A Week Without Writing

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I realized yesterday that it has been a few days since I have written here.  There are typically two reasons for when I don’t write something here.  The first is that I don’t have the inspiration to write something and the second is that I don’t have the time to write.  My reason for not writing this time is a little of the first but mostly the second.  This week has been a busy week.

It is isn’t that I had a lot of meetings.  There were some including yesterday’s meeting with some of the area priests as a simple opportunity to get us all on the same page.  Tuesday evening was a Stewardship Committee Meeting to work on preparations for our annual commitment weekend.  Thursday evening brought an “interview” with a young girl (with her mother) who will be making her First Communion and First Reconciliation during the coming year. 

Then there has been plenty of one-on-one discussions about things like the upcoming Year of Faith, evangelization activities, CYO basketball, Sacramental Preparation, cemetery maintenance, and preparing for the opening of the school year in just two weeks.

I am finding there is always plenty to do as pastor.  I continue to learn about the place and seek to discover God’s vision for the parish.  With everything that goes on here I would expect to feel a bit overwhelmed at times but I don’t.  I might feel a bit overworked but not overwhelmed.  The difference is God’s Grace.  God is keeping me at peace and that is a wonderful gift.  To me, that is God saying I am where I am supposed to be and that He is at my side and will guide me through if I let Him.

Sometimes we think that if we believe in Jesus we shouldn’t have any problems.  Jesus never says that.  He does say “my yoke is easy … my burden light.”  Our problems don’t disappear but they are a whole lot easier with Jesus at our sides.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Sunday Homily Bread of Life Discourse #4 of 5

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20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Proverbs 9:1-6
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
August 19, 2012

Lady Wisdom has prepared a great meal and invited the “simple” and those “who lack understanding.”  One might think Lady Wisdom would invite only those who are wise like her but she invites all.  She wants all to share in her wisdom.

She also speaks of the “foolish”.  We should ask how she is defining “foolishness” and “wise”.  Sometimes, what seems like human foolishness can be God’s Wisdom.  It is God’s Wisdom, a gift of the Holy Spirit that we are called to seek.

For this Lady Wisdom invites us to her great banquet.

Jesus invites us to even a greater banquet but, if like some of the Jews, we try to understand what Jesus is saying in human terms it makes no sense.  

Jesus tells them that they must “eat his flesh” and “drink his blood.”  In human terms this is awful.  It’s cannibalism.  It’s disgusting.  So those who think in human terms find it ‘foolish.’

Of course, at that point the people knew nothing of the Eucharist.  But we do.  When viewed with eyes of faith and in light of the Eucharist, “Eat my flesh” and “Drink my blood” becomes a profound statement.

Some would say the Jews who objected were taking Jesus too literally.  In a sense they are but then we take Jesus very literally when he says “This is my body, this is my blood” but we understand in faith that it happens on level that transcends the physical.

This is the fourth week in a row that we have been reading from the discourse in Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel that includes the Bread of Life Discourse.  This is the week where I had been hoping to come up with some great argument that would serve as proof of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

I haven’t found a wise argument in human terms.  Thinking that bread and wine could become the Body and Blood of Jesus could seem like foolishness in human terms.  With faith, it is a profound wisdom to believe in the Real Presence.  So I would just like to share with you two specific experiences of mine and then a general experience of the Real Presence.

First, as I was preparing for my ordination to the priesthood and presiding at Mass for the first time I reflected a lot on what the Eucharist meant to me and what it would mean for me to preside at the Eucharist.  At that time (and still do!) I very much believed in the real presence.  I prayed to God that the first time that I said the words of consecration at Mass that I very much be aware of that profound change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus that we call “Transubstantiation.”  And I was.  I wish I could describe it for you but it can only be described in faith, not human wisdom.  I simply knew something incredible was going on.

The second experience involves Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  For those of you not familiar with the practice, the Blessed Sacrament, a consecrated host, is placed in a monstrance on the altar for all to see.  People come and pray individually. 

