From the Pastor - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 12, 2022

Today’s readings set a high bar for us Christian stewards, reminding us that a stewardship way of life is meant be a challenging way of life.

In the second reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told to live as Christ lived. And how did Christ live? “For the sake of the joy that lay before Him He endured the cross.” If we are tempted to complain about the sufferings we must endure in living as Christ’s disciples, we are told, “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” In other words, “If you’re not bleeding, what are you complaining about?” That is quite a high bar!


The Gospel reading from Luke continues this challenging theme. Our Lord tells His disciples “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing.” A couple of verses later Jesus adds, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”


Jesus’s life on this earth and the message He brought were not meant to simply make us feel good. In fact, His words can make us downright uncomfortable at times. That’s because His Good News (and it is indeed good news!) Is meant to change us, to make saints of us.


The stewardship way of life sets a high bar indeed. But deeply embraced, this way of life focused on God and others will make us the saints we are called to be. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2022

 

Pastoral Pondering

I am writing this on the Feast of St. John Vianney, the patron of parish priests. Back in 2009 I had the opportunity to travel with two priest-friends to Ars, France to visit the Shrine of the Curé of Ars. It was a wonderful pilgrimage for the Year for Priests.


The saintly priest was a simple pastor, but he had a tremendous impact on post-French revolution France. He spent long hours in the confessional and, by his preaching and pastoral solicitude, made it clear that his primary goal was to help his flock get to heaven. This was not an easy task then, and it is not an easy task now!


In his book, The Soul of the Apostolate, Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard said the following: If the priest is a saint, the people will be fervent; if the priest is fervent, the people will be pious; if the priest is pious, the people will at least be decent; if the priest is only decent, the people will be godless. The spiritual generation is always one degree less intense in its life than the one who begets it in Christ.

From a pastor’s perspective, this makes me pause and ponder. It does underscore the importance of praying for priests and the importance of the priests praying for their people. The Body of Christ is a complex reality, but one thing is very simple; priests and people need each other. Together we have to strive to be holy and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who inspires and perfects our faith. I’ll close with this prayer of Pope Benedict XVI’s:


Lord Jesus Christ, eternal High Priest, You offered yourself to the Father on the altar of the Cross and through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit gave Your priestly people a share in Your redeeming sacrifice. Hear our prayer for the sanctification of our priests. Grant that all who are ordained to the ministerial priesthood may be ever more conformed to You, the Divine Master. May they preach the Gospel with pure heart and clear conscience. Let them be shepherds according to Your own heart, single-minded in service to You and to the Church and be shining examples of a holy, simple and joyful life. Through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother and ours, draw all priests and the flocks entrusted to their care to the fulness of eternal life where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.


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.