From the Pastor’s desk— August 31, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

St. Paul teaches the unity of Christians saying, ^“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep(Rom 12:15).” It was my intention to write to rejoice in the Festival of Nations. However, in light of the Minneapolis catholic school shooting on Wednesday, there seems to be need for weeping too. I will say something about both.

            First, the Festival of Nations. I am so proud of this parish community for the beautiful event. It was clear to me the people were not just moved by the event itself, but the church family who hosted it. I have high hopes that hearts were opened to Jesus and the catholic church. That’s the most important, but it was also a successful fundraiser. In past years the festival has brought in as much as $23,000. After expenses, this year raised $19,000. Thanks be to God for the festival of nations as a sign of hope and for this money raised to help with other efforts to proclaim the gospel.

Now for the weeping. Sometimes I feel numb when I hear about school shootings. They seem far away, they don’t affect me directly, and I can’t do anything immediately about it.  Maybe you feel that way too. Then I feel frustrated that public conversation quickly becomes about political solutions, and I’m not sure that, any of these solutions are so simple.  In these moments I turn to prayer. May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.  If more people were praying, fewer would be committing violence.  St Paul also says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together (1 Cor 12:26).”  Because of that, when I choose to share the suffering of others in my own heart, I can invite Christ into that suffering and unite them with God.  In this way God brings peace through us into the world.  After we pray first, then we can begin to come up with solutions that stop further violence.

         

           

 

             

  

Fr. Joseph