The first couple of times I went to Exposition, it would hard and nothing really happened.  I just kept waiting for something spectacular.  Then, when I started in major seminary, I went one last time and said to God, this is the last time, unless this feels good, I’m not doing this again.  Well, God responded and it was the best hour of prayer I had had in several months.  What was different?  Well, I took some spiritual reading with me but didn’t just sit and read.  I’d read a little, pray a little, and God spoke to me.  It wasn’t a piece of bread.  It was God’s presence in a special way.

Lastly a general experience.  Sometimes, when I come to Mass, things haven’t always gone the way I would like, and I might not be in a good mood.  As Mass goes on, I let go of my bad mood and leave happier than when I came.  When I say ‘happier’ it’s not that everything becomes perfect or that I even get happy.  It’s more a sense of peace than happiness.  I believe that happens because I am aware of the divine action in the Eucharist.  The fact that I feel better after Mass than before proves to me the Real Presence.

I hope you can relate to what I have said.  You might not feel like you do but the fact that you are here proves to me that in some way you believe that something special does happen here.  We might not understand it.  We might not be able to describe it but we do believe and in our belief Jesus gives us grace. 

 

The Assumption of Mary

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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.  It is a Holy Day of Obligation (Click here to see the readings).  Here are some of the thoughts I shared in my homily.

The fact that today is a holy day of obligation (there are just six in the United States) should tell us how important the Church sees this dogma.  Even more so the Assumption of Mary was declared an infallible dogma of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1950 in his Apostolic Constitution, Munificentissimus Deus.  This places it at the highest level of church teaching.

Even though the Assumption was not declared an infallible dogma until 1950, it is not a new teaching of the Church.  It has been part of the Tradition of the Church since the early centuries of the church.  The Assumption is not found in Scripture, in part because it would have happened sometime after most (if not all) of the events described in the Bible.

However, the Bible does tell us a lot of key items with Mary.  Like the story of the Annunciation found in Luke 1:26-38.  The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she will be the mother of Jesus.  She does not understand how this can be.  Gabriel assures her it is by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High.  She believes and says yes to God, “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.”

Then today’s gospel (Luke 1:39-56) immediately follows the story of the Annunciation.  Mary could have claimed special status but she did not.  Instead she goes to visit Elizabeth who the angel Gabriel tells her is also pregnant.  When Mary arrives, Elizabeth (and John the Baptist in her woman) immediately recognize the divine presence in Mary and praise her.  Mary receives the praise but replies with the Magnificat where she says “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord” but that it is so because of the great things God has done for her.

Then it is Mary who nurses Jesus and raises Jesus.  Even when Jesus becomes an adult and then begins his public ministry Mary is there at the Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2:1-12).  When they run out of wine, Mary knows Jesus can help.  With total trust in Jesus, she tells the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Mary is even present at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25-28) along with the beloved disciple.  Jesus says to the beloved disciple and to us, “Behold your mother”.

Mary is the Mother of Church because of these words of Jesus but also as the one who gave birth to Jesus and who is the perfect disciple always saying yes to God.

Because God knew Mary would say yes, she was conceived without sin – this is the Immaculate Conception.  Because of this, Mary’s yes, and Jesus’ love for her as his mother, he did not want her body to lie in death.  So, when it was time for her to pass from this world, she was assumed Body and Soul into Heaven.  This is what we call the Assumption of Mary.

This is the Assumption we celebrate today.  Mary is our mother and the example of the perfect disciple.  With the help of her intercession may we always say yes to Jesus.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

 

 

Homily #3 of 5 – Bread of Life Discourse

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Here is this week’s homily from the Bread of Life Discourse

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
1 Kings 19:4-8
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
John 6:41-51
August 5, 2012

Elijah has apparently decided to give up but why?

If you go back and read the whole story, you will see this comes shortly after the famous story of Elijah’s “battle” with the prophets of Baal.  

Of course, Elijah wins because he is a prophet of the true God.  But right after that Jezebel, wife of King Ahab sets out to have Elijah killed.  So, he is fleeing for his life.

