From our Pastors

Please pray for them. I, personally, do not know any perfect human beings on this earth.  Certainly not me, and no one I have met either.  We are all imperfect, striving to emulate the virtues and character of those we admire. This shared imperfection connects us all in our humanity. I say this because it seems we have lost the beautiful understanding of purgatory. When someone dies, it is our responsibility to pray for him or her and try to have a Mass offered for them. This act of caring and responsibility is crucial in our faith.


In 1032, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven... 


We continue reading, "This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in sacred Scripture... From the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for each of them. 


'Suffrage' here means intercessory prayers, prayers offered on behalf of another person, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that thus purified they might attain the beatific vision of God.


Some of the best people I know have died and will die.  I will continue to love them as I pray for them.  I encourage you to do so as well.


Peace, 

Father Maassen

On February 9th we celebrate World Marriage Day. 


RADIATE LOVE


Under the title “Radiate Love,” every Catholic community is invited to participate in this initiative, starting on World Marriage Day – February 9, 2025 – when couples all over the globe are called by God to invest in their relationships and let that love radiate out to the whole world, first and foremost in their own family.


WHAT IS RADIATE LOVE?


Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding, turning water into fine wine, because he believes marriage is beautiful and worth celebrating. The love of husbands and wives images the love between Jesus and his Church, as both spouses are called to lay down their lives for the other and their children.


Under the title “Radiate Love,” the bishops of  North America invite every Catholic to celebrate the beauty and goodness of marriage and family. We invite all families to radiate their love to the world—parents, grandparents, children, spouses, sisters, and brothers. This initiative will include monthly reflections, prayers, videos, and other materials to help families become witnesses of God’s love. 


https://cacatholic.org/radiatelove/#resources

Love is patient; love is kind. Now, where did I hear that phrase before? Hmm... It is a verse in chapter 12 of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. When Paul defines love in this beautifully poetic verse, the second way he describes love is that it is kind. We can choose to be kind. The other day, I thought (I have to stop that) that we all have troubles and stress. Some are blessed with a job they really like, physical health, and harmonious relationships that are not causing stress.

Many or most of us have problems with one or more of the above—even more reason to be kind to one another. I believe that kindness can come with a simple smile and a greeting. We can be kind by our words or by lending a hand. I may be having difficulty due to the above, but I can still choose to be kind. The kindness I show another human being may ease their problems and stress. Kindness is vital in relationships between spouses. Sometimes, spouses are kinder to strangers than they are to each other. Love. Is.. Kind.

Most of us are familiar with the phrase "Got Milk?" 


If you need milk, you can go to the grocery store. 'Got milk?' has become a familiar phrase to many of us due to advertising in the milk industry.


 'Got Kindness?' SHOULD be the question we ask of ourselves and all Catholics. As members of the Catholic community, we should be leaders in showing kindness to others. If we find ourselves lacking in kindness, we should make a conscious effort to show kindness to others, just as we would buy milk if we were out of it.


Peace.


Fr. M

Ps. Forget about "Got Milk"— "Got Kindness" *reprinted from 2008

Message from Father Tim 1/19/2025


Something I run into – not just in our parish but – in all the parishes I have been assigned is Decrees of Nullity [colloquially known as Annulments] – about the meaning and the length of the process involved.

    Concerning the meaning: a Decree of Nullity is basically saying that there was a problem at the time the Marriage vows were exchanged – a problem that causes the vows to be nonbinding.  This declaration by the Church is never ever made whimsically but is taken very seriously.  Consider: what is vowed is that a spouse love and honor the other all the days of his or her life – as Christ vows to love sinners come what may.  That being so, at the time a Decree of Nullity is requested, the presumption of the Church is that the exchange of vows was valid! From there, the burden of proof lies in proving the vows exchanged were invalid for whatever reason.

