From the Pastor - Solemnity of the Assumption

August 13, 2021

Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary — the moment she was taken up, body and soul, into heaven. This day reveals much about our Holy Mother. Next to her Divine Son, Mary truly is the model steward for us as we journey through this life.


Our Gospel recounts the story of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth who was soon to deliver John the Baptist. Mary truly is a dwelling place for Christ. Even baby John the Baptist noticed as he leaped in his mother’s womb upon Mary’s greeting! We too are called to be a dwelling place for the Lord. Yet for Christ to dwell in us, we must prepare our hearts for Him.


Mary was prepared for Christ to reside in her, and her Magnificat expresses how we can imitate her and prepare a place for Christ in ourselves: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…”


How can we proclaim the ‘greatness of the Lord?’ It is simply by how we choose to live our lives. Each day is an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Christ. We can choose to rise each day in prayer, respond to those around us in kindness, serve in our vocations and occupations from a place of love and selflessness, and use our gifts and talents for the glory of God.


As we reflect on the life of Mary today, let us strive to imitate her in proclaiming the greatness of God by how we live our lives. Let us celebrate her as our Mother, our Queen, and a Model Steward. She is not distant or out of reach, rather, she is as close to us as a mother to her baby — constantly watching, interceding, and guiding us to be with her Divine Son in eternal life. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2021


Pastoral Pondering

This weekend we have the opportunity to celebrate the Assumption of Our Lady. These solemnities occur infrequently on Sunday, so when they do, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate as a parish. This weekend as well, we are celebrating Father Gámez as he prepares to move to his new assignment in Winston-Salem. While his assignment there does not begin until the end of the month, until them he will be assisting primarily at St. Thomas.


Understandably, over the past several months, I have received a number of inquiries regarding various movements or trends that are going on in the wider culture, especially Critical Race Theory and the various gender theories. With that in mind, I thought it would be wise to present how the Church responds to such things. If one tries, it is usually possible to see both positives and negatives in these trends and movements; however, we must always seek to apply the eternal truths that have been passed down to us so as to be authentically Christian in response to the culture in which we live.


For the Church racism is a moral issue and needs to be evaluated in light of Catholic Social Teaching. Hence, there are aspects of Critical Race Theory (CRT) about which both Catholics and non-Catholics can agree. Namely, we can certainly agree on the importance of confronting racism, reaching out to and supporting the poor, under-privileged and poor, addressing social and economic inequalities, and actively fighting human exploitation. Each of these problems are concern because they undermine our Catholic view of the human person as having inherent dignity and being created in the image and likeness of God. Hence, our language when dealing with these wrongs arises from those core beliefs.


As Catholics, we believe that sin is an act of a person (CCC, 1868). Even when institutions or society participate in that which is immoral, it is still the work of individuals; albeit, in an accumulated manner. While it is true to say that in some instances, there needs to be a change in society as a whole, in the end such change only occurs one person, one soul at a time. Moreover, while recognizing the reality of historical sin, the Church does not believe that the offspring of those involved are culpable for the “sins of their fathers”. Christ reminds us of this in His preaching and teaching. This is where Catholic teaching would diverge from the political aspects of CRT because while CRT argues that the descendants of slave owners, for example, are responsible for the sins committed in the past and, therefore, they too are guilty due to the color of their skin, the Church would oppose such a view as not in harmony with the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching.


As Catholics we are called to respond to those in need with the love of Christ and to oppose anything that contradicts that love. Seeking to restore a properly ordered society where each human being is treated with the dignity with which he or she is created is our aim. Sadly, in the current forms of CRT in the public arena, we often see other forms of discrimination being justified based on discrimination from the past. As the saying goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right”; hence, we are called to work against discrimination in all its forms and seek each day to recognize the dignity in each and every person.



