Message from the Pastor

“But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)

Sometimes simple words can be deep reminders of who we are as Christians. St. Paul reminds his listeners, in our Second Reading, that if we claim the name of Jesus as our own, there are attributes that we are challenged to embrace. As believers, St. Paul calls us to stand up and witness the truth of Jesus as Lord. Surely we can do that by words, but how much more effective is our witness when it is accompanied by our actions?   

St. Paul presents some very practical ways to live in Jesus. How often have we heard that patience and gentleness are required of the Christian? How many unpleasant and volatile situations could be avoided if we approached them not with arrogance or pride but with the gentleness of love? Jesus calls us to that gentleness because He is aware that the attitudes we bring to each situation are an invitation to bear witness to the truth. We are reminded in the reading that Jesus bore witness to the truth of His life in the presence of Pilate, a witness that brought Him to the Cross. Jesus did not back down or even take the easy road. He knew that standing for the truth would lead Him to death, yet He remained faithful. While we may never have to die for our faith in Jesus, we are certainly challenged to LIVE that truth. Living the faith may mean biting our tongues when we want to repay anger with anger or strike those who have hurt us. The words of Scripture call us to something deeper. We live as a witness not just by our words but by the way we treat others, especially those who don’t wish for the best for us.

In those moments, we can do the most profound teaching and preaching. Remember, others will look to us to define what a Christian is. So we never know when our actions can lead someone closer to Jesus or even push them away. Live in the gentleness of Jesus. Act in love for all, and as a people of sanctity, seeing in the face of others, we meet the face of Jesus Himself. The Gospel reminds us that we have been shown the way through Jesus Himself. If He is truly raised from the dead, then His teachings are from the Father and the will of God. If that is the case, as we know it is, then we have no other recourse but to strive to challenge ourselves to embrace His vision for our lives.

This Sunday, September 25, is the Open House for our High School. It will take place from 2:00-4:30 PM outside Immaculata Hall. This event is a wonderful opportunity to experience the “Catholic, Academic and Cheerful” School that St. Mary’s High School is known for. If you have considered or are considering the lasting benefits of a Catholic education, I invite you to attend the Open House and meet our dedicated faculty and staff and experience the high caliber of students who attend our school.

As we prepare for our Harvest Festival, some help is still needed in various areas. Please see the bulletin for further details or visit the information page on our website.

Our Religious Education Program is still in need of a few more volunteers. Please consider volunteering for this most important ministry to our young people. The blessings and rewards are great. I am so grateful to our Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Marie Granieri, for her dedicated service to our young people and her love for our faith.

In Jesus,
Fr. Bob