From the Pastor – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 12, 2018

From the Pastor – 6 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Often one of our human weaknesses has to do with us believing or thinking we know better than God in relation to what we do and what we do in relation to others. Of course, part of that has to do with our failure to pray and consult the Lord, or even more to make no effort to understand what God may be telling us.

In today’s Gospel Reading from St. Mark, we hear about Jesus curing a leper. In His instructions to the cured man, He says, “See that you tell no one anything,” Of course, the man pays no attention to this instruction from the Lord. Instead, “The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.”

Surely the man meant well; in fact, he probably thought he was helping Jesus, but the reality as stated in the Gospel is that his disobedience hindered the ministry of Jesus, “so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.” We need to obey the Lord, and we should never think we have a better plan than He does.

Even the eminent scientist Albert Einstein recognized how important Jesus’ teachings are. Einstein said, “As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene — no one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.”

From the Pastor

As we begin the season of Lent this Wednesday, we enter both a season of penance and renewal. It is a season of penance because we are called to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses and follow the Lord. It is a season of renewal because unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it cannot bear fruit (cf. Jn. 12:24). We must constantly die to ourselves in order that Christ may live in us. That resistance to dying to self comes in many forms. Sometimes it is, as Matthew Kelly points out, a resistance to happiness. At other times, it shows up as false pride that prevents us from being obedient to the Lord’s call to change. Whatever our struggle might be, Lent affords us the opportunity to marvel at what the Lord can do in our souls if we only allow Him to work and transform us.

Staff changes – I wanted to announce the following staff changes:

After serving the parish from its beginning in 1997, Tricia McCaa has decided to retire effective March 1 st . She can now devote herself to being grandma, which everyone knows brings her great joy. It is impossible to adequately thank someone for such longstanding service, but suffice it to say that to many Tricia has been a constant and stabilizing presence in the parish year after year and decade after decade. While she will certainly be missed in the office, I ask you to join me in wishing her well as she begins this new chapter in her life.

After serving the parish for over 10 years in Faith Formation, Faye Nye will be assuming the directorship of Faith Formation at Holy Spirit in Denver. Faye and her husband live in Denver now, and she has been volunteering there for some time. Father Carmen has been without a DFF for several months, and Faye is excited to help him develop and grow the program there. Faye has always been a pleasure to work with. She cares for each child she serves, and I know that she will bring that same love and commitment to Holy Spirit. We wish her well.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we have been doing some reorganizing in Faith Formation. Part of reorganizing also means evaluating the positions we have and making sure that we are being good stewards of our parish resources. The realignment, therefore, has resulted in seeing that one of our part time positions was no longer necessary since the tasks assigned could be assumed by Michael Griffith. Therefore, the position of Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation has been eliminated. Sonnet Bonelli has been serving in this capacity and has been a great help during this transition time. I want to thank her for her service and am thankful that she will continue to be involved in various ministries around the parish.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • March 6, 2026
Today’s readings for this Third Sunday of Lent center on the theme of thirst, reminding us that a stewardship way of life both satisfies our own longing for Christ and helps us respond to Christ’s thirst for souls. In our first reading from Exodus, the Israelites complain in their thirst for water, despite all God has done to free them from slavery. Yet when Moses cries out for help, God provides abundantly, bringing water from the rock to satisfy His people. The Lord’s generosity did not end there. He continues to provide for us today, patiently meeting our needs again and again. In today’s Gospel, we hear the powerful encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, beginning with His simple request: “Give me a drink.” He then tells her that He can offer living water — water that truly satisfies. These words speak directly to us as well. Christ asks us to “give Him a drink” by sharing the gifts we have received with Him and with others for His sake. Yet it is Christ Himself who fills us, offering the living water of His grace. God invites each of us to play a part in bringing others to Him through a stewardship way of life. This Lent, may we respond to that invitation with renewed commitment, offering our time, talent, and treasure so that many may come to know Christ. In doing so, we help to quench His thirst for souls. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026 Pastoral Pondering  Continuing with last week’s theme about stewardship and in harmony with our Stewardship Renewal, here are some Key Reasons Why Stewardship Matters to Catholic s: 1 . It Reflects Gratitude for God's Love God has first loved us unconditionally (shown most perfectly in Jesus Christ). Stewardship is our loving response—recognizing all good things as gifts from Him and returning love through generous use of those gifts. As the bishops note, "Stewardship is the Response of the Disciple to God’s unconditional love for us." 2. It Imitates Jesus, the Model Steward Jesus lived as the perfect steward, using His life, time, and gifts entirely for the Father's will and the good of humanity. Catholics are called to imitate Him, making God's love visible in the world. 3. It Involves Accountability Before God We will be held accountable for how we use what God has entrusted to us (e.g., biblical parables like the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 emphasize this). Stewardship reminds us that we are managers, not ultimate owners. 4 . It Encompasses Time, Talent, and Treasure Catholics are called to share these proportionally and sacrificially to support the Church, help the poor, and promote justice. This builds up the Body of Christ and addresses needs in society. 5. It Includes Care for Creation As part of Catholic social teaching, stewardship extends to environmental responsibility. We respect the Creator by caring for the earth (e.g., as in Genesis 1–2, where humanity is given dominion as caretakers, not exploiters). This is a "requirement of our faith," not just an optional concern. 6. It Leads to Spiritual Growth and Holiness Living as a steward fosters conversion, deeper prayer, and a Christ-centered life over self-centeredness. It transforms ordinary actions into acts of worship and service. In essence, stewardship is integral to authentic Catholic life because it turns faith into action, gratitude into generosity, and discipleship into a tangible witness of God's Kingdom. It's not primarily about fundraising or programs—it's about a heartfelt relationship with God that naturally overflows into love for neighbor and creation.

