Is Life Being Respected?

For the third week in a row, I find myself beginning a blog article by mentioning the conflict between Israel and Hamas (see “Escalating Conflict,” 10/10/23 and “The Importance of Building Relationships,” 10/17/23).

The situation in Israel is important in and of itself but my referring to it three weeks in a row is more than that. It’s indicative of the problems we face across the world. It involves the relationships we have with other people. The question I pose today is, “Is life being respected?”.

One can ask the same question for the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia or any other military conflict. In the selection of targets and the intensity of attacks, is life being respected? What about innocent life? Even with the wrongdoers, we must respect life.

The question, “Is life being respected?,” also applies to non-military situations. In dealings between (and within) political parties, are the different sides respecting each other as human beings with dignity?

As a recent high school football game about 25 miles from where I live there was a stabbing between two girls. I have not heard why they were fighting (news reports say they had not attended the game). I wonder if what they were fighting about was really that important? What did the stabbing accomplish? Was life respected in what happened?

I do not mean to say no attack is justified. Neither do I mean to say that the people in this various situations are ignoring the importance of “life.” I pray they are considering life and trying to respect it. What I do mean to say is that all life has value, including criminals, terrorists, and mass shooters. We can defend ourselves in appropriate ways. Unfortunately, at times, life may be lost in a military battle to stop a greater atrocity.

However, the ends do not automatically justify the means. Is the violent act against life necessary? An attack that ends 100 lives is not justified as a respond to an attack that ended a few lives. This is part of Just War Theory. The second criteria of just war theory (as listed on my webpage on the topic) is “comparative justice.” The response to an attack cannot be greater than the original attack. We may seek justice but to respond with greater force is more likely revenge than justice. God does not want us to escalate conflict. The phrase from the Old Testament “an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth” (see Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:19-20) is often used to justify the death penalty. That was not God’s intent. People were responding with greater force. God gave the command, “an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth” to limit their response. We must limit our response to what is necessary.

Think of it this way. A person from group “x” kills five people from group “y”. In response group “y” kills 25 people in group “x”. Then, in response group “x” kills one hundred people in group “y”. We must break the cycle of violence.

The fourth criteria of just war theory is “right intention.” We must ask ourselves what is our real motive? One part of this can be to ask if our present response is to the latest attack or are we just using the most recent attack to justify our attack against them.

The sixth criteria of just war theory is “proportionality.” We cannot use force greater than the evil to be eliminated (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 2309). Again, we must break the cycle of violence.

Of course, just war theory is written for “war” but its principles can apply to a conflict between any individuals or groups of differing opinions. We must always respect the dignity of all life. We must respect others as we ask them to respect us. We cannot respond with inappropriate force.

For example, while the Catholic Church is pro-life, thus against abortion, we cannot kill to end abortion. If we want others to respect the life of the child in its mother’s womb, we must respect the life of the abortionist. We disagree with them but we cannot kill them if we are standing up for life.

It is not for us to respond with hate. We are to respond with love. Jesus says so when He tells us to love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-28).

I write this during the month of October. October is Respect Life Month. I encourage to take some time in prayer to ask yourself if your actions respect the lives of people you disagree with.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

The number of Christian disciples in many parts of the world is shrinking. Fewer people identify as Christians. Some because they formally reject God while others have not been taught that God exists and loves them. Add to this the people who might identify as Christian but do not practice their faith.

Who does this leave to do the work of God?

The first answer is you. What is God asking of you? Are you doing what God asks of you?

The second answer is not only can and does God work through those who believe in him, at times He always works through those who do not belief in him.

Today’s first reading provides an example of this. At the time of this reading, the Israelites are under foreign rule. They had been defeated by the Babylonians. In turn the Babylonians were defeated by the Persians, led by King Cyrus. For the Jews life was better under Cyrus than the Babylonians. Cyrus allowed them to have some role in the political leadership and allowed them to practice their own faith.

