From the Pastor – Third Sunday of Easter

May 6, 2019

From the Pastor – Third Sunday of Easter

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.

In matters of faith —With all the little ones we have running around St. Mark, it is easy to forget that many couples today struggle with infertility. This can be a source of great distress for couples who desperately want to start a family. In having discussions with couples, I have found that there is often great confusion regarding what is morally acceptable for Catholic couples to do in such situations. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful to discuss this topic as a way of providing insight and guidance for those who find themselves struggling with infertility. The information that follows is taken from The National Catholic Bioethics Center ( www.ncbcenter.org ) which is a great Catholic resource for guidance in difficult moral situations.

First of all, we need to remember that infertility is not new. In the Bible we encounter Abraham and Sarah as well as Hannah. Joachim and Ann also were childless as were Zechariah and Elizabeth. The Bible also reminds us that all we do should be in accord with God’s will.

Secondly, with advances in modern medicine, there are a number of morally illicit options that couples can use to assist them in getting pregnant. At the same time, there are those that are immoral because of the means that are used to obtain the end.

Morally Unacceptable Technologies for Addressing Fertility Problems within Marriage would include the following: In in vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm is collected and used to fertilize eggs in vitro. At least one embryo is then transferred to the uterus. • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a variant of IVF in which sperm is collected, treated, and micro-injected into eggs, followed by transfer of at least one embryo to the uterus. • Pronuclear-stage tubal transfer (PROST) and zygote intrafallopian tube transfer (ZIFT) are similar to IVF except that the embryo, either at the fertilized pronuclear stage or the zygote stage, is transferred to the fallopian tube. • In natural cycle oocyte retrieval intravaginal fertilization (NORIF), an egg is retrieved during a natural ovulation cycle without ovulatory hyper-stimulation and is placed with the sperm in a special vial with culture media. The vial is placed in the vagina for a period of forty-eight hours to allow fertilization to take place. The vial is then removed and the embryo is extracted and transferred into the uterus. • Cloning is the popular term for a technique called “somatic cell nuclear transfer,” which replaces the nucleus of an egg cell (ovum) with the nucleus of a body (somatic) cell in order to produce a new individual with a genetic code identical to that of the person who provided the body cell.

Morally Acceptable Technologies for Assessing and Addressing Fertility Problems within Marriage include:• Hormonal modulation of menstrual cycle irregularities; • Determination of cervical, uterine, and fallopian tube structural competence by imaging techniques (e.g., ultra-sound, hysterosalpingogram); • Surgical correction of tubal damage or occlusions; • Resolution of endometriosis; • Use of fertility drugs to address anovulation; • Use of Viagra or other agents or approaches to address erectile dysfunction; • Techniques to boost male sperm production in the testis; • Techniques to correct hypospadias or address premature ejaculation; • NFP (natural family planning) to observe naturally occurring signs of fertility during the woman’s cycle so as to

time intercourse for family building; • LTOT (low tubal ovum transfer), in which eggs are retrieved and transplanted into the uterus or fallopian tube at a point likely to increase the probability of fertilization following marital relations; • Other NaPro (natural procreative) Technologies

Morally Unresolved Technologies for Addressing Fertility Problems within Marriage include: • In artificial insemination (AI), sperm is placed into a woman’s uterus (intrauterine insemination, IUI) or cervix (intracervical) by a means (such as a catheter) other than a natural act of intercourse; •Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) involves the transfer of sperm and egg, separated by an air bubble, into the fallopian tube, so that fertilization occurs intracorporeally (within the mother’s body).

It should be remembered that those who have used illicit procedures because of ignorance are generally not culpable of a sin. Also, a child produced by an illicit means, is still a child of God with inherent dignity. It is important that when a couple is having difficulty and considering what options they might employ to assist, in addition to their doctors, they should also consult a priest or someone knowledgeable in Catholic moral teaching. The NCBC is also very willing to respond to questions when you contact them.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Baptism of the Lord