    As to the length of the process, this process can take a considerable amount of time – and in many cases a lot of time.  Because many souls wait until they wish a ‘new’ Marriage before seeking a Decree of Nullity, they become impatient with the amount of time it takes to adjudicate the request.  From there, many couples attempt a ‘new’ Marriage outside of the Church.

    Sometimes it is best for a couple to separate.  Briefly: if a spouse is abusing you, get out.  No one has the right to abuse their spouse.  As Sacred Scripture tells us, So [one] should love their [spouse] as their own bodies [One] who loves [one’s spouse] loves his or herself.’ But by and large, couples are called upon by Marriage vows to use the Grace Christ gave at the time of the exchange of the vows to heal, correct, and continue to love onwards.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church points out that – while there are some reasons to divorce which the Catechism sets out in its text – it is a sin to divorce [CCC 2382 - 2386].    

     The best approach would be to not date until such a Decree is handed down… again before dating again or as soon as possible.  In this way, a soul understands clearly where their Marriage – wounded though it may be – stands before God and the Church. It is completely understandable that a soul – right after the bitter pains of civil divorce – may not wish to keep such wounds open while seeking a Decree.  Yet, it is very important for the Salvation of one’s soul to know where this Marriage stands in the eyes of God and His Church.

    The question that one might pose is: do you think God cares about such things?  Absolutely: yes.  If I may modify Ephesians 5 slightly: If I may modify Ephesians 5 slightly: ‘Love your [spouse] even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  So, [one] should love their [spouse] as their own bodies. [One] who loves [one’s spouse] loves his or herself.  For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church.’ 

     As well as 1 Corinthians 13, ‘love never fails.’ In the Sacrament of Marriage, one promises before God in a binding way to love a spouse unto death – even unto the Cross.  Yes, one may have need to separate for the mental and spiritual health of all the parties, but this does not change the Sacramental sacrificial character of Marriage promised at the exchange of vows.

    So, in light of a soul’s Salvation – but understanding fully the pain of such a breakup, please consider these words.  Let us be careful out there!

Archbishop Rozanski's Letter 12/24/24


Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis issued “SPES NON CONFUNDIT” (Hope does not disappoint), Bull of Induction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025. The Holy Father invited “everyone to an intense experience of the love of God” and “calls on all Christians to become Pilgrims of Hope.”  


The Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope will begin on December 24, 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome and continue until the closing of the Jubilee Year on January 6, 2026.  


I invite all the faithful to join Bishop Mark Rivituso to celebrate the solemn opening of the Jubilee on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Boulevard. The Jubilee will conclude locally on December 28, 2025.  


As part of the Jubilee, the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis will be able to obtain the grace of the Jubilee Indulgence by making a pious pilgrimage to any sacred Jubilee site.


Under the usual conditions. I have designated nine Jubilee pilgrimage sites across the archdiocese: 


Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis 


Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France


Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters at the Mount Grace Covent and Chapel.


Carmel of Saint Joseph at the Chapel of the Most Precious Blood 


Saint Mary’s of the Barrens National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Monastery of Saint Clare of the Immaculate Conception 

Passionist Nuns of St. Louis 


Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in New Melle 


Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Union 


If you wish to learn more about the Jubilee Indulgence and for a complete list of the pilgrimage sites, please visit: archstl.org/2025jubileeyear. 


Please visit the following links for much more information about the Jubilee Year: 

The Vatican Jubilee 2025 website; https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html 


The USCCB Jubilee 2025 website: https://www.usccb.org/committees/jubilee-2025 


I am confident that this Holy Year will be a time for rediscovery and unity, opening hearts to receive the fullness of God’s love and mercy through a personal encounter with the Lord, Jesus Christ. 


Sincerely yours in Christ, 


Most Reverand Michael Rozanski. 

Archbishop of St. Louis
The Perfect Gift

Fathe Maassen's Message 12/22/24


Blessed and Holy Christmas to all, and Welcome!

