From the Pastor - Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 28, 2023

Today’s readings on this fourth Sunday of Easter offer us a glimpse into the heart of our loving Savior. He is the Good Shepherd and we can confidently place our trust in Him as we live the stewardship way of life.


This endearing image of Jesus as our shepherd, and His personal love for each one of us, is described in our Gospel passage from John, through the words of Jesus Himself. Here we read Jesus’ description of Himself as the “Good Shepherd.” He says of Himself, “The sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.”


This aspect of our Lord’s tender and personal love for each one of us is a compelling reason to embrace the stewardship way of life — in the offering of our time, talent, and treasure to Him, we can express our gratitude to Him for the incomprehensible love He has for us.


Embracing this way of life certainly requires trust on our part. But Christ has proven Himself worthy of our trust. He “bore our sins in His body.” He calls Himself our shepherd and He offers Himself as the guardian of our souls. He has withheld nothing of Himself and His goodness from us. He would never ask anything of us that would bring us harm. He tells us “I came so that [you] might have life and have it more abundantly.”


This Easter season, let us resolve to entrust ourselves and our lives gratefully to Him. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2023

 

Pastoral Pondering

I think I will call this week’s pondering, A Tale of Two Movies. A couple of weeks ago two movies were released in theaters, The Pope’s Exorcist and Nefarious. Both of these movies deal with demonic possession but in very different ways. I thought it would be good to evaluate each one and offer some comments.


In the first movie, The Pope’s Exorcist, Russel Crowe plays Father Gabriele Amorth who was the Chief Exorcist in Rome until his death in 2016. During his tenure, Amorth wrote a number of books along with a number of articles. While this movie uses the name of Father Amorth, that is basically where the connection with reality stops. This movie is more Dan Brown than anything else and contains unnecessary language and nudity. While it certainly uses some accurate Latin prayers and identifies the name of an archdemon, there is very little to recommend it in terms of Church history or the state of the Church’s ministry in this regard. For entertainment purposes, it might be enjoyable to some for some of the “action” scenes, beyond that, it has very little to recommend it if you want to learn about the real Father Amorth or the important work he did for the Church.


Nefarious on the other hand, is a movie based on a book of the same name that took its inspiration from The Screwtape Letters of C.S. Lewis. The movie presents the case of a death row prisoner (played by Sean Patrick Flannery) on the day before his execution who pleads insanity because of demonic possession. The prison authorities call in an atheist psychiatrist (played by Jordan Belfi) to evaluate the prisoner and show that he is just trying to delay the inevitable. What ensues is a brilliant presentation of modern-day spiritual warfare and the battle that is occurring all around us. This movie too is rated R, however, there is no gratuitous sex, nudity, or vulgar language. It certainly deals with a serious matter and shows the reality of demonic possession, so it may not be for everyone. I would suggest, however, that this would be an excellent film to share with older teens and beyond. As our society become more secular and explicitly anti-Christian, it is refreshing to see a movie, that while not overtly Catholic or Christian, addresses the important topic of the cosmic battle in very practical and contemporary terms.



As we continue our Easter joy, let’s pray that God would grant us a greater awareness of the realities around us and help us to be fit for the battle at hand.


From the Pastor

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.