That brings us to today’s passage.  Elijah is hiding.  He thinks that there is nothing more he can do.  But God sends the angel to feed him and Elijah is strengthened for a forty day journey to Mount Horeb.

This was not ordinary food that God offered to Elijah.  Elijah was really down and God offered him this great food.

God offers us a great food.  It is the Bread of Life, the Body and Blood of Jesus, the precious gift of the Eucharist.

We come here today seeking the Bread of Life.  We each come from wherever we are at in our lives.  Things might be going great.  Or things might not be good and that might be why we are here.  

When things are going great, we can come to give thanks.  When things are bad, that can be exactly what draws us to Jesus.  When things are bad, we come to realize how much we need God.

Whatever our circumstances, God is with us.  God offers us the Bread of Life.  It is the food that nourishes our souls.  It is the Body of Christ.

We might ask how what looks like bread and wine be the Body and Blood of Jesus.  It can be hard to understand.

It reminds of the disciples who heard Jesus say, “I am the bread that comes down from Heaven.”  They couldn’t understand how Jesus could be the “bread that comes down from Heaven.”

But, surprisingly, it wasn’t the bread part that they struggled with first.  They knew Jesus as the son of Mary and Joseph.  They knew he had been born into humanity just like everyone else.  So, for Jesus to say he came down from Heaven would be impossible.  Humans didn’t come down from Heaven.  Angels yes, people no.

So, they struggled with what he said and it will only get more difficult for them to understand what he is saying as we go on to hear the rest of the Bread of Life Discourse over the next two weeks.

To be Catholic isn’t always easy.  It isn’t always popular.  Believing in God doesn’t make us the “in crowd.”  How many different prophets are the Old Testament were persecuted for preaching God’s truth because the people didn’t want to hear it.

Elijah might have been wondering why God allowed Jezebel to try to kill him.  Of course, in the end she did not succeed!

Jesus could have wondered, no not that he could have wondered, he did wonder why he had to suffer persecution and Crucifixion.  Of course, Jesus knew the answer, because he loved us and to redeem us out of his love he accepted his suffering even though it made no sense in human terms.

We don’t understand why some things are the way they are.  We don’t understand everything God tells us.  

But we can believe!

We believe that God is all-knowing and all-powerful.  

We believe God loves us and cares for us.  

We believe that Jesus died for us.

We believe that Jesus is the Bread of Life.

We believe that we receive the Bread of Life, the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.  We don’t understand but we believe because Jesus said ‘This is my body’ and ‘This is my blood’.

How Strong is Your Faith?

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Today’s Gospel Reading (Saturday, 8/11/12, 18th Week in Ordinary Time) always make me ask how strong is my faith. 

In this particular gospel, a man comes to Jesus seeking help for his son.  Jesus’ disciples (who have already done some miracles) were unable to help the boy.  Of course, even though the disciples cannot help the boy, Jesus can and does.  The question is asked how come the disciples could not.  Jesus responds, 

“Because of your little faith.  Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,
“Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'”

‘Because of your little faith!’  Ouch!  These disciples have been following Jesus all over, seeing his miracles, hearing his preaching, and even doing miracles themselves and yet he describes their faith as little.

It makes me wonder how strong is my faith.  I like to think my faith is strong.  I firmly Jesus has the power to do anything.  I believe I can do anything Jesus asks of me because he won’t ask without giving me the gifts and help from others to do it.  But do I believe my faith is strong enough to move mountains?

Tuesday at Daily Mass we heard the story of how Jesus walked on water and Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water.  When he began to doubt, he began to sink.  I can understand where he was at.  I’m not sure I would have gotten out of the boat unless Jesus made it quite clear he wanted me to walk on water.  Does this mean my faith is weak? 