From the Pastor - 2nd Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • February 27, 2026
Our readings for this second Sunday of Lent offer us, as Christian stewards, the motivation to continue our 40-day journey toward deeper holiness. The first reading from the book of Genesis describes God’s call to Abram (who would later be called Abraham). God instructs Abram to leave his home and set out to a land that God had chosen for him. Abram’s response is an ancient example of good stewardship. Instead of clinging to his comfortable home and way of life, he recognizes that all he has is a gift from God, puts his trust in God, and obeys. And God rewards him, saying, “I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” To “be a blessing” is the true aim of a stewardship way of life. It is also an excellent way to live out the season of Lent. The sacrifices we take on, the spiritual disciplines we practice, and the extra acts of service we perform during this season — all give glory to God and transform our lives into a blessing for others. Lest we grow weary on this path, our Gospel passage today, from Matthew, offers us a powerful image of the great God we serve. It is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus, when our Lord reveals Himself in His true glory and the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The apostles who witnessed this were awestruck. But our loving Savior reassured them saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” As we continue our Lenten journey, let us take these two verses, “Listen to him,” “Rise, and do not be afraid” to heart. Let us rely on God’s strength to aid us in our spiritual disciplines as we move through Lent. We will arrive at Easter with deeper holiness, as a blessing to God and others — and as better stewards of all God’s gifts to us. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026) Pastoral Pondering Stewardship holds profound importance in Catholic teaching because it is fundamentally an expression of discipleship and a grateful response to God's immense love and generosity. Catholics believe that everything —our lives, time, talents, treasure (material resources), the earth itself, and all creation—belongs to God as the Creator and Owner. We are not owners but stewards , entrusted with these gifts to manage responsibly, not for selfish purposes but to honor God, serve others, and build His Kingdom. This concept is rooted in Scripture and has been articulated clearly by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in their 1992 pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple's Response. The bishops describe a Christian steward as one who: - Receives God's gifts gratefully - Cultivates them responsibly - Shares them lovingly in justice with others - Returns them with increase to the Lord  Stewardship is not optional for Catholics; it flows naturally from becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. As the USCCB explains, "once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option." It is a way of life that shapes how Catholics understand and live out their faith daily.