From the Pastor - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • February 6, 2026
Today’s readings are both encouragement and instruction for us as Christian stewards. They offer clear direction on what matters most to God and how He calls us to use the gifts He has entrusted to us. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah gives us straightforward guidance: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.” There is no ambiguity here. Caring for our brothers and sisters in need is not optional — it is a fundamental responsibility of the Christian steward. Yet the Lord also reminds us of His generosity when we live this way. “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed.” When we give of ourselves, we do not lose — we gain. God’s grace grows within us, and we experience deeper joy and peace as our lives become more aligned with His will. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks plainly to His disciples — and to us — calling us the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” But salt loses its purpose if it goes stale, and light cannot shine if it is hidden. Our faith must be lived, not concealed. We are called to act so that others may see the way we serve, how we care for the vulnerable, how we prioritize our families, and above all, how we love God — and through our witness, give glory to Him. Pastoral Pondering With everything that’s been going on in Minneapolis and in other areas of the country, I have had a number of folks ask me how we should respond as Catholics. The following is my opinion, based on sound Catholic teaching. First and foremost, Catholics are called to respond to civil unrest neither with indifference nor with partisan reflex, but with faith‑formed conscience, rooted in the Gospel, the dignity of the human person, and the pursuit of the common good.  The Church offers clear moral principles—even when facts are still unfolding or emotions are intense. 1. Begin with the Dignity of Every Human Life The Catholic response must start with mourning the loss of life, regardless of ideology, immigration status, profession, or political alignment. Recent unrest in Minneapolis followed multiple fatal shootings involving federal agents, resulting in the deaths of American citizens and triggering widespread protests and confrontations. Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the USCCB, emphasized: “Peace is built on respect for people… Public authorities especially have a responsibility to safeguard the well‑being of people in service to the common good.” Catholics must resist any rhetoric that dehumanizes protesters, immigrants, law‑enforcement officers, or public officials. Every person involved is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; USCCB, Life and Dignity of the Human Person). 2. Reject Violence — from Any Side The Church is unequivocal: violence against persons is morally unacceptable, whether it comes from rioters, vigilantes, or excessive use of force by authorities. Recent demonstrations in Minneapolis have included street takeovers, clashes with law enforcement, and use of tear gas, batons, and flash‑bangs. Catholic leaders have consistently called for restraint and nonviolence. Also, as Bishop Robert Barron warned, destroying property, interfering with law enforcement or intimidation or mob action do not advance justice and instead deepen wounds. The same can be said of the disruption of church services. At the same time, the Church also insists that the use of state power must be proportionate and accountable, especially when lethal force is involved (CCC §§2263–2267). 3. Pray — Publicly and Persistently — for Peace and Conversion The Church’s first response is spiritual, not performative. In January 2026, Archbishop Coakley asked dioceses across the country to hold a Holy Hour for peace, explicitly in response to unrest connected to immigration enforcement and deaths in Minneapolis. As Catholics we should pray for the dead and their families, pray for healing in affected communities, pray for law‑enforcement officers placed in morally complex situations, and pray for public officials making consequential decisions. This is not passivity. It is placing the crisis under the Lordship of Christ. 4. Support Lawful Protest — Not Lawlessness Catholic teaching affirms the right to peaceful protest against injustice. The USCCB teaches that political participation, including protest, is legitimate when it respects human life, respects the rule of law, and seeks the common good rather than domination or chaos (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship). However, Catholics must refuse participation in rioting, property destruction, intimidation, or disruption of worship (explicitly condemned by bishops). As several Catholic leaders noted, anger does not sanctify actions. 5. Insist on Truth, Due Process, and Accountability Catholics should resist both instant condemnation without facts, and blind defense without accountability. The Church supports transparent investigations, lawful oversight of enforcement agencies, and respect for constitutional and human rights. Ongoing legal review and court interventions in Minnesota illustrate the importance of due process in moments of unrest. 6. Engage Politically — but Never Reduce Faith to Politics Catholics may contact elected officials, advocate for humane immigration policies, and support reforms aligned with human dignity. But the bishops repeatedly warn against substituting ideology for the Gospel. As Catholic World Report summarized: “The current climate of fear and polarization… does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel.” No party, platform, or protest movement substitutes for Christian charity and moral clarity. 7. Build Peace Locally Finally, Catholics are called to act close to home by supporting local parishes offering prayer or aid, participating in dialogue rather than online outrage, and assisting immigrants, families of victims, and first responders. Catholic Social Teaching emphasizes that peace is built from the ground up, in families, parishes, and neighborhoods (Call to Community and Participation).