Clergy Bulletin Articles

Happy Super Bowl Sunday (go Chiefs!) and Happy St. Valentine’s Day this week! Did you know today is also World Marriage Sunday? Marriage and family life is one of the priorities of the Archdiocese and our parish. Marriage and the family are at the core of the God-given structure of our society and our critical for the raising of children and simply the good of society and our happiness!

Consider investing in your marriage at this time with a retreat. I highly encourage couples to participate in our Alpha Marriage Date Nights—see elsewhere in the bulletin for more info.

Bishop Joseph Perry, Chairman of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has pointed out that the history and contributions of Black Catholics is well documented but not widely known. In an effort to create greater awareness and promote intercessory prayer for the canonization of holy men and women of African American heritage, I was sent six Cause for Sainthood Prayer Cards and a include a brief bio of those six below. It was wonderful for me to research them just a bit.

This week, January 29 - February 4, 2023, we celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. It reminds us of the value and importance of Catholic education. We are blessed to have our own parish Kindergarten through 8th-grade school, our own early education center, and also to have several Catholic high schools in our area. I hope you see the great things that are going on in them! 

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) In our Gospel we hear the call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Jesus. They would become Jesus’ closest friends. Friendship with Jesus is what our faith is all about. Pope Benedict XVI died on December 31, 2022—may he rest in peace. This made me recall he wrote about end emphasized friendship with Jesus. Here are some excerpts from his writings for us to meditate on:

Pope Benedict XVI’s First Encyclical Deus Caritas Est “God is Love”, December 25, 2005

I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)

The Archbishop’s Call to Share (ACTS) kicks off this weekend. This is an annual appeal to fund many important ministries of the Archdiocese that we could not do alone as a single parish. It is the equivalent of our annual parish stewardship which funds our parish ministries, except this appeal funds Archdiocese-wide ministries which benefit us and many others (see examples below). I know our 2023 ACTS goal is increased to $353,495.

Merry Christmas, Happy Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, Happy New Year and Thank You! Thank you for all the cards, gifts, goodies, and prayers you have given to me! 

Merry Christmas! I am so glad you are with us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. No matter if you’ve been with us all year or you are just visiting for today or you were drug here by someone else against your will, no matter what it is good to be with you for Christmas!

Jesus is with us too! As the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 1:20-23) relates:

Welcome to the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is the time of year when the wait for Christmas becomes almost agonizingly unbearable. Holiday shopping is in full swing with people buying, buying, buying. The Marthas of the world are busy organizing and prepping holiday meals. Companies are showing their appreciation for their employees by having ‘Holiday Parties’ and sending ‘Seasons Greetings’. The festivities end with someone drinking a little too much eggnog and eating a little too much barbecue.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice!  Indeed, the Lord is near.”  This is the prayer of the entrance antiphon from today’s Mass.  
 
The name of the third Sunday of Advent, “Gaudete Sunday”, is taken from that antiphon - the word, “Gaudete” is Latin for “Rejoice.” And Gaudete Sunday is a Church’s subtle reminder that Advent is supposed to include a certain “darkness” quality.