From the Pastor - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 27, 2024

In our readings this week, Eldad, Medad, and the man driving out demons were all doing the work of God. They had been entrusted with a gift and used it to glorify the Lord. Joshua and John should have responded in joy and appreciation for another’s gifts and talents.

 

We oftentimes look at another’s strengths as our weakness whether it be in parish life, in the workforce, or even in our own families.

 

Jesus is calling us to cut out those sinful thoughts and attitudes from our lives. The next time we witness someone being a good steward of God’s gifts — rejoice! And continue to examine how you are using your gifts and talents to ensure you are being a good steward of what God has entrusted to you.


We do not want to end up like the rich in our Second Reading from St. James. They stored up their riches to the point where they withheld wages from their workers! They clenched tightly to the pleasures and luxuries that the world offers and put it in front of both God and their neighbor. They misused the gifts God bestowed on them.

 

We must keep this in perspective as we journey on our path as Christian stewards. We do not live for this life, but for the next.

He has given us time every day, countless talents, and numerous treasures. Are we using them for His glory?

This week when we witness other people in our lives using the gifts God has given to them, instead of becoming jealous or critical, say a prayer of thanksgiving and take time to reflect on what God has gifted you and how you can offer it to Him for His glory. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024

 

Pastoral Pondering

One of the most important devotions arising from the Fatima messages is the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On July 13, 1917, Our Lady said to the children, “You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart…I shall come to ask for the Communion of Reparation on the first Saturdays.” She came expressly with the request for this devotion when she appeared to Sister Lucia on December 10, 1925, in Pontevedra, Spain, where Sister was preparing for religious life.

 

Our Lady appeared with the Infant Jesus standing on a cloud, requesting acts of reparation for the blasphemies and ingratitude committed against her Immaculate Heart. Jesus said: “Have compassion on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother, covered with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove them.”

 

Then Our Lady continued: “Look, My daughter, at My Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce Me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console Me and announce in My name that I promise to assist at the moment of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep Me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to Me.”

 

In 1939 Sister Lucia added: Whether the world has war, or peace depends on the practice of this devotion, along with the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is why I desire its propagation so ardently, especially because this is also the will of our dear Mother in heaven.” Jesus told Sister Lucia: “The souls who make the five first Saturdays with fervor and to make reparation to the Heart of your Heavenly Mother, please Me…”

 

How to practice the Five First Saturdays Devotion

 

Do the following on the first Saturday of the month for five consecutive months:

 

1.      Go to confession.

2.      Receive Holy Communion.

3.      Pray five decades of the Rosary.

4.      Meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary for fifteen minutes.

 

However, Our Lord adjusted these requirements for more flexibility:

Confession may be received before or after the first Saturday, as long as the devotee intends to make reparation. One must also receive Holy Communion in the state of grace. Jesus adds that if the individual forgets to offer the Confession beforehand, one may offer the next Confession as an act of reparation.

 

Why Five Saturdays?

 

Our Lord revealed to Sister Lucia that the number five represents the five sins committed against her Immaculate Heart:

 

1.      Blasphemies against her Immaculate Heart.

2.      Blasphemies against her perpetual virginity.

3.      Blasphemies against Her Divine Maternity, refusing at the same time to recognize Her as the Mother of men.

4.      Publicly instilling indifference, contempt, and even hatred toward the Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children.

5.      Insulting her directly in her sacred images.

 

The First Saturday devotion has been practiced at St. Mark for a number of years following the 9 am daily Mass. In addition, in the last year, we have added the Family celebration which takes place following the 5 pm Mass on First Saturday. The evening celebration includes food and fellowship for the whole family.

 

