From the Pastor -Pentecost

June 3, 2022

Today we reach the finale of the Easter season with the celebration of the great Feast of Pentecost. Reflecting on today’s readings inspires a sense of awe as we consider the mighty power of the Holy Spirit at work giving birth to and sustaining our Church. Just as awesome — the same Spirit is calling to us this day to take up our part in the Church’s saving work.


In the first reading, from Acts, we see the creative genius of the Holy Spirit moving through the newly confirmed Apostles “who began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” The large crowd, gathered from all over the world were “amazed” and “astounded” that each one could understand the Apostles speaking in their own language.


Each one of us, young and old alike, is personally called today by the Holy Spirit into the same mission as that of the first Apostles — to advance the Kingdom of God in our corner of the world. Just as He did on that Pentecost day, the Holy Spirit speaks to us in our “own language” to give us the Good News of the Gospel and urge us to share it. We can think of our own language as the particular gifts, talents, and passions we possess. We experience the presence of the Holy Spirit through them and we are meant put them to the work in grateful service of the Kingdom of God.


When we consider the stewardship way of life we are called to live, we often focus on the challenges it poses. Surrendering ourselves to God is indeed a challenging way to live. But it leads to a life that is exciting, creative, and deeply rewarding. Stewardship allows us to experience life as a great adventure because it is a life guided and directed by the very source of power and creativity — the Holy Spirit!

© Catholic Stewardship Consultants


Pastoral Pondering

I wanted to address a few things that have come my way over the past few days that I believe may be of interest to a wider audience.


Sign of Peace and Communion – While most of the restrictions that were enacted by the Diocese with COVID have been removed, there are still restrictions on the Sign of Peace and offering both species at Holy Communion. My observation at Mass has generally been that even though the deacon does not announce the sign of peace, many families and friends are sharing some sign of their own volition. This is fine. We should also remember that there are a number of ways that the sign of peace can be offered other than shaking hands, e.g., bowing, simply indicating peace vocally, etc.


The Communion cup, of course raises other concerns. Prior to COVID we had moved to sharing Communion in this way to special feast days such as Corpus Christi, which is actually what the liturgical documents indicate is proper. With COVID’s arrival, however, this was eliminated completely except for those with special accommodation due to food allergies. We have received no indication when or if this option might be available again. I think a modified sign of peace will return before the cup for Communion.


Speaker Pelosi and the Archbishop – Some folks have expressed confusion concerning the Archbishop of San Francisco’s statement that Representative Nancy Pelosi is no longer able to receive Communion until she repents of her public promotion of abortion based on the norm expressed in canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law.


The responses that I have seen out in the media world have been varied from accusing the Archbishop of being political to those who declare that his action was far overdue. The canon in question states the following:


can. 915† Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.


I have underlined the portion of the canon that is operative here. From Archbishop Cordileone’s statement, it is clear that he had made a number of attempts over the past number of years to engage the Speaker on this matter. Most recently, however, in light of her support of legislation that would go far beyond Roe vs. Wade, the Speaker did not respond to his requests.


The primary concern of the second clause of the canon is the causing of public scandal. Both excommunication and interdict are remedial penalties meant to bring the subject back to full Communion with the Church. The action involved here, while it certainly aims to correct error and restore right relationship, is more concerned with the scandal caused when a public person, who regularly presents herself as a devout Catholic, promotes positions that are in clear opposition to Catholic moral teaching.


It seems clear to me that this was not something that the Archbishop wanted to do, but he felt it was something he had to do, not only for the good of the Speaker’s eternal soul, but also to alleviate the scandal caused by her contrary witness. Moreover, the Archbishop’s statement deals solely with the life of the Church. It has no impact on the public sphere and, therefore, is certainly not political. The Archbishop, as do all pastors of souls, has a responsibility to confirm the faithful, ensure sound teaching, and promote proper devotion and respect for the sacraments of the Church.


Each bishop is responsible for this in his particular diocese; therefore, you can see various responses from different bishops. While, in my opinion, this is terribly confusing on many levels, it is the state of the matter here in the United States. All of us should pray for the Archbishop as he exercises his apostolic office, and we should also pray for all of those members of the flock who, because of the public nature of their witness, cause scandal and wonderment among the faithful and the community at large.


Gun violence and mass shootings – As I write this, the recent school shooting in Texas is still a very open wound for the country. These events are terrible tragedies, especially when there is significant loss of life. On one hand such events are not new and, thankfully, are few. Nonetheless, when they occur, they often lead to shock, wonderment and even uncertainty about the goodness of God.


First and foremost, we know that God is good and He never intends an intrinsic evil. Because of our fallen human nature and the freedom with which we are endowed, however, He allows, through His permissive will, such things to occur. And, regardless of how terrible something may be, can often bring about some good in the midst of the tragedy, e.g., a family reconciliation, a greater awareness of mental illness, etc.


Whether aided by the isolation that arose during COVID or some other factor, it does seem that anger, confusion and desperation can be found in plenty in society today. One of the reasons that we engaged a counselor on staff was due to the trends that we were seeing over the past couple of years.


Of course, our first response, should be fervent prayer for the victims and their families as well as prayer for those who perpetrate these things. These things also demand that we, as followers of Christ, look for ways to address what ails our society and try, as best we can, to be part of a helpful solution.


Security also becomes a concern, and be assured, that the security of the parish is very important, and steps are being taken to ensure that we have a proper security plan in place. No one should have to be afraid when they come to church or go to school. While we cannot eliminate all possible threats, we can learn to be more vigilant and be as prepared as we can be in the midst of this present world.


