Pastor's Notes - 08/04/2019

As I was preaching last weekend at all the Masses about the revelation of the names of clergy perpetrators, I was embarrassed because I have known so many.  I have lived with one mentioned in the list.  I feel for the families of these priests, because they too, have to live with the publication of this list as well.  Please keep them in your prayers.

I thank all who attend Mass regularly because you have endured this sin of the clergy and of the Church and remain faithful.  However, we all know that only one-third of our registered parishioners attend Mass regularly on the weekends.  There are so many who do not come, or they attend services somewhere other than the Catholic Church.  I apologize for those members of the clergy who have broken your trust and expectation of men of the cloth to be holy and pure.  I myself have 9 great nephews and nieces all under the age of 12, and I feel for those children and families who have been taken advantage of and marred for the rest of their life.  This is something that one just doesn’t get over.  It endures for a lifetime.

Many question God and ask why He permits such a tragedy in our world?   It is sin and sin is in the world.  We are all sinners who needs Jesus’ redemption.  Some sins are more horrific than others, but all sin is evil and destructive.  We realize how our personal sin affects others in our homes, schools, businesses, parishes and society.  We do not always realize how our sin has a snowball effect and grows larger and larger.  Let us not forget to use Reconciliation (confession) as part of our spiritual lives to remain closer to God and His grace in our lives.

Please make it a regular petition in your prayer to pray not only for the victims and families of clergy abuse, but for all of the abuse in our world including the problem of bullying, which exits in the school and society.
 
Thanks for all you do!

Father Joe Wormek

Pastor
Fr. Joe Wormek