In this reading, Cyrus is identified as the Lord’s anointed. This means he was chosen for the kingship by God. It was God who subdued nations before him such that other kings ran.

God say to Cyrus, “I have called you by name, giving you a title, though you knew me not.” Cyrus did not know our God as the one true God. Cyrus worshipped Persian gods. They didn’t really exist for as Psalm 96 says, “For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens.” God tells Cyrus, not once but twice, “I am the LORD, there is no other.

While Cyrus was not a Jew, he was open to God working through him. On the other hand are the Pharisees who professed the Jewish faith but many of whom (not all) closed themselves off to Jesus. They sought to entrap Jesus to be rid of him. They send some of their own disciples to entrap Jesus who falsely say they believe in Jesus’ teaching as truth.

They ask Jesus if they should pay the census tax to Caesar to entrap him. Jesus knows their malice. While they are not open to Jesus, He uses their actions as teaching moments. His ultimate answer about paying the tax is “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

What belongs to God? The proper use of what He has given us. We owe our lives to God. We should give our whole hearts to him (see Deuteronomy 6:5).

In the second reading, Paul writes, “For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.” God did not simply speak his Word to us. He sent his Word, He sent his Son Jesus to die for us on the Cross. It is the power of Jesus’ Crucifixion that saves us. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us faith.

Do we receive the faith with conviction? Do you believe what Jesus teaches? Do you live as Jesus teaches? Have you been transformed as a true disciple by the Lord or are you simply going through the motions, hoping to get into Heaven?

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #11

The Collect (Opening Prayer)

After the Gloria comes the Collect, often called the opening prayer.  The priest begins, “Let us pray” and then there is silence.  The silence is intentional as a moment to collect our thoughts to bring together our hearts in prayer.  It is “usually addressed to God the Father through Christ, in the Holy Spirit” (G.I.R.M., 54). 

While short, the prayer is structured in four parts:

1. Invocation – calls upon God, generally with the simple words “Almighty God”

2. Amplification – and then comes words announcing the good things God has done for us.

3. Petition – Then the prayer asks God to help us in some way

4. Conclusion – invokes the Trinity, “Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

(Previous articles in this series can be read at www.renewaloffaith.org/bulletinmass)

The Importance of Building Relationships

Last week I wrote about the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel. Since then, the fighting has continued with many people injured or killed. It looks like Israel is preparing to go into Gaza with ground troops. Clearly the situation is not good. Clearly, Israel and Hamas do not have a working relationship.

It is relationships that I would like to talk about today. If the relationships between people were different in the Middle East, would they be facing the present conflict? I know it can seem impossible to having a working relationship with an organization like Hamas. Here, I ask the question would there even be a Hamas organization if there were better relationships between the people in the Middle East?

Relationships are not easy when there are ideological differences. In the Middle East, there are different religions and different ethnicities that lay claim to the land. While there are differences, there is opportunity for dialogue.

We cannot be like gangs claiming their turf who, if a rival gang enters their turf, immediately physically strike. We must respect each person, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or any other person. This is not to say we must agree with them. I said we must respect them. Without respect, how are we to dialogue?

Dialogue is not always about getting our way. Dialogue can help us understand one another’s perspective. When we have some understanding of their perspective, then we can better dialogue, incorporating their concerns into what we do while holding fast to God’s Will.

Differences and divisions between people are nothing new. At the time of Jesus’ incarnation, there was deep divisions between the Jews and the Samaritans. As a Jew, did Jesus refuse to interact with the Samaritans? No. When He encountered the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), He dialogued with her. Through the dialogue she came to believe that He is the Messiah. From her own coming to faith in Jesus, many others in her Samaritan village also came to believe in Jesus. Their conversion started with genuine dialogue.