Another way to look at it is ‘do I have my doubts?’  I do not doubt that God loves us and watches over us.  Even when bad things happen, I know Jesus is walking hand in hand with us.  I do not doubt that, because of the gifts God has given me, I can do great things.  But when it comes to moving mountains or walking on water I think why should I even think I could.  If I did move a mountain to a place more convenient for me, then it might be in somebody else’s way.  I’ll leave it where God put it.  What is there to gain by me being able to walk on water?  If Jesus needs me to, then I know I will be able to do it.  But I do not expect to be able to walk on water just to prove how strong my faith is.  I believe – even more I know – Jesus is with me and loves me.  What more do I need?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Homily for Sunday, August 5, 2012

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18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Ephesians 4:17 20-24
John 6:24-35
August 5, 2012

Jesus has fed the people (5,000 of them!).  They are following him.  Ideally they would be following him because they had come to understand because of the Sign who he truly is.

Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Instead, as Jesus puts it, they are following him because he had filled their bellies.  

One might wonder a little if they understood at all but when they ask for a sign, it is clear that they have not recognized the significance of what had happened.

They aren’t the first!

The first reading reminds us of how the people grumbled in the desert.  Through God’s miraculous power in the Ten Plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, they had been set free from the Egyptians.

They had thought it wonderful to be set free but they didn’t really grasp the significance that God would always take care of them.  They saw the miracles but didn’t recognize the signs.

But they grumbling had some basis in need, need for food, and God provided the quail and the manna.  They did not recognize the manna.

The manna came to be seen as ‘bread from heaven’.   

Jesus gives us the true bread from heaven.

Jesus is the Bread in two ways.  He gives us life in his Word.  The Word that speaks to us of how we are to live and when we follow this Word, we know life in a new way.

But Jesus also gives us the true bread in the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, his own Body and Blood.

What do we see when the Minister of Communion places the host in our hearts?  Do we see something that looks like bread?  Do we think it will fill our physical hunger?

And the cup, do we see wine, or something more?

It still looks like bread and wine but it has become so much more.  We can’t explain it scientifically because it has the same physical properties but it has been transubstantiated.

Transbsub??? What?

Transubstantiate is a word we don’t hear much.  Matter of fact, I’m better many have never heard it and if you have, only in church.

‘Trans’ means ‘change’ and then it refers to the ‘substance’.  The substance of the bread and wine is changed, changed for our benefit.

We are called to be changed by what we receive.  As Paul puts it, we are called to ‘put away the old self….and put on the new self.’

So, as you come up for Communion today, ask yourself do you realize what you are receiving, The Body and Blood of Christ?

And do you allow yourself to be transformed by what we receive?

Homily for Sunday, July 29, 2012

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Our Sunday gospels right now come from Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John.  For those new to my blog I don’t often put my homilies on this blog because my homily constantly develops over the week and I don’t keep the written text updated.  We read from this chapter for five weeks so here is my homily from last week and I will post this week’s homily in just a minute.  I am sharing these homilies to help us realize Jesus is the Bread of Life and what that means.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
2 Kings 4:42-44
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15
July 29, 2012

Our readings today begin with what we see as a miracle by Elisha.  One hundred people are fed with the barley brought by the man from the firstfruits of his harvest.  What he brings is his tithe but it would not normally be enough to feed one hundred people.  But God is able to take what the man has given and multiple it.

Turning to the gospel, Jesus does something even greater.  He feeds five thousand with even less.  It is the fourth of seven great signs in John’s Gospel.  The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle told in all four gospels.

Certainly feeding people who are hungry is important and something to be thankful for.  It is important to feed the hungry and we should always be mindful of that.

But I’ve already referred to the feeding as the 4th of 7 great signs in John’s Gospel.  The “signs”, the Wedding Feast at Cana, the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus are all wonderful miracles in and of themselves.  But as signs, they serve another person – to show the people, show us who Jesus truly is by showing the power of God working through Him.

And it is not small task at that.

Elisha fed 100 people with the barley.  Well, actually Elisha didn’t feed them.  God did.  But God did it through Elisha to show that Elisha was a true prophet of God.

But this miracle of Elisha is nothing compared to the Feeding of the 5,000.  Jesus is not simply another prophet.  He is the Son of God himself and thus his miracles are much greater.

Actually, the miracle, the power of God symbolized in the Feeding of the 5,000 is not limited to the physical event of the feeding. 

