easter season. Our first reading, from Acts, gives instruction on how to do this. Here, St. Peter says that our Lord, “commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead… that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” How do we ordinary people preach and testify to all God has done? We do so through how we live our ordinary lives — through the intentional use of our time, talent, and treasure for the kingdom of God. Putting God and others ahead of ourselves in every aspect of our lives is the most eloquent preaching we can do. Boldly and joyfully embracing a stewardship way of life is our most powerful testimony. As Christian stewards, we are the modern-day witnesses of an incredible miracle prompted by unfathomable love — the death and Resurrection of our Savior for us. Let us rejoice and be glad and let’s make sure our lives are a testimony to this amazing grace! © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026  HAPPY EASTER!

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By John Putnam • April 3, 2026
The great feast of Easter has begun, Christian stewards. Let us rejoice and be glad! Just as we embraced the discipline and fasting of Lent, let us fully embrace the joy and feasting that the next 50 days offer. We are called to be good stewards of the Easter season. Our first reading, from Acts, gives instruction on how to do this. Here, St. Peter says that our Lord, “commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead… that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” How do we ordinary people preach and testify to all God has done? We do so through how we live our ordinary lives — through the intentional use of our time, talent, and treasure for the kingdom of God. Putting God and others ahead of ourselves in every aspect of our lives is the most eloquent preaching we can do. Boldly and joyfully embracing a stewardship way of life is our most powerful testimony. As Christian stewards, we are the modern-day witnesses of an incredible miracle prompted by unfathomable love — the death and Resurrection of our Savior for us. Let us rejoice and be glad and let’s make sure our lives are a testimony to this amazing grace! © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026  HAPPY EASTER!