Sources: EWTN and The Blue Army

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 1st Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • February 20, 2026
As we begin the season of Lent, the Church invites us into 40 days of renewal and refocusing. Lent is not only about giving something up, but about making room for God. For Christian stewards, this season invites us to reflect on how we are using the time entrusted to us. In the first reading, Adam and Eve turn their attention away from God and allow doubt to take root. Trust is replaced by self-reliance, and the harmony of the Garden is broken. These same temptations remain familiar when our days become crowded with distractions that pull us away from God. In the Gospel, Jesus shows us a different path. In the desert, He gives time to prayer and fasting, remains grounded in Scripture, and places His complete trust in the Father. By intentionally giving time to God, Jesus resists temptation and remains faithful. Lent invites us to do the same. By making space in our schedules for prayer, Scripture, and quiet reflection, we grow in trust and gratitude. When we place God at the center of our time, stewardship becomes a way of life, and our hearts are prepared to celebrate the joy of Easter. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026) Pastoral Pondering  Folks often asks the priests, “Father, how do you pray?” The question is not that different from the request the apostles made of Jesus in Luke 11:1-4 when they asked Him to teach them how to pray. There are lots of possibilities out there. One of those that I find particularly helpful is Lectio Divina or Divine Reading. What follows is a brief outline of the method that some may find helpful. In our busy lives, it's easy to read the Bible quickly or skim through it like any other book. But what if we approached Scripture not just to learn information, but to encounter God personally? That's the heart of Lectio Divina, an ancient Catholic practice of "divine reading" that transforms ordinary reading into a profound prayerful conversation with the Lord. Lectio Divina dates back to the early monastic communities, encouraged by figures like St. Benedict, and has been a cherished method in the Church for centuries. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, it engages our thoughts, imagination, emotions, and desires to deepen our faith and draw us closer to Christ (CCC 2708). Today, it's experiencing a beautiful renewal as more Catholics rediscover this simple yet powerful way to let God's Word speak directly to our hearts. The traditional steps of Lectio Divina are four (sometimes with a fifth for action): 1. Lectio (Reading) Choose a short passage of Scripture—perhaps from the day's Gospel or a favorite psalm. Read it slowly, perhaps aloud, several times. Listen attentively, as if God is speaking the words to you personally. Pay attention to any word, phrase, or image that stands out or "shimmers" in your heart. This isn't about covering ground; it's about letting the Word sink in. 2. Meditatio (Meditation ) Reflect on what you've read. Ask: What is this passage saying? What does it reveal about God? How does it connect to my life right now? Ruminate on it like a cow chewing cud—slowly, thoughtfully. Let your mind and heart ponder the meaning, imagining yourself in the scene if it's a Gospel story. 3. Oratio (Prayer) Turn your reflection into a personal conversation with God. Respond honestly: Thank Him, praise Him, ask for forgiveness, seek guidance, or simply tell Him how the Word moves you. This is where prayer flows naturally from the Scripture—it's no longer just words on a page, but a dialogue with the living God. 4. Contemplatio (Contemplation) Rest quietly in God's presence. Let go of words and thoughts. Simply be with Him, allowing His love to envelop you in silence. This is the moment of resting in the peace that comes from encountering the Lord. Some traditions add a fifth step: **Actio (Action)**—carrying the grace received into daily life through concrete changes or acts of charity. Lectio Divina is for everyone—not just monks or scholars. You don't need hours; even 15-20 minutes can be transformative. Try it with the Sunday readings or start with a single verse like "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Find a quiet spot, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you ("Come, Holy Spirit"), and open your heart. As Pope Benedict XVI encouraged, Lectio Divina helps us hear God's voice in Scripture and respond with our whole lives. In a world full of noise, this ancient practice invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and grow in intimacy with Christ. Why not give it a try this week? Your soul—and God—will thank you.

From the Pastor - 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • February 13, 2026
Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on the true state of our hearts as it relates to stewardship. Do we think of stewardship as something we take care of once a year, simply a matter of ticking off boxes on a commitment card — or do we choose to embrace it as a spirituality and a way of life that allows us to grow in conformity to Christ every day? Our first reading, from the Book of Sirach, teaches that our good God has given us the freedom to make this choice — “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” The concept of stewardship helps us live out this fundamental choice to put God first. Stewardship is not meant to be a mere external exercise that we participate in on an occasional basis. It is meant to be embraced as a way of life — a life that involves a continuous conversion of heart. In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus illustrates the difference between an external observance of the law and a true conversion of heart, saying, “You have heard that it was said … you shall not kill … But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Our Lord is asking us not only for exterior acts, but for a true change of heart. In stewardship terms, that means seeing everything as a gift from Him, to be used for His glory and the good of others. In the week ahead, let us examine the state of our hearts and ask whether we have allowed stewardship to shape the way we live each day. When we do, we open ourselves to its deeper meaning and its power to change our hearts. The choice is ours. Pastoral Pondering I am appreciative of the cooperation we have had with the recent changes in the distribution of Communion. Please be mindful that each person has the right to choose the manner in which he or she receives Holy Communion. As long as that choice is in conformity with what the Church allows, the individual is free to exercise that right. We all have preferences and pious practices that are important to us. It is important, however, that we do not pass judgment on the reasons someone else chooses differently from us. No one knows the heart of another; God alone knows those things. Clearly, if someone is doing something that is improper or sacrilegious, we have a moral obligation to say something. However, when another is making a legitimate choice, he or she is free to do so. We all need to be conscious of the importance of exercising charity, especially with one another. As we prepare to embark on our Lenten journey, please take time to pray and ponder what you need to do (and not do) to make this a truly fruitful Lent. Taking time for prayer and reflection and asking the Lord to guide you in choosing your Lenten sacrifices and works of charity, is a wonderful way to prepare for and to receive the full grace of this special season of the liturgical year. Penance, of course, is a regular part of Catholic life. Every Friday throughout the year is a day of penance. During Lent, every Friday is a day of abstinence from meat; outside of Lent, one may choose an alternative form of penance. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting for those between the ages of 14 and 60. Let us pray for one another that our Lenten observances may help us grow in holiness, become more attentive to the promptings of the Spirit, and be instruments of the light of Christ in the world.