From the Pastor – 5th Sunday of Easter

April 30, 2018

From the Pastor – 5 th Sunday of Easter

St. John captures the essence of what kind of love is expected from us toward our neighbor and those in need as he opens our Second Reading with “Let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” Jesus made that point several times in His own teachings. It follows the old adage that “Actions speak louder than words.”

We have pointed out numerous times that being a good steward requires action. It may be easy for us come to an understanding of what it means to love one another; and additionally, we may speak of doing it; but the true measure is what we do, how we live our lives.

The best examples of stewardship of that we may be aware in our parishes and community involve what we see and experience in others. That is the most effective way to be taught and it is the best way to teach others. Do it and live it.

That is John’s point is it not? He continues his instructions in the Second Reading by saying, “We should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us.” The Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen, who had a great appreciation for the written word, once stated, “A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.”

The point of Jesus’ Parable of the Two Sons (Mt. 21) in which one son says he will do his father’s will but does not while the other says he will not obey, but repents and does what his father asked, is quite clear that deeds mean more than intentions.

Pastoral Pondering

This past year has been marked by a lot of changes in the staff with restructuring, retirements, etc. It has been a year of evaluation, staff formation, and planning as we seek to use both human and fiscal resources wisely and well.

As you know, we are in the process of searching for a new Director of Sacred Music as Laura moves to Colorado in May, and you may have noticed the position openings in Faith Formation. We have been actively trying to formulate the best way to offer formation for everyone here at the parish. This is a monumental task, but I believe that we are now in a better position to address it. In consultation with Theresa Benson, Director of Faith Formation, it became clear that in order to best use resources, it was not possible to keep a Director of Catechesis. That position has been eliminated. We wish Michael Griffith well as he pursues new opportunities. Once the elementary and middle school coordinators are in place, we will be able to develop a robust program of adult learning and formation. My desire is to have all the components in place and present that plan to the parish in the fall. Please keep all of this in your prayers.

I want to thank everyone who has offered feedback regarding reorganizing times for Mass on Sunday. Most have been helpful and provided good insights as we examined the various possibilities. After reviewing all of the input, the following schedule has been suggested: 7AM, 830AM, 1115AM. The 100PM and 500PM will remain unchanged. ‘This provides adequate time for faith formation and adult opportunities while allowing for parking constraints. Once the requisite approval is obtained from the chancery, our plan is to begin the new schedule in July.

Finally, I want to offer a word of thanks and appreciation to Laura Maclean. Laura has served the parish as the Director of Music for 19 years. This is not an easy task in a parish that has grown so much during that time along with attempting to adapt to new pastors, new parochial vicars and new realities. Laura, in my experience, has always brought a great deal of joy and care to her music ministry. She is intentional about being joy-filled and strives to offer God worship and praise that is worthy of His majesty. Parting and following a new path can be difficult, but I know you join me in assuring her of our prayers and best wishes as she heads to Colorado in mid-May. We will certainly miss her, but I am sure her husband will be very happy to have the family reunited.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - All Saints Day

