Pastor's Corner

We welcome Fr. Simon Peter Kyambadde from the Kiyinda Mityana Diocese in Uganda Africa for the annual mission appeal this weekend. Please read a description of some of the missionary efforts in Uganda and see a picture of Fr. Simon Peter with some of the people featured in today’s bulletin. As the Church, we are missionary by nature – “SENT” to bring the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. It’s always good to welcome a visiting missionary and to hear the stories of the missions and how the good news of Jesus is being shared throughout different parts of the world. Thanks for your support of the missionary activity of the Church. Please pray for the missionary activity as well.

Good to remember that at every Mass we are strengthened by our communion with Christ and then sent forth for our mission to be the Body of Christ in the world around us. Our theme for this Jubilee Year has served to remind us that we go from Mass to Mission as Pilgrims of Hope!

I hope to see you this Tuesday, September 9th for our 5th annual Block Party Rosary. (I can’t believe it’s been five years since we started this event). It’s always a faith-filled evening, where our parish family comes together for fellowship and prayer. We will gather at 6 pm for food and social, rosary will begin at 7 pm. We will have short inspiring Journey of Hope reflections from parishioners and staff between the mysteries. It’s a great way to celebrate the Jubilee Year and our call as Pilgrims of Hope. Invite a friend or neighbor to come with you. Come with your special intentions to offer to the Lord, as we invite the Blessed Mother and our parish family to pray for us and with us.   

During daily Mass this past week and into next, we read from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians. In one of my favorite passages from Colossians, Paul reminds us of the uniform of a Christian. “Because you are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues put on love, which bind the rest together and makes them perfect… and be thankful!”

At our Baptism we were clothed with Christ. Wearing the garment of his life is the call of a lifetime. As I celebrate so many baptisms and funerals, the garment is a symbol that is put before me often. As the newly baptized are clothed in the white garment, the Church proclaims: “You have become a new creation and have been clothed in Jesus Christ. See in this white garment am outward sign your Christian dignity. We pray that you bring that dignity unstained one day into the everlasting life of heaven.” When the bodies of our departed are clothed with the white pall at their funeral, it is both a reminder of how they lived their Christian calling, and the blessed hope of being clothed with the glory of the Lord in heaven!

As you think about what you will wear when you get up in the morning, think about the garment of your baptism. Indeed, putting on Christ is a daily decision. Remember some of the beautiful virtues and attributes that St. Paul uses to describe the uniform of a Christian.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Fr. Mike

The days of September 1 (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) to October 4 (Feast of St. Francis of Assisi) are observed by the Church as the Season of Creation, reminding us we share a responsibility to be good stewards of creation and to care for our common home. "Peace with Creation," is the theme of this year’s observance. In his invitation to the Season of Creation 2025, Pope Leo said that for Christians, care of creation is “a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.” “In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity.” “Now is the time to follow words with deeds.”

Good to remember that Care for Creation is one of the 7 basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching.  

•    Life and Dignity of the Human Person - Every person has worth and dignity because every person is created in the image and likeness of God.

•    Call to Family, Community and Participation - We realize our dignity and rights in relationship with others.

•    Rights and Responsibilities - People have a fundamental right to life, food, shelter, health care, education and employment; they also have the responsibilities to respect the rights of others and work for the common good.

•    Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable - The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members, including in the arena of public policy.

•    The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers - People have the right to decent and productive work and fair wages.

•    Solidarity and Collaboration - We are one human family and are called to work globally for justice, both individually and in the context of parish and community.

•    Care for God's Creation - The goods of the earth are gifts from God for which we have a responsibility as stewards and trustees.

Thanks for all the ways our parish family reflects the best of God’s creation in the gift of each member. Thanks for all the ways our parish is about the mission to care for all of God’s creation.

I hope you enjoy Labor Day, a holiday that often signals the last hurrah of summer, with picnics, barbeques, the closing of the swimming pools, and that final opportunity to get away for a 3-day weekend, etc. If you are in town for the holiday, we invite you to begin your day with the Eucharist as part of your celebration. Labor Day Mass will be celebrated at 9 am Monday morning.

This Wednesday, we welcome our Nativity Religious Education students back to campus for another year of prayer, catechesis in the Catholic Faith, growing in friendship with Jesus and with one another. RE classes make the Nativity campus come alive on Wednesday afternoons & evenings. It is our privilege to partner with our parents in handing on the faith to our kids. We are grateful to our wonderful teachers, who volunteer their time to teach and share the faith with our young people.

Mark your Calendars for our annual Block Party Rosary on Tuesday, September 9th, and our annual Fall Festival on Saturday, September 27th.

Enjoy the Holiday!

Fr. Mike