From the Pastor - Epiphany

January 7, 2019

From the Pastor - Epiphany

As we continue our celebration of the Christmas season, we observe today the great Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “epiphany” means manifestation and throughout the Christmas readings we have seen that the newborn King is eager to reveal Himself to all those willing to accept His presence in their lives. From poor and humble shepherds to the international group of magi featured in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus makes it clear that He offers Himself as a gift to everyone.

We also see throughout the scriptures that God uses what is familiar to us to draw us to Himself. In the case of the magi – astrologers – He uses a star. Our Lord continues to speak to each one of us today. But we must be alert to “hear” and “see” Him in our daily lives.

How can we become better attuned to the ways God is speaking to us? We must strengthen our spiritual “senses” by spending time with the Lord in prayer every single day. In the same way that we set professional goals or exercise goals, we can set spiritual goals to ensure that we are taking the time to listen intentionally to God daily.

When we establish a regular, intentional time for prayer, we will find that the Lord continues to speak to us throughout the day. We will more easily recognize the “stars” He places before us to draw us into closer relationship with Him. We will begin to see that He is indeed present in our lives at every moment.

Pastoral Pondering

Christmas and the Christmas season is my favorite time in the Church calendar. The days of the Christmas Octave and the various feast days before Epiphany always bring me great joy. As I have been reflecting on this I am also conscious of the many folks who, especially at this time of year, struggle with faith in one way or another. While there are any number of reasons that explain this, one of the fundamental reasons that we struggle with faith is because we do not spend enough time developing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. We also spend too much time focusing on how we “feel” rather than focusing on a true interpersonal friendship with the Lord.

This difficulty is not limited to the spiritual realm. It also infects relationships across the board. A married couple, for example, cannot hope to develop a meaningful bond if the spouses do not spend time getting to know one another and practicing charity with one another. Spouses come together to form a true marital union that is consummated in the marital embrace, after they truly commit themselves “for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health…” Anything else is simply a cheap imitation and a subversion of God’s plan.

We often hear folks say that they don’t get anything out of Mass, or they don’t feel God’s presence. And yet, when you probe them a bit, it is clear they really have little or no knowledge of God and the faith, and they have invested very little, if anything, in their relationship with Him.

In all honesty faith is tough. It requires work. not because it depends on us, but because it depends on Christ who teaches us about the necessity of the Cross. We can never separate the wood of the manger from the wood of Calvary. Our society prides itself on instant gratification, but that is not reality. Faith requires nurture and time. Like marriage our faith life will only be successful when our love becomes sacrificial.

This sacrificial love is abundantly evident during the days of Christmas. The saints we celebrate all knew the reality of the Cross. The Holy Innocents, St. John the Apostle, St. Stephen, St. Thomas Becket, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John Neumann experienced sacrificial love firsthand. Meditation on this miraculous connection between the manger and the Cross can do much to remind us that faith can only grow in the crucible of life’s challenges and difficulties just as the strongest marriages are often those which have weathered the storms of life and made it through to the other side.

As we conclude the Christmas season with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord next week, let us ask the Lord to help us truly love Him, know Him and serve Him. It is only by following this path that we will come to know Him as He desires us to know Him.

One of my favorite Christmas Carols is What Child is this? The traditional refrain following the second verse says: “Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the Cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary.” This beautifully shows the connection between the Manger and the Cross and hopefully reminds us that the child in the manger and the God-man on the Cross are united expressions of God’s love for each of us. It is a love that is worth embracing even when it is difficult.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • January 30, 2026
The Gospel Reading for today is what is popularly called the Sermon on the Mount. Many think it is the absolute epitome of Jesus’ teachings. To be sure it tells us how we are to live our lives, the attitudes we are to have. We must remember that those who were waiting and hoping for the Messiah expected a military leader, one who would lead them in battle against their oppressors. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives a more accurate perspective of Who He is. He begins what we call the Beatitudes (the word means “blessings”) with “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In a sense we are all “poor in spirit.” Without the guidance and strength provided us by the Lord there is no way we can escape this poverty of spirit, of spirituality, if you will. That is why we often say that living God-centered lives is at the very core of stewardship. Being a disciple of Christ translates into being a steward of our many gifts and blessings. Some scholars believe that Jesus may have given this sermon often during His ministry. Those who followed Jesus and became the earliest Christians, the first members of the Church, were fond of quoting and referring to what the Lord said on this occasion. As stated, Jesus provides us with the secret of living a good life. If we rely on Him and follow Him, we will be blessed. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering In the spirit of Christian stewardship, we are called to recognize that all we possess—our time, talents, and treasures—are gifts from God, entrusted to us for the building up of His Kingdom . Legacy giving , also known as planned giving , offers a profound way to extend this stewardship beyond our lifetime by including our parish in your will, estate plans, or other charitable arrangements. Legacy giving is more than a financial decision; it is a spiritual act of gratitude and faith. Through a bequest or other planned gift, you ensure that the ministries, sacraments, education, and outreach that have nurtured your spiritual life continue to serve future generations. Such gifts provide enduring support for our parish's mission, helping to maintain our facilities, fund essential programs, and sustain pastoral care even in times of need. The Church teaches that generosity is a reflection of God's abundant love. As stewards, we are invited to share the blessings we have received, aligning our material resources with our faith values. A legacy gift allows you to express profound thanksgiving for the parish's role in your life—through baptisms, weddings, funerals, and daily worship—while creating a lasting impact that echoes the Gospel message of hope and service. Many parishioners have discovered that including the parish in their estate plans brings peace of mind, knowing their values and faith will endure. These gifts, whether modest or substantial, combine to strengthen our community and secure its future.  If you have not yet considered a legacy gift, we encourage you to reflect on how you might continue your support in this meaningful way. Resources and guidance are available through our parish office or trusted advisors. Please contact us for more information or to discuss how your legacy can help preserve our shared Catholic heritage.