By John Putnam • October 30, 2026
On this Solemnity of All Saints, we have the profound joy of celebrating our brothers and sisters in Christ, the saints. This is an especially meaningful feast for us as Christian stewards. At Baptism, each of us receives the call to holiness and discipleship. In other words, we are all called to become saints. Holiness is not reserved for a select few. It is God's desire for every one of His children. The stewardship way of life helps us answer that call each day. In today's Gospel from Matthew, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. They reveal the qualities that mark the lives of His disciples and point us toward authentic holiness. As we continue striving to live as faithful stewards, the Beatitudes provide a faithful measure of our growth in Christ. The "blessed" that Jesus describes are not different categories of people who make it to heaven. Rather, they reveal the character of those who belong to Him - the poor in spirit, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and all who remain faithful in the midst of trials. None of us can live this way on our own. But as beloved children of God, we receive the grace we need through prayer, the sacraments, and a life centered on Christ. May the example of the saints inspire us to persevere in our own call to holiness, trusting that one day we will join them in the everlasting joy of heaven. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026 Pastoral Pondering October brought us the Church's renewed attention to mental health. Pope Leo XIV has asked us this month to pray that our communities become places where those who carry unseen burdens find welcome, dignity, and hope- not judgment or silence. Many of those burdens are carried by women and girls. Some have lived through abuse, assault, or trauma that few around them even know about. Recent headlines, including those from Cornell University, have reminded the whole country how widespread these wounds are and how alone many survivors feel. Regardless of the outcome and veracity of the Cornell case, these types of cases exist closer to home. Women in our own parish and community often suffer quietly, unsure where to turn or whether anyone will truly understand. There is help, and there is hope. Healed and Restored, the local Catholic ministry founded by our own parishioner Elza Spaedy, exists precisely for this purpose. Through counseling, workshops, spiritual mentoring, retreats, and a supportive community, it walks with women and girls who have experienced abuse, assault, domestic violence, trafficking, or other trauma. Rooted in faith, it helps them encounter the Divine Physician who alone can restore what has been broken and discover that their wounds do not define them. Many of the women who have walked this path have found real freedom and a renewed sense of their dignity as daughters of God. If you are carrying a wound like this, or if you know someone who is, I encourage you to reach out. Information is available at healedandrestored.org. And if you simply want to stand with those who are hurting, please keep them in your prayers. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is to notice, to listen without fear, and to point someone toward the healing Christ offers. May the Lord who binds up the brokenhearted make our parish a place of true restoration.

From the Pastor - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • October 23, 2026
Today's readings are all about love - God's faithful love for His people and the love we are called to return to Him and to one another. The stewardship way of life is simply the daily practice of these two greatest commandments. In today's Gospel, Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest. His answer is both familiar and endlessly challenging. He says, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind ... The second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Why are these two commandments inseparable? Because both are rooted in love. When we love God above all else, we begin to see others as He sees them. And when we genuinely love our neighbor, we reflect the love we have first received from Him. This is the heart of Christian stewardship. It is simple enough for a child to understand, yet rich enough to spend a lifetime putting into practice.© Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026 Pastoral Pondering - Remembering the Saints and the Souls As October ends, the Church gives us two feasts back-to-back that show who we are as one family in Christ, living and departed. On November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, we honor all the holy men and women now in heaven. That includes the famous names on our calendar, and it also includes the countless quiet saints no one ever canonized: grandparents, neighbors, and friends who loved God and others faithfully. Their lives remind us that holiness isn't only for a few. It's the calling of every baptized person. All Saints is a Holy Day of Obligation and since it falls on Sunday this year, it is easy to remember the times for Mass. On November 2, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day), we pray for everyone who has died, especially our own loved ones. We trust in God's mercy and ask Him to bring them fully into the joy of His presence. Praying for the dead is one of the oldest Christian practices and a real act of love. The Church teaches that "all who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030). Purgatory isn't a second chance, and it isn't a smaller version of hell. It's God's mercy finishing what He began in us. Most of us leave this life still carrying some attachment to sin, and God lovingly purifies us so we can see Him face to face. Everyone in purgatory is already saved and on the way to heaven. The souls in purgatory can't help themselves, but we can help them. Since the earliest days, Christians have prayed for the dead (see 2 Maccabees 12:46). Our prayers, sacrifices, works of charity, and above all the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can speed their way to God. This is the Communion of Saints at work: the Church in heaven, the Church on earth, and the Church being purified, all united in Christ and helping one another. Ways to take part Complete an All Souls envelope with the name of your deceased loved ones so it can be placed on the altar throughout November. Have a Mass offered for someone who has died. Visit a cemetery and pray for the faithful departed. A plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory is available, under the usual conditions, to those who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead from November 1 to 8, or who visit a church and pray the Our Father and the Creed on All Souls' Day. Ask a favorite saint to pray for you and your family. These days remind us that death doesn't break the bonds of love. We pray for the souls, we ask the saints to pray for us, and we look forward to the day we'll all be together in God's kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.