By John Putnam • January 9, 2026
Today marks the close of the Christmas season, but before we return to Ordinary Time, we have one more great feast to celebrate — The Baptism of the Lord. Today’s feast is a perfect opportunity to consider the privileges and responsibilities we all share as Christian stewards by virtue of our own Baptism. At the moment of our Baptism, we became adopted sons and daughters of God, members of his holy, Catholic Church. Though we may not have realized it, the moment of our Baptism is also the moment we become Christian stewards, disciples of Jesus Christ, tasked with the work of following in His footsteps day by day and sharing the Gospel message with all those around us. In our second reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter gives us a glimpse of the person of Jesus we should imitate. “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” We must live our lives like Jesus, seeking to do good to everyone we encounter; not just those in our inner circle of family and friends, but everyone in our community since the Father loves us all and Jesus sought out everyone with His saving message. In the Gospel passage from Matthew, we see yet another aspect of Jesus in action, this time as he humbly stands before John to be baptized by him. What humility and what willingness to unite Himself to us our Lord demonstrates by this act. We can do no less as we live out our daily lives as his disciples. And when we do strive with all our might to live out our Baptismal call to Christian stewardship, we will experience the deep honor of knowing that we, too, are God’s “beloved” sons and daughters “with whom He is well-pleased.” © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As many of you know, on December 17 Bishop Martin issued a pastoral letter concerning the reception of Holy Communion. In that letter, he directed that non-fixed altar rails and kneelers be removed no later than January 16. I want to acknowledge, very simply and honestly, that this has been difficult for many in our parish. I feel that weight as well. I love St. Mark, and I am grateful for the reverence and devotion so many of you show toward the Holy Eucharist. I do not take lightly the concerns, questions, or disappointment this has raised. I am also aware that some of the faithful have made use of the appropriate channels within the Church to petition for clarification or reconsideration, and those processes may continue. At the same time, as your pastor, I am entrusted with leading this parish in fidelity to the Church and her discipline in those matters that do not contradict Catholic law. While there are sincere and thoughtful discussions about posture for receiving Holy Communion, the current liturgical discipline in the United States indicates that Communion is ordinarily received standing, whether on the tongue or in the hand. It is important to state clearly that the right of an individual communicant to kneel remains fully intact, and no one may ever be denied Holy Communion for choosing to do so. Therefore, unless a suspensive decision is issued by the Bishop or by the Dicastery for Divine Worship, we will comply with the directive and remove the kneelers from around the sanctuary. To assist with the reverent and timely distribution of Holy Communion, we will also increase the number of Communion stations. I know this change will be challenging for some. It is not something I approach lightly. My hope is that we can carry this moment together, offering whatever frustration or sorrow we may feel as a personal sacrifice, united to Christ present in the Eucharist. Crosses come in many forms, and how we bear them matters greatly. Let us remain united in prayer and charity, so that anger, bitterness, or division never take root at St. Mark. The weight of the Bishop’s office is a heavy one. I pray for Bishop Martin daily, and I ask that you do the same. Bishop’s office is a heavy one. I pray for him everyday, and I hope that you will as well.  On a happier note, as we come to the end of the Christmas season, I want to thank everyone who dropped off Christmas greetings and goodies. Your kindness is very much appreciated.

From the Pastor - Epiphany

By John Putnam • January 2, 2026
Today we celebrate the Epiphany — the manifestation of Christ to the world. The stewardship way of life is nothing other than a grateful response to God’s countless manifestations in our lives, and a commitment to make His love manifest to others through the sharing of our gifts. St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians that the grace given to him was “for your benefit.” Every gift we have received is meant to benefit others and give glory to God. The Magi show us how to live this out: Worship is their highest priority.They travel far, ask openly, and refuse to let anything stop them from honoring the newborn King. Is Sunday Mass the non-negotiable center of our week? 2. They are watchful. “We saw his star at its rising.” Good stewards stay alert to God’s presence and gifts in daily life. 3. They persevere through difficulty. Herod deceives, dangers threaten, yet God guides and protects them. Our stewardship journey will have twists, but God is faithful. 4. They are overjoyed True stewards radiate the deep, lasting joy that only comes from encountering Christ. 5. They prostrate and open their treasures. Overwhelmed with awe, they give totally of themselves and their gifts — the perfect act of worship. This year, let us rejoice in every manifestation of God in our lives, stay watchful for His star, and open our own treasures — our time, talent, and treasure — in generous gratitude to our King.  Come, let us adore Him — and then go and make Him known.