It leads us into the great gift of the Eucharist.  Beginning today, we spend the next five weeks readings from chapter six of John’s Gospel known as the Bread of Life Discourse.  Over the next few weeks, we will talk about what the Eucharist means to us as the Body of Blood of Christ.

For today, I think we need to think about two things.  First, we must remember how the man brought the barley loaves as the firstfruits of the harvest.  He recognized all that he had was a gift from God and brought his tithe/contribution to show his appreciation of the gift.  I want to emphasis that the tithe came from the firstfruits, not what was left over.  

Secondly, we need to mention the theme of “unity” from the second reading.  As Christians, we are not just a bunch of separate individuals.  We are united through baptism as children of God.  We believe in one faith and become one body in Christ.

As Christian stewards, we are given many gifts from God.  We have “stuff” because of hard work but ultimately everything we have flows from the gifts God has given us.

If we appreciate what God has given us, we are called to use the gifts to help one another.  This means to use our time, talent, and treasure as we are called and able to help one another.

The man with the barley loaves showed his appreciation for what God had given him by given the firstfruits and not just what was left over.

How do you show your appreciation for what God has given you in accord with your means?

Ministry Continues

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Another ten days has passed since I last wrote.  The funerals have slowed down with just one funeral in church and a separate burial last week.  That doesn’t mean everything has slowed down.

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in Rochester for a new diocesan leadership program.  The program began with these two days but will meet one afternoon a month beginning in October to discuss leadership techniques and the role of the pastor.

This week’s presentation talked about what Canon Law calls for in a parish, such as the role of the Pastoral Council and Finance Council.  Of course, the role of the Finance Council is to review the budget and other financial components of the parish and advise the pastor on options.  The name “Pastoral Council” may be unfamiliar to some.  It is more commonly known as the Parish Council but its technical name is the Parish Pastoral Council.  When we say “Parish Council” we might think of an all-encompassing council.  The Pastoral Council does need to know what is going on in the parish but it is not their role to oversee every little activity.

For instance, while the Parish Pastoral Council needs to know how the parish budget is doing, it is the role of the Finance Council to worry about the details.  The role of the Parish Pastoral Council is to be forward thinking.  To this requires knowing what is going on now and looking forward and setting goals to help the parish grow and serve the needs of the people in accord with God’s needs. 

Of course, it works both ways.  The Finance Council needs to be aware of the goals so that the budget reflects the goals and needs of the parish.

The presentations this week also talked about such things as dealing with personnel issues and “risk management.”  Some might wonder why does the priest need to know about personnel policy and risk management.  What do they have to do with being a priest?

Well, such issues may not be part of the direct ministry of a priest but they are part of the role of the pastor.  The pastor is to shepherd the people to grow in our relationship with Jesus.  To do this requires staff and buildings.  Hence, the need for the pastor to be aware of personnel issues and risk management. 

The good news for me as pastor is that I don’t have to handle all the details of such policies.  That’s why we have our new Director of Finance and Administration.  It is his job to handle the day-to-day administrative issues but I need to be aware of what he is doing to ensure it conforms to the spiritual needs and ministries of the parish.

I can’t do everything myself.  I don’t want to do everything myself.  That’s why we have staff, councils, and volunteers.  It is only by working together with the different gifts we have been given and working in accord with God’s Will that we are able to come closer to God.  The pastor has a vital role to play in all of this.

I take my responsibility seriously as pastor.  I pray that I lead Immaculate Conception Parish in accord with God’s Will.  I can only do so by the gifts God has given me and with the help of parishioners and staff.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Life Continues

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Well, today is four weeks since my arrival at Immaculate Conception.  If you remember my earlier writings, Sr. Edna had spoken to me as I was carrying in my boxes to schedule a funeral.  Tomorrow, I will preside at my eighth funeral since my arrival.  That would translate to about 100 funerals a year.  The good news is that I am told that normally it is more like 50 funerals a year so hopefully there will be a slow down soon.