  I once heard an ad for what was advertised as the perfect gift. I believe it was a jewelry ad. I have never received or given a perfect gift. These were good gifts; they just were not perfect. There is, however, one perfect gift. The only perfect gift is the one given to us by our Father, the gift of Jesus Christ. 

  What gift have you gotten for Christ in all the Christmas shopping you might have done this year? Have you thought of a gift for the Savior, the Infant, and the King of Kings? After all, it is His birthday that we celebrate, which is the reason the holiday exists. Ah, what does He need, you say—nothing. Then, instead, what does He want? You can still give our Lord what He wants, even if you brought nothing.

  What Christ truly desires is your joy and love. These are not solitary feelings but ones that are shared and multiplied when you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. 

  Living out the commandments of Christ is one of the most profound ways to express this love. One of the most important ways to do this is to come together in worship (the Holy sacrifice of the Mass) every Sunday as a community united in love and joy.

  Give the Lord the gift of yourself and your time. After all, He has given you 24 x 7 equals 168 hours a week. If you keep His command to keep holy the Sabbath, which means setting aside a day for rest and worship, to 'Do this in remembrance of me,' you will give Him about an hour and a half a week, which is to say, about one percent of your time each week.... 1%. 

   So this Christmas, give our Lord about one percent of your time each week in praise and thanksgiving, in worship, and change your life for the better. Praise and thank God in the way Jesus Christ directs us, and in the way Christ has given us (the Mass). 

 Sin robs us of our joy; living our Catholic faith and keeping our Lord's commandments brings joy. "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete." John 15:10--11

  One of my favorites is, “Although it's been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you."

  My hope and prayer for us is that we know and experience the love and joy of Jesus Christ this Christmas and throughout our lives,

 

Peace,                      


Father Maassen

Dear Missionaries of Christ, 


During Advent, Jesus Christ draws our attention to His return. As the Nicene Creed says, and we claim each Mass, "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." As Advent continues, we look forward to the celebration of Christmas. This season is a time of joyful expectation, akin to a bride and groom, family, and friends, who are all eagerly anticipating the wedding day. 


During Advent, the Church guides us to focus on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is a time when we profess our hope in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. We are reminded that we are created out of love to share in the Divine Life and the promise of Resurrection.


This season of Advent helps us to focus on our purpose in life. We become more mindful of this most fundamental reality—salvation - eternal life in the Holy Trinity. Our Lord implores us to "Be prepared." for his coming again. How? By living as disciples of Jesus Christ,  we encounter Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in Worship (Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,)  and in our brothers sisters who are in need. Each of us, as disciples, plays a crucial role in this mission. If we have grave sin, we need the sacrament of Reconciliation, and if not, there is Grace that awaits. 


How? Are we living the Commandments, worshipping, helping feed the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, etc.? Do we love God and our neighbor as ourselves?


Advent is, first and foremost, a Eucharistic season. The Son of God became enfleshed in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lord is present Body and Soul in the Eucharist. Let this be a season of renewal, a time to deepen your love and understanding of the Eucharist and the worship Jesus Christ gave us (the Mass). May this Advent season be a time of spiritual growth and connection for all of us.


In Christ,

Father Maassen

Father Maassen's Message 11/10/24


Dear Missionary Disciples,


  "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the one begotten of him. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and obeying his commandments. For the love of God is this: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome" - 1 John 5:1-3


  So there it is. Read that again, "For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments." I see our society as wildly individualistic and self-determining. We say we love God, but what does that mean? Does it mean I love God the way I want? Does it mean I define and determine what it means to love God? 


  In John's first letter, it is unequivocally stated that loving God means keeping his commandments, (not what we personally interpret them to be), but the commandments as they were given to us. The commandments of God are not subject to our changing whims or societal norms but are timeless and unchanging.  


  Where do we find these commandments? — In Jesus Christ. He established our Catholic Church and guided it by the Holy Spirit. Christ lived these commands and continues to provide us with shepherds, as he did the original Church.