From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • January 23, 2026
Today’s readings remind us that stewardship is not just a thing we do — rather, stewardship is at the core of who we are as disciples of Christ. Our first reading, from Isaiah, contains this prophecy of Christ and what His saving message would mean to all who embrace it. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” We are among those blessed people on whom the light of Christ has shone. By virtue of our Baptism, we, who were once in the darkness of original sin, have been reborn into the great light that is God’s grace in us. We are cherished members of God’s family. What a privilege! Yet, with this privilege comes the responsibility to actually live for God and to bring His Good News to all those we meet — at work, at school, in our community and right in our own home — in other words, to live as His good stewards. And there is a certain urgency that comes with the call to a stewardship way of life as we see in our Gospel passage from Matthew. Jesus says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words, turn away from selfishness, turn towards God and live as His disciple now — don’t wait! In this same passage, the very first disciples give us examples of a good steward’s prompt “yes” when the Lord called to them. Our Lord invites them to “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” They did not hesitate but “at once they left their nets and followed him.” They put our Lord and His will first. This is the essence of a stewardship way of life — to be always ready for the ways that our Lord is calling us to bring His light to others. It’s more than something we do — it’s who we are. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025. Pastoral Pondering  This past Thursday was the 53rd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Even though that decision and the one that followed have been overturned by the Court, the work of defending life continues. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion regulation to the states, the Catholic Church's commitment to the sanctity of human life remains unchanged and multifaceted. From a Catholic perspective, grounded in scripture, tradition, and teachings like those in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (e.g., CCC 2270-2275), advocacy for life isn't solely tied to one court ruling or legal framework—it's a holistic moral imperative that extends beyond abortion to all threats against human dignity. The key reasons why Catholics are called to continue this work: 1. Abortion Remains Legal and Accessible in Many Places Including NC The Dobbs decision didn't ban abortion nationwide; it simply decentralized the issue. As of 2026, abortion is still legal in over half of U.S. states, often with few restrictions up to viability or beyond in some cases (e.g., California, New York). Millions of abortions occur annually, and access has expanded through measures like mail-order abortion pills (e.g., mifepristone). Catholics are urged to advocate for protective laws at the state and federal levels to safeguard the unborn, as the Church views direct abortion as intrinsically evil and never justifiable. Beyond legislation, this includes supporting crisis pregnancy centers, adoption services, and policies that help women facing unplanned pregnancies, aligning with the Church's emphasis on mercy and practical charity. 2. Ongoing Cultural and Political Challenges Pro-abortion initiatives continue to gain traction, such as ballot measures in states like Florida and Arizona that have sought to enshrine abortion rights in constitutions, or federal proposals to codify Roe-like protections. The Church teaches that Catholics have a duty to participate in the public square (e.g., via voting, lobbying, and education) to counter these efforts and promote a "culture of life," as articulated by Pope St. John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae (1995). Globally, abortion rates remain high, and issues like international funding for abortion providers (e.g., through U.S. foreign aid) persist, requiring advocacy on an international scale. 3. The Broader Pro-Life Ethic Catholic pro-life advocacy isn't limited to abortion; concern for life issues encompass all stages of life. This includes opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide (now legal in 10+ U.S. states and parts of Canada/Europe), promoting alternatives to the death penalty, embryonic stem cell research, human trafficking, poverty, war, and environmental degradation that harms the vulnerable. Overturning Roe was a milestone, but it doesn't address root causes like economic inequality, lack of family support, or societal pressures that lead to abortion. Catholics are called to build a society where life is welcomed and protected through social justice initiatives, echoing Pope Francis's calls in Fratelli Tutti (2020) for integral human development. 4. Spiritual and Moral Witness Ultimately, the Church's stance is rooted in the belief that every human life is sacred, created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), and that protecting the innocent is a core Gospel mandate (e.g., Matthew 25:40). Laws may change, but moral truth doesn't—Catholics are to witness to this truth through prayer, education, and personal example, fostering conversion of hearts rather than relying solely on legal victories. Organizations like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) emphasize that the fight for life is ongoing, urging parishes to engage in initiatives like Walking with Moms in Need to provide tangible support. In summary, while Dobbs was a significant win, it's not the end of the road. The Catholic call to "stand up for life" is perpetual, driven by faith, compassion, and a vision for a just society.