Even without funerals there is plenty to do.  Some of it routine like our regular Finance Council meeting last Thursday.  The challenge there is producing a balanced budget with decreasing expenses and increasing costs.   Our Stewardship Committee met for a regular meeting last night.  It was my first time meeting with them so we began with some introductions before regular business.  Stewardship is an important concept.  Some think it is just about money.  It isn’t.  It is about recognizing that all that we have flows from the gifts God has given us.  As good stewards of those gifts, we use our time, talent, and treasure not for selfish gain (accumulation of material goods) but to make our world a better place, to make the Kingdom of God known here today.

This afternoon I met with the chair of our Welcoming Committee one-on-one.  They will not have a regular meeting until September but we met so she could introduce me to the ministry of the Committee.  It might seem obvious to many that we need to be a welcoming community but it isn’t always as simple as it sounds.  It isn’t hard but it does take a focused effort.  Whether it be sending a newly registered family a welcome packet to introduce them to life at Immaculate or a coffee hour after Mass these things help us connect to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Tonight I have a meeting with the newsletter team.  The newsletter exists to communicate what is going on in the parish.  Communication is essential to ministry.  People need to know a ministry exists to seek out the benefits the ministry offers.  People can’t come to parish events if they don’t know what is happening.  Communication is also essential to those who may have fallen away.  Communication can help people feel connected.  People who don’t feel connected can feel like they don’t matter.  Everyone matters with Jesus!

Ultimately the message is “God Loves You!”

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Need for Constant Renewal

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Here is my homily for Sunday, July 22nd.

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6:30-34
July 22, 2012

Once again the apostles gather with Jesus.  But this time their gathering takes on a different significance.  They are just returning from the mission that Jesus sent them out on.

To understand the significance of this we need to look back some.  Jesus began by drawing disciples to himself.  A big part of this was the miracles he performed.  He then preached to them.  

The point of all this was to teach the disciples what it truly meant to be disciples, what it truly means to follow the commandments not as a legal code but led by the Holy Spirit, believing in our hearts.

Jesus sought to give them a solid foundation of faith.

Only after giving them this foundation does he send them out on a mission to heal, drive out demons, and preach.  And only by Jesus’ authority do the Apostles do this.

I think it is essential that we also realize that the apostles did not just go out and keep going.  No, after a short time, they returned to Jesus.  They did not establish churches of their own or go on a missionary journey never to return.

When they do so he invites them to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”  He isn’t talking about a vacation.  It is more a retreat to rest, regroup, and renew with Jesus.  The apostles understood that they did not know everything.  They needed to keep returning to Jesus.

Of course, there is a lesson in all of this for us.  First, we need a solid foundation of faith to truly live as Christians.  That foundation begins with our parents sharing the faith with us.  The Church always recognizes parents as the primary teachers of their children but to continue to build the foundation, we come formally to learn about faith in one of two ways.  

For many, it means attended Catholic School such as our own Immaculate Conception School for pre-K through sixth grade.  (Incidentally, we still have openings if you would like to enroll your children.)  Even if you send your children to Catholic School you should be involved in their learning.  It is a fact that children learn best when their parents are involved in their education.  It could just be helping them with their homework.

For others, in the past it meant weekly religion classes either on Sunday or afterschool.  Our program (FAMBRE) for Kindergarten through fifth grade runs a little differently.  It means once a month with the whole family coming together with “homework” to work on in between. (Of course, there are also our middle school youth groups for 6th, 7th, & 8th graders, and Senior Youth Groups for 9-12th grade.

But I want to focus back on FAMBRE for a moment.  I said the whole family comes together.  One might be wondering why the adults would come.  

Number one – I already said children learn best when their parents are involved in their education.  We tend to think of our religious education ending before we become adults.  But in reality, just like the apostles who came back to Jesus, we need to keep coming back to learn more.  

The primary way we do this is by our coming to Mass.  We do not just learn about Jesus, receive our First Communion and go out into the world never to return.  No, we keep returning for the grace of the Eucharist and to hear God’s Word from Scripture broken open for us to help us deepen our relationship with Jesus.

The foundation begins with parents, continues with Catholic School or religious education.  But the learning/growing should never end.

Let us strive to become closer to Jesus.