Dialogue is not just a problem in the Middle East. We see increasing polarization between different groups in our own country. We see it in our political system. I don’t like to talk about politics here but for anyone who follows the news, the divide between political parties in our nation is obvious. It is hurting our country. Each side is sure they are right and I am not sure there is any real dialogue. Everyone is talking. Is anyone listening? (In my article, “Seeking Real Dialogue,” I reflect on what Pope Francis says about dialogue in Fratelli Tutti.)

Now, the truth is determined by God. We cannot change the truth but through dialogue we can come to a better understanding of the perspective of others. We ask the Holy Spirit to give us the words to respond to the differences in a way that leads us all closer to God’s Will, to hold to God’s Truth while respecting all people. Our relationship with other people is important. However, our most important relationship is with God.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offers some tools for dialogue on the website civilizeit.org including a handout called “Skills for Dialogue.” We need to cultivate the soil for dialogue. We need to be willing to listen.

The need for dialogue is not just something for politics and international relationships. It is something needed within our church. Pope Francis is very pro-dialogue. Unfortunately, this is interrupted by many as a call for change in church teaching. The current synod in Rome is to promote dialogue but many see it as an opportunity to change church teaching. Genuine dialogue can help us better understand church teaching and how it applies in our lives today. However, it does not change what God has always taught. The synod is not an opportunity for those who want change to get their way (see Catholic News Agency’s article, “‘Not much new’ will come out of this year’s synod, Vatican’s doctrine chief predicts”).

I’ve seen the following quote from the Preparatory Document for the synod a couple of times recently. ‘We recall that the purpose of the Synod, and therefore of this consultation, is not to produce documents, but “to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another and create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, give strength to our hands.” ‘(paragraph 32 with original quote from Pope Francis’ Address at the Opening of the Synod of Bishops on Young People (3 October 2018).)

Those who want change may see the synod as an opportunity to plant their dreams. We need to listen. However, that doesn’t change doctrine. Here I turn to St. Pope Paul VI’s words in paragraph 63 of Evaneglii Nuntiandi, “Evangelization loses much of its force and effectiveness if it does not take into consideration the actual people to whom it is addresses, if it does not use their language, their signs and symbols, if it does not answer the questions they ask, and if it does not have an impact on their concrete life. But on the other hand, evangelization risks losing its power and disappearing altogether if one empties or adulterates its content under the pretext of translating it.” (my emphasis). Yes, we need to dialogue. We also need to hold to what God has always taught.

We ask the Holy Spirit to help us listen to others while holding to God’s Truth. We ask God to help us have good relationships with others while holding to our relationship with God as what is most important. The world does not determine our faith. Our faith must shape the world.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Isaiah 25:6-10a
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, (6cd)
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Matthew 22:1-14
October 15, 2023

We say we are disciples of Christ but what does this mean?

In secular terms a disciple is a student of a master.  Jesus is the teacher we are his students. 

As disciples of Christ, we place our trust in him who will place us in “verdant pastures…besides restful waters.”  We certainly want these but if we want these, we must allow the Lord to guide us in right paths.  We need to listen to what Jesus teaches and live in accord with it.

Perhaps the most well-known verse from the Book of Psalms is 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”  Some seem to think this means they will get everything they want

Do you really think God should give you everything you want?

People can want a lot.  I don’t think God cares if you are monetarily rich.  God wants everyone to have a safe and warm place to live but God isn’t interested in providing you with a mansion or a massive bank account.

The verse, “there is nothing I shall want,” is not about getting everything we want.  If we give ourselves to Jesus as his disciples, it can change what we want.  With our desires shaped by Christ, we no longer want some of the things that many people seek.

It is in truly giving ourselves to Christ that we come to see how our cup overflows with the riches of his grace.  We see that the “The LORD of hosts” provides us with a feast of “rich food and choice wines.”  We will share in a great heavenly banquet with God.

Jesus speaks of the wedding feast a king offered for his son.  Why a wedding feast?  They were big celebrations, lasting days.  Jesus is the bridegroom.  His bride is the church.