An authentically Catholic approach to these matters then, begins and ends with the human person always guided by the light of God’s grace. We are called to be that hands and feet of Christ and look for opportunities to alleviate suffering wherever we find it; to respond with love when we encounter the hatred and anger that seems to be so pervasive throughout our society these days.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 7, 2025
In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we find our Lord appointing disciples to go out and prepare others to receive His invitation into the Kingdom of God. Every verse has something to say about the way a Christian steward should approach others. Let’s consider at least one of the coaching tips Christ gives. “The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom He sent out ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit.” In His wisdom, Christ sent His disciples out not as individuals but in pairs, as teams. This approach to evangelization certainly provided practical advantages. The disciples could lean on each other for mutual support and encouragement, helping each other to stay on task and to put their heads together to pray and problem-solve. This teamwork approach is just as relevant to us modern-day Christian stewards. It takes courage and commitment to go out and invite others into the Christian life. We need to work together to do it well. But there is also symbolic importance to working in teams. It points to the reality that when we invite others to embrace the Good News of the Gospel, we are not merely inviting them into a belief system, but into a relationship with Christ and through that relationship, into Christ’s family — our fellow Christian disciples near and far. Our parish is our immediate spiritual family in this extended worldwide fold. We are not meant to live as isolated individuals within the parish any more than we are meant to live in isolation within our families. We are meant to be a community. That is why it is so important for us to foster a vibrant, supportive, welcoming parish life. This is why we emphasize hospitality as one of the pillars of stewardship. It is not enough just to point others to Christ; we must invite them to join us in community with Him; we must offer a place and mission for them in the Church and within our parish family. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As you know, during the last weekend of May (5/31-6/1), we had our final push for our Growing Home Campaign. I wanted to give everyone a final update as we conclude our fundraising period. During that weekend’s presentation, I asked everyone to help us close the $325,000 gap to meet our $9.7 M goal. As we close this portion of the campaign, I am happy to report that we have reached $10.5 million in pledges and gifts, exceeding our goal by $800,000! I am continuously amazed by the giving spirit that pervades our parish. Your generosity is a tangible expression of your commitment to our amazing parish. The funds raised over the goal and any funds raised going forward will help us to address the ever-increasing cost of construction and reduce the loan amount that will be required to complete the overall project. As noted earlier this year, the Rectory project has started and is projected to take about 12 months to complete. Our hope and plan is to break ground on the Monsignor Bellow Center and Adoration Chapel next summer or early Fall. Words alone never seem adequate to express the gratitude that I have in my heart for all of you who have participated in and supported this monumental effort. Both the financial support and the support with time and talent have been tremendous and for that, I want to offer a heartfelt “THANK YOU!”. May God bless each of you for your generosity in helping us grow our home here at St. Mark.

From the Pastor - Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

By John Putnam • June 27, 2025
During June, we have celebrated key moments in the life of the Church — Pentecost, the Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi — culminating today with the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Though very different men, they are united in faith, mission, and martyrdom, and the Church has honored them together since the third century. St. Peter, the first Pope, was chosen by Christ as the rock on which the Church would be built. The Catechism tells us that because of the faith he professed, Peter remains the “unshakeable rock of the Church.” Despite his human weaknesses, Peter's loyalty, repentance, and leadership make him a powerful model of stewardship. St. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, became one of the Church’s greatest evangelists. In today’s second reading, Paul reflects on his mission, saying, “I have finished the race… the crown of righteousness awaits me.” The Greek word he used for “crown” — stephanos — refers to a victor’s crown, not a royal one, showing his view of faith as a race well-run for the sake of Christ. Though they were martyred separately, tradition holds that Peter and Paul were in Rome at the same time, and their shared witness and sacrifice tie them closely together in Church history. They embody two vital aspects of stewardship — Peter in his faith and leadership, and Paul in his zeal and wisdom. As stewards, we are called to follow their example — to build the Church through our commitment, to overcome our failures through God’s mercy, and to proclaim the Gospel with courage. Like Peter and Paul, we are invited to give all we have for the sake of Christ and His Church. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering  This Solemnity marks the beginning of summer vacation in Rome. The Holy Father will be traveling to Castelgandolfo for some time away from the heat of Rome. For the rest of us, the weeks of summer are in full swing, and as we move into July this week, I hope that families have an opportunity to spend some time in rest and relaxation. Spending time with family, friends, and the Lord, are among the best things that we can do with our “down time”. Leisure is essential to a well-lived life, but it has to be understood properly in the context of the Christian life. Anthony Esolen’s Leisure: The Basis of Culture is a contemporary reflection and expansion on the classic work of the same name by Josef Pieper. Esolen argues that modern society has lost its understanding of true leisure, mistaking it for mere idleness or entertainment. In contrast, he defines leisure as a contemplative, receptive state that allows individuals to encounter truth, beauty, and God. True leisure, according to the author, distinguishes leisure from passive consumption or busyness. True leisure is rooted in wonder, worship and reflection – activities that are ends in themselves, not means to productivity. He critiques how modern life has turned all human activity into something utilitarian. Education, art and even religion are often reduced to tools for social mobility or economic growth, rather than pursued for their intrinsic value. Esolen emphasizes that leisure finds its highest expression in worship and liturgy. Time spent in contemplation of the divine is the deepest form of leisure, because it directs the soul toward eternal realities. He draws on classical and Christian sources to affirm that man is not simply a worker or consumer but is made for contemplation and communion. In the end, he calls for a return to genuine leisure as the only path to restoring culture, education, and the dignity of the human spirit. The author argues that without true leisure, civilization cannot thrive, because it loses contact with what is eternal and meaningful. Leisure, rightly understood, is not a break from life – it is at the heart of what makes life worth living.
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