  God’s commandments are given to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ. He taught his apostles by what he did and said. This teaching is conserved and proclaimed through the Church. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, is the custodian of Jesus' teaching, which is our Tradition. Christ Jesus' teachings in sacred scripture and Church tradition establish our faith and its tenets. 


  Keeping God's commandments can be challenging at times. We all, at some point, find ourselves falling short. But in these moments, we must turn to the Church for guidance and support.


  In the present day, evils quietly lurk all around us. One way evil operates is to convince us that the truth we were taught are not God's commandments. Let me show you evidence of evil trying to undermine God's commands, which have been clear for centuries.

  "You don't need to go to church; physical intimacy is all right outside of marriage; life can be taken if someone is suffering; marriage need not be between a man and a woman; abortion is a right; vengeance is all right," etc., etc. 


  Jesus made it clear, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Disobedience leads us astray, away from the path to holiness. 


  Evil is clever. God loves us infinitely, he wants us to be with him forever. He wants to liberate us from enslavement to sin.


In Christ, 


Father Maassen

Fr. Maassen's Message - 9/15/2024

Dear Missionary Disciples of Christ, 

 We will begin RCIA or OCIA on October 6 at 10:00 am at St Francis Borgia. We used to call it the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, but now we call it the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. This opportunity is for all non-Christians who have never been baptized and Christians of other denominations; it is for anyone. If you know someone who is not Catholic, please invite him or her to come. They can call Deacon Dave Tobben or any of the clergy. There is no fee, no force, and no contracts to sign. 
 
I have heard many stories of those who started their journey to love and follow Jesus Christ with an invitation. I love our Catholic faith, founded by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, and I pray you do too. We are missionaries by nature, and have been since Jesus said, "Go therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you ...
 
Thank you!
 
A huge thank you to all who volunteered for the Fall Festival; it was wonderful. 
Yet, another thank you so much to all those who volunteered and set up our inaugural Gold Tournament. I would like to thank especially those who took leadership roles in both. Volunteering is essential for our parish events, so again, I thank you. 
 
Building community is very important, and fundraising helps us continue the mission of Jesus Christ, which ultimately brings people to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to share in the Resurrection.
 
Peace, Father Maassen
 

FATHER MAASSEN'S MESSAGE

12/1/24


Dear Missionary Disciples,


What a joyous time we are entering! Advent, a season of joyful expectation, is upon us. The Church draws our attention to Christ's return at the end of time, the Second coming, and to prepare for the celebration of Christmas. This season is a beacon of hope, a time of anticipation and joy. It's like a season of weddings, where the air is filled with excitement and happiness.

The past few years with our Church filled with weddings, it has become more and more evident. As the couple looks forward to their wedding day, God directs us to look forward to everlasting life joyfully. 


Just as a reminder, we were created to share in the knowledge and love of God. We were so, too, made for Heaven. This season helps us focus on our purpose in life and helps us to be mindful of this "most fundamental reality of our life, eternal salvation in Jesus Christ." So, as the Boy Scouts say, "be prepared" for eternal life. How? Be prepared to meet our 


Lord. Meet him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, most assuredly meet him there, and in Eucharistic adoration at the Church, in prayer, and in our brothers and sisters with basic needs.


"Advent is, first of all, a Eucharistic season." The Son of God became enfleshed in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lord is present body and soul in the Eucharist. Let's make this a season of spiritual nourishment, a time to deepen our understanding and connection with the Eucharist through the Mass, Holy Scriptures, books, and CDs. 

 - (Quotes from Archbishop Burke.) 


On December 5th, our second graders will be making their first Reconciliation. Please pray for them.

On December 8th, we solemnly celebrate The Solemnity of Immaculate Conception. It's a time to reflect on the purity and grace of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day of reverence and respect for her role in our salvation. 

All are reminders of the mysteries of the Christmas season and Jesus' birth for our Salvation.

