Second Chances

Dear Parishioners,

In last week’s gospel (MT 16:13-20), Peter was praised by Jesus for recognizing who He really was, “the Son of the living God.” Of course, Peter didn’t figure that all out by himself. It had been revealed to him by Jesus’ heavenly Father. Nevertheless, Peter was the willing instrument testifying to the Apostles and the world the true identity of the Christ. This week when he finds out our Lord’s mission (MT 16:21-27), Peter becomes an obstacle, a stumbling block to Jesus who rightly puts him in his place, rebuking him as a satan, a deceiver. So in the span of just a few lines in the gospel, Peter goes from good and strong to weak and wimpy. But don’t you and I sometimes do the same? We are living our faith in grace and peace, and then some temptation comes along, and we fall. However, Jesus doesn’t leave Peter in his fallen state. Six days later, he takes Peter along with James and John up the mountain to witness his Transfiguration as a sign of the final outcome to his Passion and Death (MT 17:1-8).

This all serves as a reminder to us that when we trip and fall into sin, we need not lose heart, for Jesus wants to lift us back up into his good graces as he did St. Peter.

Fr. Carl

Get Involved. It’s Rewarding!

 Dear Parishioners,

My wife and I had our 45th wedding anniversary recently. We don’t get each other gifts, but we usually go out to dinner for a nice meal. Well this year with the Covid epidemic, we ordered out and ate at home. It is a time to reflect and reminisce. One of things that came to mind was the many wonderful communities we have been a part of. 

We joined a Marriage Encounter group early on in our marriage that provided us with a wonderful group of couples to meet with, to spend time with, and to develop relationships. They taught us so much about marriage and the ins and outs of communication, sacrifice, and healing that are a part of marriage. These skills and abilities strengthen and sustain us as a couple. 

Another community that was instrumental in our growth as persons, as a couple, and a family was that of the several parish communities of which we have been a part. The opportunities for growth and relationship building that come through the ministries of the church, through the opportunities for service, have been wonderful and greatly fulfilling. We have never lived around family, so we have relied on our church as a place for community and a place to belong. We have had work for sure, but the parishes we have been a part of have given us the greatest foundation and space to find out who we are and who we are in the eyes of God. Our relationships with the several priests we have encountered on our spiritual journey have been powerful and given such a warm and strong sense of the role that God plays in our lives. 

Finally, our connection to the deacon community in Indiana is a cherished experience that formed us both not only as deacon and deacon’s wife but as people of the Word, Sacrament, and Community. God has shown a great light on our lives, a light of love, a light of joy, a light of community. I can only wish that you, as well, find such a place where you can thrive and grow in faith, service, and love. 

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

Vaccines and The Rosary

Dear Parishioners,

In the late 1800s, a university student in France was riding a train and sitting across the car from an elderly gentleman who was holding a rosary. When the man began to doze off, he dropped the rosary. The young man picked it up and handed it back to him. But he couldn’t help asking the gentleman if he still believed such things as praying the rosary. When the gentleman said that he still did, the young student said that his university professors thought it to be an old-fashioned superstition and went on to talk about the more modern and enlightened view of the world. He said that intelligent people thought the rosary was nonsense.

As the older gentleman got up to leave the train, the young man offered to send him materials to bring him up to date. The older man kindly accepted and gave the student his business card. As the train pulled away, the young man read the card aloud, “Louis Pasteur, Director of the French Institute of Scientific Research, Paris.” This was the scientist who developed the process of pasteurization to increase the shelf life of milk, wine, cheese, etc; the man who discovered a vaccine for rabies, anthrax, and cholera of chickens; and the man who was known as a devout Catholic from Brittany (a province on the northwest coast of France known for its faith). On one occasion, he was told admiringly, “You have great faith like a Breton peasant man.” Pasteur replied, “If I had great faith, it would be like that of a Breton peasant woman!” It would seem that this great scientist also had the greatest of all virtues—humility, which led him to prayer and worship. As we pray the rosary for the discovery of a vaccine to combat the Covid-19 virus, it might be wise to say some prayers to Louis Pasteur, who developed not just one but three lifesaving vaccines.

Fr. Carl

Be Not Afraid!

Dear Parishioners,

I have always had a boat. My father had a fishing boat when we lived in New Jersey. We would go crabbing. I had a small sailboat after high school that I transported on the roof of my car. As an adult, I had a small fishing boat that I took to small lakes and ponds in Indiana. I have a small sail boat now that I take out on the Bay, although I am doing that less and less. But last year while on the Bay, a storm kicked up. I remember seeing the clouds and starting to head for port, but it caught us, and we were tossed around quite a bit. Now, I didn’t see Jesus walking toward us as in our reading today (Matthew 14:22-33). But I may have sent off a little prayer for help! Matthew provides us with a wonderful example of Christ’s love and salvation.