Long before Jesus became incarnate in the flesh, God had promised to his people, the Jews, that He would send a Messiah.  God invited the Jews to a great banquet that would come.

Now, with the coming of Jesus it is time for the banquet.  The Jews should be rejoicing.  However, when they are told the Messiah has come, some ignore the invitation while others persecute Jesus and his disciples. 

It was some of the Jews that sought the death of Jesus.  So, the invitation to the banquet was extended to everyone, whomever his servants could find, “bad and good alike.

So, everyone gets into Heaven right?  Nope!

A man came to the wedding banquet “not dressed in a wedding garment.”  You might think this shouldn’t be a surprise since he didn’t know he was invited. 

Yes, he didn’t know he was going to be invited but when he was, to enter into Heaven, he still needed to give himself to the Lord, to clothe himself in Christ.

Jesus loves you enough to meet you where you are at, “bad and good alike.”  However, He loves you too much to leave you in your sin. 

As disciples we are called to live humbling in the riches of God’s grace.  The Lord will give us what we need.  If we follow Christ, one day we will share in the heavenly banquet of rich foods and choice wines.  Here on earth, if we give ourselves to Christ, we share in the meal that is the Eucharist, bread and wine transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Christ, food for our soul.

Being a disciple must change the way we live.  What Jesus teaches us should change the way we live. 

Knowing that Jesus has died for us destroys “the veil that veils all peoples…he will destroy death forever.”  Knowing that Jesus died for us and after his Resurrection appeared to his disciples so that we would all know what it means to rise should change the way we see the world.  Death no longer has power over us.

You know that Jesus died for you.  If you want to be his disciple, you must listen to what He teaches and follow him by living in accord with his teaching.

If you want to know more about discipleship, I’m starting a series next week on discipleship.  You will find the information in the bulletin.  You can sign up to attend by webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-1ncSptURpK5-hJ7AkAlUw

For now, ask yourself, “Are you living in a way that is pleasing to God?”.

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #10

The Penitential Act
After the greeting, the priest may offer a few words on the readings or recalling why we come to Mass.  Following that, he says, “Let us acknowledge our sins so as to prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries.  This begins the Penitential Act.  This does not take the place of the Sacrament of Reconciliation for mortal sins.  Here, we are called to admit our sinfulness in humility, recognizing our need for God and his mercy.  We need the grace God offers us in the Mass.

Then comes the Gloria.  Just as we humble ourselves admitting our sinfulness, we give glory and thanks to God for all that He offers us.  We thank Jesus for being the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  We acknowledge God as the Holy One, the Most High.

(All previous articles in this series are available online at www.renewaloffaith.org/bulletinmass)  

Escalating Conflict

There is more fighting in the world than there was last week. The conflict between Israel and the Hamas is nothing new but the level of fighting escalated a few days ago. I heard one report said that the attacks in the last few days are the worst fighting there in 50 years. Lord, we pray you bring an end to the conflict.

What is going on in the world? Why can’t we find ways to get along? What does the fighting accomplish? Let’s look at the fighting between Ukraine and Russia. It has been going on for over 1 1/2 years. What has been accomplished besides destruction and killing? When Russia began attacking the Ukraine, I didn’t understand their motives (see my article “Some Preliminary Thoughts on the Situation in the Ukraine”) and I still don’t. How many resources (military and humanitarian) have been consumed by the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia that could have been used to help others in need?

Turning back to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the conflict is not new. Religion plays a significant factor. However, I wonder how much more is it about land than religious hatred. How much is the ongoing conflict about how each side treats the other today?

I was greatly saddened when the Prime Minister of Israel rushed to say Israel is at war. I don’t deny there is military conflict. However, while the present conflict is worse than in many years, I don’t see how rushing to call it a “war” serves any good purpose. Israel has a right to defend itself (see my article on “Just War Theory”). However, innocent human lives must be protected. Even if one side does not respect innocent lives that does not justify the other side ignoring innocent lives. The question of collateral damage must be addressed.