Make this Advent great! 


Peace.  

 Father Maassen

Fr. Maassen's Message - 9/15/2024


Fr. Maassen's Message - Love one another as I have loved you

Next week, we will be graced by the presence of Rev. Dominic Okoye, OP from the Dominican Fathers and Brothers in Nigeria. He comes to us not just to share his experiences, but to ignite the flame of compassion in our hearts. His mission is to show us how his order is dedicated to bringing the teachings of Jesus Christ to life for all people in Africa. His words will resonate with us deeply.

 Are you aware that more than 30,000 children die "every day" from hunger, deprivation, and their consequences? This is not just a number but also a stark reminder of our urgent task. These children are not just statistics; they are sisters and brothers, members of our one human family. However, statistics can indicate the problem's magnitude and the task's urgency.

 In John 13, Jesus Christ says, "Love one another as I have loved you."
 The USCCB reminds us that, "as Catholics, we must stand together in our commitment to eradicate the moral crisis of poverty and hunger. While we may have different approaches, our faith unites us as members of God's one human family, and we must act in harmony." CCC 1397

 Rev. Okoye’s message should bring to our minds and especially our hearts how very blessed we are to have first-world trials and tribulations and, dare I say, complaints.

 Then Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, this is how everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you love one another." (John 13:31. 34-35) Jesus commands us; it is not a suggestion.
 Remember, there will never be another human being whom God does not love.

Office of Communications Coordinator
*we will have a 2nd collection for the Missionary work being done in Africa, we pray for fruitful fulfilment of Jesus command.
 

Fr. Maassen's Message - Where does it say that?

This week, the Missouri Secretary of State announced that the proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine a so-called “right to reproductive freedom” had received enough signatures to qualify for the November general election ballot. According to the Secretary of State’s office, Amendment 3 would “prohibit any regulation of abortion, including regulations designed to protect women undergoing abortions and prohibit any civil or criminal recourse against anyone who performs an abortion and hurts or kills the pregnant woman.” 
 In a press release, the MCC called the measure “an extreme constitutional amendment that legalizes abortion at any stage of the pregnancy with no protections for the preborn child, even when the child is capable of feeling pain,” including safety requirements for abortion clinics, requiring that abortions be performed only by a physician, and parental consent requirements.
 We have an absolute responsibility to defeat this amendment. This fight is not just about Christians doing the absolute right thing; protecting the unborn child is a human rights issue. Some atheists clearly understand that abortion is murder.
In Jesus Christ, 
Father Maassen

Dear Missionary Disciples of Christ, 
  For these last weeks, we have been proclaiming parts of the Gospel of John, Chapter 6. I would highly encourage you to read this chapter and all the Gospels. Our Lord is unequivocal. “Amen, amen I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (Jn 6: 53-54)—the reason why the celebration of the Mass, the Eucharist, is so critical. 
 The Eucharist, as the source and summit of the Christian life, is the focal point of our faith. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch (Catechism 1324). The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit (Catechism 1325). “Under the consecrated species of bread and wine, Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity” (Catechism 1413). 
 In the Gospel of John, Chapter 6, we read that many no longer accompanied Jesus. They could not accept His teaching. Often, I think we are influenced by what we hear people say about Jesus or His teaching. Often, they are incorrect. There are two primary sources for Jesus Christ’s actual teaching: the Tradition of the Catholic Church (what the apostles taught, said, and did) and the Sacred Scripture, especially the Gospels. This is why it is so important to read the Gospels and learn our Catholic faith. Two thousand years ago, many of His disciples no longer walked with him. They left because they didn’t like Jesus Christ’s teaching. 
 Many today still do not accept Jesus’ teaching on the Eucharist, marriage, and morality in general. I encourage all of us to echo the words of St. Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” 
 
 In Christ, Father Maassen                                       *reprinted with permission of Father Maassen

Dear Missionary Disciples,
 
As we start the school year our Parish School has a focus of building a Faith Foundation. In construction it is obvious, you need a good foundation for a house. 