Our life these days seems to be a battle at times with a good deal of tossing waves and fierce headwind. Christ offered the disciples, “Be not afraid!” Let us put our faith in God’s goodness and salvation. He cares for us and wants to see us prosper. And he comes to us like for Elijah, in a small voice at times, a whisper. Maybe his whisper is in the small kindness that someone shows us, a small caring gesture that someone demonstrates, or an offer of help in time of need. These times require that we help each other. As God loves us, we are to love one another. So let us rest on our faith, knowing that it will be our guide in these tumultuous times. It will be the boat that gets us back to shore. It will be the light that shines when things are dark. It will be the voice that speaks to us, providing comfort and consolation. Thank you Lord for your presence in our lives!

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

This Too Will Pass

Dear Parishioners,

With the ebb and flow of the Covid 19 virus, our country has been like a giant yo-yo, down and up, and down and up. As the severity of the virus became more widely known and infections and deaths multiplied, businesses, recreation, churches, restaurants, and social gatherings were forced to shut down. Non-essential activities were closed, and we were down. But then the virus seemed to abate, and life began to return somewhat to normal. And we were up again. Now with an upsurge in the virus, we seem to be going down again and so, too, is our morale.

We need a little good news and encouragement which we find in today’s scriptures (Is 55:1-3; Rom 8:35, 37-39; Rom 8:35, 37-39). In the psalm response, we are told “The hand of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs.” The gospel describes Jesus showing people pity, curing the sick, and providing food for 5,000 men not counting women and children. Finally, St. Paul tells us that we will never be separated from the love of Christ neither by death nor life. In other words, no matter what difficulties or tragedies come our way, Jesus will be there to see us through into his everlasting covenant, eternal life. We need only to remain faithful. In the meantime, let us stick to the precautions prescribed by the medical community, pray, read the bible, attend Mass, and be patient. For this too will pass.

Fr. Carl

Pearl Of Great Price

Dear Parishioners,

I live with our daughter, her husband and three children. When I think about all that is happening in our world, it is often with a view toward what the world will be like for them? Our readings today offer some insight into that future (1 KGS 3:5, 7-12; PS 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; ROM 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52). The Gospel from Matthew contains several parables about the kingdom of heaven. It is a place, a state of being that people prize and go to great lengths to obtain. It is described as a treasure, a pearl of great price, an abundance of good. This is the goal for which we are to give our lives and to endeavor to make real. We are to give over our efforts, our focus and our actions so that God’s reign may become real. We are to make goodness happen, to create a way of life that is worthy of Christ’s sacrifice and God’s creative spirit.

I want my children and their children to live their lives open to this goodness. It starts with following God’s commandments to love God and to love our neighbors. It follows also to participate in the community of Church and to have frequent and regular participation in the sacraments. The “pearl of great price” is not some possession, some wealthy piece of real estate, or an expensive piece of jewelry. Rather it is a way of life that reflects and respects God’s presence in our world. Because all people have been created by God, we are to hold all people with respect as we love others. That is why the focus that racism has received recently is also important. Racism holds others as less than me, less worthy of love and respect, less of a person. I want my kids and their kids to look to others without the bitterness, meanness, and violence that racism brings. I think a world without racial discrimination is one that manifests in part the treasure, the great pearl, the goodness to which our scripture today refers.

Blessings,
Deacon Steve

St. Jane Frances School closing

Dear Parishioners,

St. Jane Frances has been a great school. I don’t think there’s a better one in the Archdiocese. From it’s inception 72 years ago in 1948 with 3 grades and 105 students under the leadership of 3 School Sisters of Notre Dame, the school grew into one of the largest and finest in the Archdiocese.

When I arrived here in August 2009, the enrollment for the 2008–2009 year was 568. But the stock market crashed in September 2008. It went down 771%, the biggest ever. So people lost their jobs, and enrollment dropped by 30% (171 students).

Naturally, rumors abounded that the school would close. That was never our intention, consideration, or even a thought. As enrollment declined over the next 4 years, the rumors of closure persisted, but we knew that with our faculty and staff, we were strong, vibrant, and viable.

Since then we have had good years and bad years financially, but overall we’ve broken even until this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Still we were determined and committed to continue.

However, while enrollment and reenrollment were not so bad, many parents were, because of the pandemic, reluctant to sign up for FACTS (the tuition payment plan). By the end of June, we had approximately 80 students signed up for FACTS and 80 not signed up. Therefore, we would not have the funds to pay the faculty, staff, and the other expenses of the school.

The school, as it was constituted, was no longer viable, so we had to make a decision and let families, faculty, and staff know as soon as possible in order to make other arrangements for the new school year before it was too late.
Our plan is to transition the school to a K-2 to K-4 and eliminate the K to 8 for the time being, in the hope of rebuilding in years to come. Hopefully, that will come to fruition in the not too distant future.

In the meantime, let us pray for all those affected, that God may comfort them in their pain and sorrow, and that good solutions will be found for all concerned.

Fr. Carl