The deadlines for the bulletin have all been moved up this season so I write these words on the day before Christmas Eve, with a sense of anticipation and light. The big tree in the church, as of now, has yet to be decorated; when it’s lit, especially in the dark church, it’s a magnificent sight. Every year a member of our parish donates this tree to us, so we are grateful.
We are now in a new year, we celebrate this weekend the Epiphany of the Lord which tells the story of the arrival of the magi from the east. They come to pay homage to the newborn Christ child, and already within the story there is the shadow of a threat, as Herod is suspicious of their asking about a newborn king, and responds with the massacre of all male children under the age of two. The Christ child from His birth will walk in the shadow of threat and death as he announces the good news of God’s kingdom of justice,
peace, mercy, and reconciliation, and He will go to the cross and die for that kingdom. In so many ways, the message of the Christ has always been and still is under threat, anytime we do not see and respond to the radical message of the gospel in our times.
A very fine book recommendation: “A Book of Uncommon Prayer:100 Celebrations of the Miracle and Muddle of the Ordinary” by Brian Doyle. The description on the back cover begins this way: “Prayers for cashiers and good shoes; for shorter sermons and better senators; prayers for the bruised, foolish, glorious, stumbling, brilliant Church; for chaplains and mathematicians; for idiot authors and muddy dogs..” The preface is titled, “Prayer for the Idiot Author That He Doesn’t Totally Punt in the Pages That Follow.” What I love about this book is that the 100 prayers are all about the everyday and ordinary, that they are not necessarily “proper” or pious, but are rooted in the everyday stuff and happenings of life. And isn’t that where God meets us?
Blessings on your week!
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – April 11, 2021
In three weeks we will begin a series of 10 virtual sessions with a discussion option to acquaint or reacquaint the St. Francis of Assisi family with the essential beliefs every Christian should know but sometimes may have a limited understanding. The series will...
St. Francis Of Assisi Pastor’s Column – April 4, 2021 (Happy Easter)
I extend my blessings and best wishes to all who celebrate the great feast of Easter today. A year ago, no public celebrations of the Sacred Triduum could occur. This year we can gather with 250 in the church for each Mass but I know thousands will still...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 28, 2021
The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi has a long tradition of inclusivity, a reflection of Jesus himself who came to break down barriers and divisions among peoples of every nation and way of life. For many years, we have been the only parish...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 21, 2021
PALMS, PRAYER, PROCESSION As many of you know, we have had two drive-thru opportunities during the pandemic, one for the feast of St. Francis last October and one during the season of Advent in December. These drive-thru opportunities have made it possible for Fr....
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 14, 2021
TO BE VACCINATED OR NOT: There is a lot of buzz in Catholic-Land in the United States about the morality of receiving the C-19 vaccine. To clarify this situation, allow me to cite a statement from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the...
St. Francis Of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 7, 2021
We are beginning discussions around admitting more people to our weekend Masses in light of progress being made with vaccinations. It will be a very small increase as we have been wisely counseled by the medical experts guiding us that hospitals are still very...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 28, 2021
LAUNCHING A YEARLONG VIDEO SERIES AT ST. FRANCIS: Last Monday we launched a 1-hour video presentation that is the first of a year long series of video presentations we are producing at St. Francis. This video lecture presents a snapshot of the most...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 21, 2021
LAUNCHING A YEARLONG VIDEO SERIES AT ST. FRANCIS: On Monday, February 22, we will launch a 1-hour video presentation that is the first of a yearlong series of video presentations we are producing at St. Francis. This video lecture will present a snapshot of the most...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 14, 2021
House Fire of Staff Member: Trevor Thompson, director of our Justice and Peace Ministry, lost his home to fire last Tuesday. Fortunately, no one was hurt. We are encouraging parishioners who would like to assist his family with the rebuilding effort to...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 7, 2021
Today is Scout Sunday in the United States, a day when we recognize the youth who are being and have been formed by the scouting movement. I was formed through this organization as a youth and look back with gratitude for what I received from outstanding...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – April 11, 2021
In three weeks we will begin a series of 10 virtual sessions with a discussion option to acquaint or reacquaint the St. Francis of Assisi family with the essential beliefs every Christian should know but sometimes may have a limited understanding. The series will...
St. Francis Of Assisi Pastor’s Column – April 4, 2021 (Happy Easter)
I extend my blessings and best wishes to all who celebrate the great feast of Easter today. A year ago, no public celebrations of the Sacred Triduum could occur. This year we can gather with 250 in the church for each Mass but I know thousands will still...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 28, 2021
The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi has a long tradition of inclusivity, a reflection of Jesus himself who came to break down barriers and divisions among peoples of every nation and way of life. For many years, we have been the only parish...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 21, 2021
PALMS, PRAYER, PROCESSION As many of you know, we have had two drive-thru opportunities during the pandemic, one for the feast of St. Francis last October and one during the season of Advent in December. These drive-thru opportunities have made it possible for Fr....
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 14, 2021
TO BE VACCINATED OR NOT: There is a lot of buzz in Catholic-Land in the United States about the morality of receiving the C-19 vaccine. To clarify this situation, allow me to cite a statement from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the...
St. Francis Of Assisi Pastor’s Column – March 7, 2021
We are beginning discussions around admitting more people to our weekend Masses in light of progress being made with vaccinations. It will be a very small increase as we have been wisely counseled by the medical experts guiding us that hospitals are still very...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 28, 2021
LAUNCHING A YEARLONG VIDEO SERIES AT ST. FRANCIS: Last Monday we launched a 1-hour video presentation that is the first of a year long series of video presentations we are producing at St. Francis. This video lecture presents a snapshot of the most...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 21, 2021
LAUNCHING A YEARLONG VIDEO SERIES AT ST. FRANCIS: On Monday, February 22, we will launch a 1-hour video presentation that is the first of a yearlong series of video presentations we are producing at St. Francis. This video lecture will present a snapshot of the most...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 14, 2021
House Fire of Staff Member: Trevor Thompson, director of our Justice and Peace Ministry, lost his home to fire last Tuesday. Fortunately, no one was hurt. We are encouraging parishioners who would like to assist his family with the rebuilding effort to...
St. Francis of Assisi Pastor’s Column – February 7, 2021
Today is Scout Sunday in the United States, a day when we recognize the youth who are being and have been formed by the scouting movement. I was formed through this organization as a youth and look back with gratitude for what I received from outstanding...
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