Perhaps it works like that for people as well. Actually, Jesus uses that analogy in the
Gospel; building your house on rock or on sand. What is the foundation of our lives? By that I mean, what holds us up, what grounds us?
 
What is our life based on? It is our Catholic faith, our belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Do we believe we are loved and lovable? Does the foundation need some work? Is it leaking? Has it started to crack? Sacraments, prayer, and reading about our Catholic faith and spiritual readings can help us waterproof and shore up the cracks. Or, maybe we need to put in a new foundation based on the above.

Peace,
Fr. Maassen
 


Ah… Paris… Sadly, blasphemy happens so routinely these days that blasphemy seems almost just ‘another day at the office.’
   Now the inevitable flaring up of generalization begins. We can point fingers and say: this group did this, and that group did that. Not only does this accomplish nothing but increase tensions, it is sinful to condemn an entire group. After all, for centuries, some Christians pointed to the Jews saying, ‘they killed Christ.’ Yet, should we not take a lesson from the Apostles? The Apostles – while not shying away from reminding the Jewish people of their action – did not linger on it. The Apostles did not point fingers in the sense of fixing the blame: rather they worked the problem; they did not work over the people. Moreover, for the record, men and women killed Christ – men and women who happened to be Jewish. In addition, let us not forget the Roman Procurator named Pilate – who by some reports was detested by the Roman government. It was his cowardice and/or lackluster attitude toward justice that played a decisive role in Christ’s death.
  There is a very real danger when we are angry of lumping people together – perhaps even to the point of prejudice. Some of you have heard that after preaching forgiveness, this author received more flak than any other homily even to this day… forgiveness which is a fundamental teaching of Christ – a call even enshrined in the Our Father. In specific, after Mass, two Pacific war Marine veterans approached me stating the Japanese are unworthy of forgiveness; they hated them and would not give a Japanese person the time of day. About a week later, a third man approached me, and pulled a picture out of his wallet of a Japanese man, his wife, and children. He also hated the Japanese with a passion. He told me about landing on Peleliu, the water red with blood, climbing over bodies, and the loss of his friend. He came upon a dead Japanese officer, and was set to plunder Japanese man of his sword, and anything else of value. This veteran started crying when he talked about pulling out ‘this thing.’ This ‘thing’ was a Sacred Heart Prayer card [with the prayer obviously in Japanese], a picture of the officer, his wife and children – all wrapped in a Rosary. The Japanese officer was Catholic. This veteran was still very angry, but now saw this officer as a man like himself needing redemption. Though still very angry, the officer ceased to be a faceless, brutally savage enemy, and became a man not unlike himself. And not to belabor the point, but though still angry, this veteran helped bury the officer with his sword. Instead, he kept the family picture and from there on, he prayed for that man and his family every day. I am sure all of those men are gone now – they were old when I was at St. Ferdinand.
  Individuals blasphemed the Last Supper – not a group of people. Like the Apostles, we are not milquetoast and pretend it did not happen. Rather – like the Apostles, we work the problem and do not work over the people. Yeah, I am angry; it was another insult that Catholics and Christians are expected to endure in the name of political correctness and artistic expression. Individuals blasphemed the Last Supper – not a group of people: individuals who made sinful, blasphemous choices. We do not generalize as happened with some Christians concerning Jews, but rather see what God sees… we are all a people needing redemption. Our work is to bring all to Christ, not to generalize a group as bad people; nor are we to make the journey of conversion for those who did perpetrate this insult more difficult than it already is. Please, let us never forget, there is historical precedent among the Saints: St. Paul – who was filled with an intense hatred for Christians – was brought to conversion. We are all aware of what St. Paul accomplished through God’s grace! Let us be careful out there.
 
-Father Tim
 ​/from-the-pastor