Perhaps the most common consideration of just war theory is who has the authority to make the decision for war. I find the criteria of “the probability of success” very important in present world conflicts. What does success look like? Success cannot be defined as Russia wiping out the Ukrainian people or removing Ukrainian government officials they don’t like. Likewise, success for the Hamas cannot be the destruction of the Jewish nation of Israel nor can it be Israel destroying the Palestinians. We need to be an end to war and terrorism but that is not the same as destroying an ethnic or political people. Jesus says, “love your enemies.”

After we determine a reasonable definition of success in any conflict, then we must ask ourselves what is the probability of achieving that success and at what cost? How many lives will it cost? How much destruction will it cost? How long will the conflict last, days, weeks, months, years? And will the success last? If the hatred remains, true peace has not been achieved.

We must find a way to come together in genuine dialogue and with true love for all our neighbors if we want peace. This isn’t just true for the conflict between Israel and the Hamas or the Ukraine and Russia. It is true for all of us. It’s true for people of different political parties, religions, races, or beliefs about lifestyles. Peace does not come from ignoring our differences. We need to find a path for genuine dialogue. Only then is peace possible.

The time for action is now. The money spent on bombs and fighting would be better spent on humanitarian efforts to those in need of the basic necessities of life like food. The money spent over political differences would be better spent on completing corporal works of mercy. It could be used to help the victims of recent earthquakes including one just this week in Afghanistan. When we focus on our differences, the conflict only gets worse. We cannot ignore our differences. We must face them in a way that respects the dignity of every human life.

We seek peace. So, we pray:

Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
(see my reflection on this prayer).

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

In our first reading today Isaiah writes of his friend who “had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hew out a wine press.” He did all the right things from choosing the land and the choicest vines to the way he worked the soil.

Then he waited. He waited for the harvest. He expected a good harvest as well he should from what he had done.

However, when harvest time came the only thing his vineyard “yielded was wild grapes.” He was disappointed. He asked, “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done?”

The problem with wild grapes is that they grow vines all over but then produce no grapes because all the nutrients they have absorbed from the ground go into spreading the vines and nothing is left to grow grapes.

Of course, this story is told to tell us something about God. God created the earth and everything that is good. Then He gave us dominion over all of creation. What is our response to what God has given us?

Do we bear good fruit or are do we choose a “wild” life? The wild life may seem fun. It may provide us with momentary pleasure but it does not bring us lasting joy. The pleasure of the wild life is short-lived.

What is needed with wild grapes is pruning. So, it is with our lives. We need God to prune as. We need to ask God to prune our lives such that we will no longer turn away from him to sin. It is God who can save us for eternal life.

God does not force his ways upon us. We are free to choose. However, we must realize that if we choose to turn away from God to sin, there are consequences to our sins. God leaves us to suffer those consequences, that is, unless we repent. In fact, God teaches us his commandments to keep us from suffering those consequences.

Jesus tells a similar story about a landowner and his vineyard in today’s gospel. Here, as in the first reading, the owner does everything he should to establish a vineyard. In this story he then rents it to tenants. They will work the crops. When harvest time comes, the owner will collect some of the produce as payment of their rent. They would keep the rest. This was a standard practice of the day and there was nothing wrong with it.

However, the tenants became greedy. They decided they wanted the whole harvest for themselves. So, when the owner sent his servants to collect the proper rent, they beat one of the servants, “another they killed, and a third they stoned.” They went so far as to kill the owner’s son so that they would inherit everything. Their greed took over.

Again, the owner is an image of God. God has given us dominion over everything. In response, God wants us to bear good fruit. God sent many prophets but many of the people would not listen to the prophets. They persecuted, even killed some of the prophets. Ultimately, it was some of the Jews who would have Jesus killed.

Have you accepted what God has taught? Do you listen to what the prophets teach us from God? Or you choose to ignore what God says to you today through the teachings of our Catholic faith? Are you or are you not living as Christ calls us? He is the way and the truth and the life. Follow him.

Ask yourself, “Have I killed Jesus?”

Does this sound extreme to you? Have you killed Jesus? Think about it. Why did Jesus die? He died for our sins.. So, when we sin we have a hand in killing Jesus but do not be afraid.

Jesus willingly gave his life on the Cross to save you. The only thing He asks in return is that you follow him in the way you live your life.

Sometimes we feel anxiety. We don’t want to feel that way. We look for what brings us happiness. Unfortunately, sometimes we too often turn to earthly pleasures for that happiness but it does not last. Confess your sins and turn your anxieties over to Jesus. “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

It is not enough to show up at church once in a while and expect everything to be fine. If we seek the salvation that God offers us then we must heed the words of Paul, “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.” God’s peace comes in living, in doing his will.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

The Hidden Depths of the Mass #9

The Greeting

After the Sign of the Cross, the priest offers the greeting. There are three options for the greeting by the priest. The first one is “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.” This greeting is not arbitrarily made up. It comes from 2 Corinthians 13:13. 

The second option for the greeting is “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This one follows a pattern found in Galatians 6:18.

The third option for the greeting is “The Lord be with you.” This is found in Ruth 2:4.

We are a Bible-based church. The Bible is foundational to our Catholic Mass.

(You can see the previous articles in this series at http://www.renewaloffaith.org/bulletin-series-on-the-mass-2023.html.)

Do You Pray for the Church?

Do you pray for the church?

There are two ways we can look at this question. First, if we consider the transcendent church, meaning the church that is beyond human institution, one might say why would I pray for the church. It is of God and beyond the need for our prayers. I think that is correct in some way. That leads us to the second way to look at this question, the church as a human institution but one that relies on God to guide it. This is the church we hear about in the news. It is the church we encounter in the world. We pray it is always intimately connected to the transcendent church.

Why do I pose this question? Because I want to make sure you realize that we need to pray for our church everyday, pray for it to be lead by the Holy Spirit in all things.

Last week Pope Francis held a consistory creating 21 new cardinals. Of course this made the Catholic news services but it also made the secular news. Why? Because people use it to speculate on what direction the Catholic Church is headed. Perhaps the most noteworthy duty of a cardinal is to participation in the selection of a new pope. With these 21 new cardinals, Pope Francis has named almost 100 of the cardinals currently eligible to vote in the selection of a new pope. That would be the vast majority of the typical 120 cardinals who can vote. So, the news likes to look at who the new cardinals are and their theological leanings to speculate on what the next pope might be like. That has merit but when it is time to select a new pope, I will pray and trust that the Holy Spirit will be the one in charge of the selection. I don’t feel qualified to make that determination or even to speculate myself.

It is not just at the time of the selection of a new pope that we should pray for our church. We should pray everyday for the church and for all who lead it to always be lead by the Holy Spirit. There are always issues before the church. There is dissent over Catholic teaching on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. Perhaps there is something you don’t like or understand going on in the church. Remember, it is not about what we what. We need to pray that God keeps his church rooted in what He has always taught us.

There are times when people want to seize the moment to get the church to do what they want. The current example of this would be the Synod on Synodality called by Pope Francis that is about to meet. As I understand the synod, its purpose is to talk about how our Church interacts with the world. Yet, there are those who see it as an opportunity to make radical changes to church teaching. I invite to pray that this synod is lead by the Holy Spirit and accomplishes what God wants.

Our prayers should never be about getting what we want. Remember the words we pray in the Our Father, thy will be done. I encourage you to pray everyday that our Catholic Church is lead by the Holy Spirit in all things. God has a plan and his plan is perfect. I leave you with the words of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the Lord—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff