It is my choice! My beloved parishioners, How often in our conversations do we hear the above expression or a similarly worded expression? To make a choice is to exercise the right to choose. This implies a degree of freedom from whatever could impede such choosing, as well as a freedom to choose one thing from the other. We must have heard someone say, or we might have said it ourselves, “I am free to do whatever I want…” Again, this is true, but the speaker must not forget that they are also responsible for the consequence of this freedom. What I am trying to point out is that freedom has a corollary – responsibility. We are free creatures; but we are rational creatures as well. Freedom is foundational to who we are as humans; but this freedom is not an absolute. Our freedom cannot be free-range and unbounded. It has limits. For example, my right to life does not entitle me to use that freedom at the expense of another. The freedom to do whatever I want does not extend to taking another person’s freedom to live. And because freedom is not an absolute, we cannot make a god of our freedom and worship only at the altar of license. We must always remember that our freedom is a gift, which, to be whole, must be put at the service of and regulated by right reason.

Last weekend we had our parish summer picnic. It was such a wonderful opportunity to meet with some of our parishioners. I had so much fun, and I am sure those who were able to attend did likewise. We even had music provided by Kevin & Lynda Gring. How cool! I wish to express my gratitude to our staff and all who volunteered their time and resources to make the event a huge success. Thank you to all who brought side dishes as well. We pray for more opportunities to fellowship together as a parish community.

This week we have our parish summer picnic after the 11:30 a.m. Mass. Apart from the excitement of finally getting to partake in the popular Corn and Sausage, I am looking forward to the opportunity of spending more time with and getting to know some of our parishioners. We are grateful to the Lord for making it possible to hold this picnic this year. And we continue to pray for an end to this pandemic that has impacted, not just our physical, but also our mental health. Along with other dimensions, humans are social beings, and the ability to interact with other people helps foster this dimension of our being. I also wish to express my gratitude to members of our staff, especially Jenny Peterson, Roy Lawson, Darlene Pruett-Taylor, and Gail Waltman, and all our wonderful volunteers, for the work that has gone into planning toward this annual event. It is my hope that you would enjoy this opportunity to visit with your parish family again; and may this demonstration of our love for one another bear fruits in abundance. Amen. 

It has become expedient that I address the rather disturbing occurrence at our weekend liturgies where a parishioner makes some distracting sounds as if having a religious experience right after the Gospel is proclaimed and at the beginning of the homily. Since my arrival, this has occurred on three different Sundays, and I cannot but imagine how parishioners and visitors feel when this occurs. I want you to know that I am bothered by it as much as many of you are...

John’s gospel is unique in its description of the miracles of Jesus as “signs.” Signs are not ends in themselves, but point to something beyond them. In the Church’s sacramental theology, sacraments are described as efficacious signs that communicate grace. Though signs, sacraments effect what they signify. For example, water used in baptism, not only signifies cleansing, but actually washes away sins. Not only does it signify death, burial and resurrection to new life, baptism actually is death to the old self and the birth of a new identity in Christ...

John’s gospel is unique in its description of the miracles of Jesus as “signs.” Signs are not ends in themselves, but point to something beyond them. In the Church’s sacramental theology, sacraments are described as efficacious signs that communicate grace. Though signs, sacraments effect what they signify. For example, water used in baptism, not only signifies cleansing, but actually washes away sins. Not only does it signify death, burial and resurrection to new life, baptism actually is death to the old self and the birth of a new identity in Christ...

The readings for this weekend focus on shepherds. The oracles of the prophet Jeremiah, in our First reading, are addressed to those shepherds who have not cared much for the sheep but for themselves. By so doing, they failed to mirror God’s benevolence to the sheep entrusted to them and presented a scary image of a shepherd that caused the sheep to fear and tremble. These shepherds are thus accused of scattering the flock. God then promises to give them shepherds who would care for them and gather them from all the places they have been scattered...

Do you remember the distinction Jesus made between a shepherd, the owner of the sheep, and a hireling, a paid worker? You can read it in John 10:12. The shepherd does not desert or forsake the flock when they are in danger...

The readings for this weekend bring to focus our response to rejection. Do you avoid speaking the truth because it would not be accepted? Have you ever offered words of advice and it felt like your words blew back in your face? Do you feel reluctant to speak words of correction to a family member or friend simply because of how they would react? We all have that one person or persons who would never accept us as capable of giving them advice or correction. They have become too familiar with us. Well, do not worry too much, you are in good company. Both the prophet Ezekiel and our Lord were rejected by those who should have listened to them.

Have you ever been in a situation where words were inadequate, inappropriate or simply unnecessary? From my own life and relationships I have seen that just as words can either heal or harm, so can silence. I am constantly learning to know when to speak and when to be silent; what to say when I speak and what not to say when I am silent. It seems to me that sometimes presence, rather than words, is all that matters. This weekend my reflection is on faith in the power of Jesus’ presence.

Fr. Julius shares his reflections on this week's readings and how they apply to our lives and the life of our parish family.

In May, the Outreach Program provided $6,619.25 in assistance to 25 families or individuals for 28 accounts. This was a very slight increase from the previous month, but a higher amount per account. It was significantly less than the previous fifteen months for the same reasons the April output was less: stimulus payments, tax returns, and the Covid Emergency Assistance Program. But for those who needed help, the need was crucial...

My dear parishioners, Greetings of peace and goodwill to all of you!   I want to quickly reach out to you all in this season of transition. When on April 14th bishop Rhoades requested to meet with me after our priests meeting, I had no idea what the purpose of the meeting was. It was at that meeting that he announced to me that he was assigning me to St. Thérèse, Little Flower as Pastor...

Here we are. This is my last weekend at the parish and my last bulletin column. It is hard to believe. There are many beautiful memories that I will carry in my heart from the past years (almost five) at this parish. I thought I’d try to make a list even though it will be hard to do well. Still, I believe G.K. Chesterton is right in saying, “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly"...

Some construction updates are in order. Our marble altar of repose for the tabernacle is materializing, one big heavy piece at a time. Our workers from Daprato Rigali Studios in Chicago are doing a meticulous job at this construction. Things seem to be moving smoothly, so we can pray that it might be complete by next Sunday!

Last weekend was the first with masks not required of the entire congregation. We will continue to provide a space in the church that offers required masks to provide for parishioners who want to attend Mass but do not wish to be near others who are unmasked. In charity for the various levels of comfort and of potential dangers to their health, it is fitting for us to honor that space for the foreseeable future. Let us pray that the vaccinations continue to prove effective in diminishing the spread of this virus and thus protect those must vulnerable.

Different priests bring different gifts. The more I interact with other priests and pastors, the more I see God using us all in unique ways to build up the souls of His people, to tend and to guide His flock...