From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • August 2, 2025
Today’s Gospel passage comes as a pat on the back from Heaven for all of us striving to live a stewardship way of life. It reminds us why we live the way we do and why we make the choices we make. Let’s face it, if we truly embrace this way of life, there will be people who find our choices — based on serving God and others — downright foolish. But let’s see what God thinks. Spoiler alert: turns out Christian stewards are not the fools! In this passage, Jesus makes it clear that life is not about “stuff” as he tells the parable of the wealthy businessman who thought he had everything figured out. The man had such an abundance of stuff that he didn’t have room to store it all. So, thinking of earthly things and not on what is above, he decided to build a bigger place to store all that stuff. Patting himself on the back, he thought about what good times he would have in the years ahead. But Jesus tells us that day would turn out to be the man’s last day on the earth. And he had spent it thinking only of himself. How foolish! Don’t be ashamed of living differently from the people around you. Be confident as you set priorities based on what is above. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering With the election of Pope Leo XIV, many folks have expressed an interest in understanding the history of his most recent predecessor with the same name, Pope Leo XIII, who is considered a great proponent of Catholic Social teaching. His encyclical, Rerum Novarum, is the basis for our understanding of this important branch of Catholic theology, so I thought it might be useful to share a summary of that document. Rerum Novarum, an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, addresses the social and economic challenges of the modern world, emphasizing the Church's role in addressing injustices within the rapidly industrializing society. It marks the beginning of modern Catholic social teaching and sets a framework for dealing with issues related to labor, capital, and society. Key Themes of Rerum Novarum: Dignity of Labor : It affirms the dignity of work and the rights of workers, including just wages, the right to form unions, and decent working conditions. Work is not merely an economic activity but a means for the personal development of individuals. Private Property : The encyclical upholds the right to private property, stating that it is natural and beneficial for individuals and families. However, this right carries with it the responsibility to use one's property for the common good. Role of the State : It outlines the role of the state in promoting justice and protecting the rights of individuals, especially the poor and vulnerable. The state should act as an agent for social order and the common good but should not overreach into individual freedoms. Class Cooperation : Pope Leo XIII advocates for the cooperative relationship between employees and employers, encouraging a spirit of mutual understanding and collaboration rather than conflict, aiming to harmonize interests for societal benefit. Social Justice : The encyclical is concerned with the effects of unchecked capitalism and socialism, critiquing both extremes and emphasizing a balance that respects human dignity while promoting social justice and the well-being of all members of society.  Rerum Novarum serves as a cornerstone for subsequent Catholic social thought, inviting us to consider how we can address economic and social issues while respecting human dignity and the common good.

From the Pastor - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 25, 2025
In our Gospel reading from Luke, some disciples of Jesus ask our Lord to teach them how to pray. Jesus instantly offers them the beautiful prayer which we, of course, call the Our Father. The Our Father is truly a steward’s prayer. In it, we call upon God in an intimate way, as Father. We ask that His will be done (not ours!) and that His kingdom come (not ours!). In other words, we remember that He is our Creator, everything is His, and our focus in life should be on His priorities, not our own. Then we ask Him to supply our needs (to give our daily bread), forgive our sins, and protect us from evil. That is, we proclaim our complete trust in His provision for us and mercy towards us. We, too, commit to extending mercy ourselves (as we forgive those who sin against us.) As we pray the words of the Our Father, we recognize this basic truth about ourselves and God: God is our Father, and we are beloved and infinitely blessed to be His children. This is the basis of a stewardship way of life. At the end of the Gospel passage, Jesus encourages us to pursue a relationship with the Father: Ask Him, seek Him, knock on His door! He can hardly wait to bless us, HIs children. Remember that this week, then go, be a blessing to others! Stewardship is just that simple. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering  Last week I was listening to an episode of the Conor Gallagher Podcast, in which the author, Paul Zucarelli, was being interviewed. I found it extremely interesting and thought provoking, so I thought I would provide a summary of his book this week. Faith Understood: An Ordinary Man’s Journey to the Presence of God by Paul Zucarelli is a memoir recounting the author’s near-death experience and its profound impact on his life and faith. Zucarelli, a successful businessman and CPA, died of sudden cardiac death on Pentecost Sunday in 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona, and was revived after two hours through what he attributes to intercessory prayer and divine intervention. During this experience, he describes encountering a heavenly realm, witnessing a radiant light filled with warmth and love, and hearing a divine voice assuring him of safety, which left him with no fear of death or desire to return to his body. The book goes beyond the near-death account, focusing on Zucarelli’s spiritual transformation and renewed commitment to living for God. It emphasizes themes of faith, hope, and love, illustrating how God uses trials to draw people closer to Him. Zucarelli shares how this event deepened his Christian faith, leading him and his wife, Beth, to dedicate their lives to evangelization, sharing their testimony across the United States. The narrative includes reflections on scripture, personal vulnerability, and five life lessons outlined in Chapter Nine, which readers found universally compelling and timeless. While some reviewers wished for more detailed descriptions of the heavenly experience, the book is praised for its authenticity, inspiring both believers and non-believers to explore God’s presence and the power of prayer. Proceeds from the book support a charitable foundation, reflecting Zucarelli’s mission of altruism. What I found most compelling about the podcast was the author’s sense of peace about how God has been working in his life since his near-death experiences. His story, which is deeply informed by his Catholic faith, shows the transforming power of God’s love in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations.