Dear Friends:

Today, the Church marks the Third Sunday of Lent, and with it comes an interesting question:  How are we doing so far?  Have we maintained any “Lenten commitments” we might have made?  Have we given any thought (or action) that we said we would do?  Have we involved ourselves in any way to works of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving?  Well, Easter is still 4 weeks from today, so if we need to make (or restart) or Lenten observance, there is still time!  In the Gospel today, the Lord gives us the Ten Commandments.  One thing we can do during this Lent is to remind ourselves of those commandments and see if there are any places that we fall short.

In my recent homily on Catholic Schools, I mentioned that I was hiring an assistant, paid for by a private donor, whose focus will be entirely on Catholic Schools at my direction.  She will have an office in the middle/high school and I am very excited to get her to work.  She begins, by the way, this week.  In the meantime, enrollment continues and I hope everyone with school-aged children to re-enroll or consider enrolling.  Tuition assistance is available, so I hope everyone looks into this opportunity… truly impacting a lifetime!

A couple of special words of thanks this week.  First, thanks to those who are helping make our 10:00 AM Mass on Sundays “live-streamed.”  More information is available about that on our website.  The “Livestream” is meant primarily for those who are unable to attend Mass because of being in a higher-risk category to contract COVID-19, including the elderly.  I fear, though, that some are using the current dispensation from attending Mass on the weekends for purposes other than COVID-19.  The Livestream also gives our snowbirds and others who only see us during the Summer a chance to stay connected to our parish.  Just one more word about this… please be patient as we work out the kinks to providing better sound online.  It will take a while before we adjust to the specific acoustics of our church building, thus making the sound better.

Also, a word of thanks to those who attended our Masses last weekend.  I mention this because there has been a very noticeable increase in Mass attendance for the last few weeks.  It’s great to see more people coming to Mass.  Be assured that we are still keeping an eye on following the guideline that we cannot exceed 25% of capacity at each Mass.  Also, many made generous Sunday collection offerings this past week, and we saw a total that we haven’t seen in quite some time.  More people have started giving online, too.  So, thanks for that, and if that continues, we will be in much better shape when it comes to our budgeted collections.  While we have savings we can go to, only if it is absolutely necessary, it is always the goal (just as it is in any of our homes) to maintain the budget we have for our needs.

This weekend, we also begin the final stages of preparation for the one person who will be received into the Church at the Easter Vigil.  Unfortunately, but understandably, we only have one person in the process.  I have little doubt that, once restrictions are lifted, we will see that number grow.

Finally, we welcome back Fr. Arul this weekend (I hope) and we are so happy to have him back.  I know he is grateful for your thoughts and prayers during the several weeks that he was away during his visit back to his home in India.

Have a good week; and Praised be Jesus Christ!     Fr. John

Dear Friends:
In today’s Gospel, we hear a third covenant that God makes.  He promises Abraham that “will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants, all the nations of the earth shall find blessing—all this because you obeyed my command.”  The Lord never breaks His covenants.  All of these covenants will lead up to the “new and everlasting covenant” that we are reminded of every time we go to Mass, and we will recall that “new covenant” when we celebrate the Sacred Triduum at the end of Lent.  In the meantime, we have plenty of preparation to do before Easter comes.  Have we kept our promises to God?  And here’s a question:  Have we kept our Lenten commitments?  There is still time to start over if needed… or to start up if we need to.

Last weekend, there was a very noticeable difference in Mass attendance.  Attendance seemed to blossom at most of our masses… even bringing us to “capacity” at one Mass.  However, I want to do everything I can to try and make sure that everyone can get into the church.  To that end, we are going to look again at the seating arrangement in our churches.  While maintaining our six-foot distance from each other, I think we can fit more people in.  As some of you have noticed, in some rows there is room in the center of the row for one or two people, when there are only one or two people on either end.  I’m also going to have some chairs added to areas in the church where there is room to have more people while remaining “social distant.”  We still cannot exceed 25% of capacity, but we are reexamining how to be able to put a few more people in.  Remember, though, we should be wearing our masks in the churches, which I know is difficult for some.  And I thank those who wish to receive communion on the tongue to do so at the end of the line, which is an added way to help keep us safe.

Happily, we can now begin to have two altar servers in the sanctuary with certain guidelines.  It cannot exceed two, and they must wear masks.  To our lectors: please remember to wear your masks, but if you would like to lower your mask while reading, that is acceptable.  Slowly, I’m sure our guidelines will change to allow us to do more and more.  As more and more people get their vaccines, that will help a lot.  So, we need to be patient a little longer.  I look forward to being a little more comfortable to shake hands and greet you after Mass… when we can stand outside to do so.

I share with you that, this week, I will be in Rochester, Minnesota at the Mayo Clinic for several tests.  As most of you know, I have certain health issues that are important to monitor.  Because of the nature of these issues, my issues are under the care of specialists at the Mayo Clinic.  So, I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers this week.  I pray not only for successful tests but also for good weather as I will be driving there with a friend that is accompanying me.

We have been working hard on kicking off our parish “Year of Saint Joseph” which we will begin on March 19.  You will soon see this entire plan.  But one thing I want to mention in particular is the re-opening of our Perpetual Adoration Chapel.  The goal is to “reopen” beginning on March 19… as a big part of our way of kicking off our special time from March 19 through December 7 to honor our patron, Saint Joseph.  For those who have been faithful adorers in the past, you will be hearing from us.  In a perfect world, we will return to 24-hour a day, 7-days a week.  But, at first, I suspect we will start slowly.  Whatever happens, I hope our parishes will embrace this return!

God willing, Fr. Arul has returned by the time you read this column.  My deadline for writing it is just before his return.  As I write this, he is already on his way back.  He has had two negative COVID-19 tests, and we are awaiting word on when he can return to ministry.  In the worst-case scenario, he won’t return until March 4 or 5.  But, if we get the green light, you will see him this weekend.  I hope it is this weekend!  I assure you it’s been a stretch for me this last month.  And we miss his presence.

Have a good Lenten week, and Praised be Jesus Christ!              Fr. John

Dear Friends:

Now that the holy season of Lent has begun, we turn our thoughts to more intense prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  And do you want to hear something scary?  Lent is already 10% over.   How are we doing so far?  Are we still working on what our sacrifice might be for these days?  In the Gospel, we hear of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness.  Then, he went to Galilee and proclaimed, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”  We should take special note of his words that “the kingdom of God is at hand.”  He doesn’t say that it is coming; Jesus says that it is here.  Have we ever thought of that?  By our thoughts, words and actions, have we ever implicitly said “the Kingdom of God used to be” or “the Kingdom of God is coming?”  The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us.  If we believe that, why do we sometimes wait to rid ourselves of sin… or at least do the best we can?  Perhaps that is a good thing to pray about today!

With this holy season comes our obligations of fasting and abstinence.  As a reminder, generally speaking, On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent, everyone of age 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat.  On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: Everyone of age 18 to 59 must fast unless exempt due to usually a medical reason.  One must keep the common sense, though, and must not let these “obligations” keep them from remaining healthy.  For example, those who are pregnant or nursing, or those with chronic illnesses are good examples.  But these sacrifices of Lent are good for us to hold to, so that we can unite ourselves more deeply to the suffering of Christ, and to remind us of the poor and most vulnerable in our world today.

This week, the priests of the diocese will be gathering with Bishop Bradley for our annual Lenten retreat.  As a result, there will only be communion services from Monday through Thursday at both downtown and south.  I’ve asked our deacons to assist in leading our communion services.  Please remember to keep the priests of the diocese in your thoughts and prayers this week.  I’m grateful to them, also, this Lent to be leading Stations of the Cross on Fridays. 

Today, we send forth one RCIA candidate to the Bishop for the Rite of Election at the Cathedral.  I am guessing that across the diocese there will be fewer RCIA candidates due to COVID, meeting restrictions, etc.  We should pray, though, for all those in the diocese who are making their preparations to be baptized or received into the Church at Easter!

Just a reminder… registration is open now for our Lake Michigan Catholic Schools!  Please make special note of that and consider how you might be able to be a part of our Laker family.

As I have said in previous communications, we hope to begin utilizing altar servers starting next week.  If you have existing servers in your family, you should have been contacted as to whether it is ok to schedule your son(s) or daughter(s) to serve at Mass.  During this time of COVID, we are asking for written permission… or for parents to contact the parish office… before their young person returns to serving at Mass.  If you were not contacted, or if you haven’t had a chance to respond, please let us know as soon as possible.

Have a blessed Lenten week, and Praised be Jesus Christ!  (PS:  Don’t forget to respond “Now and Forever” when I say that, at the conclusion of my weekend homilies)

Fr. John

Dear Friends:
Among the many things that struck me in the Gospel today is from the very last line: “…people kept coming to him from everywhere.”  Wouldn’t it be great if that was always the case?  Of the many things, I miss since the pandemic began is to see our churches full of people.  Of course, I haven’t seen it here at our parish because I arrived at the peak of social distancing, limited seating, and a general dispensation from attending Mass on Sunday (even though I think it is possible, that the dispensation may be overused).  I do think there could be at least two blessings that can come from this pandemic.  First, that there are people who are finding out how important the Mass is to them.  Second, that this will result in more people returning to the Church and attending regularly. 
Enrollment has started for the 2021-2022 school year in our Lake Michigan Catholic Schools.  If you are a family with school-aged children, please consider enrolling, re-enrolling, or transferring your student into our schools as soon as possible.  Remember, financial assistance is available for those who require it.  We have mailed my homily on Catholic Schools to all of our parishioners.  If you haven’t received it yet, then it should be coming shortly.  We should all pray and think about our schools and how we can help them be successful.  Our parish and our schools are intimately connected.  We are parts of one body. 
I’m happy to say that parishes have been given the “green light” to have altar servers again, provided that parishes follow special guidelines.  There may only be a maximum of two servers at Mass, they must wear masks, and they must remain “socially distant” as much as possible.  I am adding the requirement that we receive the permission of parents for their son or daughter to serve at Mass.  We have found that some are fine with it, and others would like to wait a bit longer.  We will begin having altar servers regularly in just a couple of weeks.  I am also going to start something that I have seen and done at other parishes and when I tried it, it was very successful and welcomed.  Our boys will be wearing cassocks and surplices and the girls will wear albs.  I also want to prepare a brief and temporary “manual” for our servers at the parish that reflects COVID guidelines, as well as other things that I am establishing for our masses and liturgies.  I’m aiming for two weeks from today, February 28, to begin having altar servers again.
We still have some poinsettias that still look good, and Lent is now about to begin!  That’s right, this coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the special 40 days and 40 nights of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  Sometimes, I feel like we have been living Lent since last March, I hope, though, that this Easter our joy will be better than ever as we see more people getting immunized and fewer people sick from COVID.  My biggest hope is that we will be able to celebrate Holy Week and Easter this year in a much different way than last year!  (It was very interesting to celebrate Easter Sunday Mass with only 10 people in the church, as was the requirement.)  Anyway, the Mass and liturgy schedule for Ash Wednesday and the weekly Stations of the Cross is in the bulletin, as well as other important information.
We continue to make preparations for our parish “version” of the Year of Saint Joseph.  We will begin our celebration on March 19; continuing through December 7.  It’s a special opportunity for us as a parish dedicated to St. Joseph.  Stay tuned.
Finally, I am thinking about naming the mountain of snow that is growing in the main parking lot!  We all knew that a real Winter would arrive sooner or later, and here it is.  It’s been nothing but cold since I arrived here on November 23.  But I’m told it will be worth it when the Spring and Summer come!
Have a good week, and Praised be Jesus Christ (Now and Forever).        Fr. John

Dear Friends:

The Gospel today reminds us of needing to take some time for ourselves.  Those who know me have learned that I am not very good at that.  It’s definitely something I need to work on, as I suspect many of us do.  The Gospel tells us how hard Jesus is working, and he takes the time to go off to a “deserted place” where he prayed.  During this time of COVID, many of us have had to come up with special ways to be alone to spend some time with God.  And I suspect that some of us become so busy… or so discouraged… that we don’t take that time.  There are different ways to spend some “alone time” with God, and right in our homes.  Some people, for example, have a special prayer corner or prayer chair that they go to and it is used only for prayer.  Others try to make appointments with God… going so far as to put it on our schedules.  Whatever we do, we should take Jesus’ example and find some time to be alone with God.

I was communicating with Fr. Tom this week and he asked me to extend his love and prayers.  He seems to be doing very well in his new assignment, which is great news for everyone.  We also heard from Fr. Arul and he is enjoying his time with his family.  We look forward to his return, which is still a few weeks away. 

As you know, last weekend (and this weekend at South), I delivered a homily about the importance of our Catholic Schools, my passion for them, and some ways that I intend to move forward.  And, boy, did I receive many positive responses!  We have many people who have been working hard on strengthening our schools.  We need to be sure that we remember that our school is a vital mission of the parish.  Our parish and our school are intimately connected.  We need to keep that in mind.  The message of that homily is very important.  To that end, I plan on sending it out in the mail, so that all of our parishioners “hear” it.  It’s my understanding that mailings like this come very infrequently, but you will see more letters in the mail from me.  It is another way for me to communicate!

In my homily, I announced that I have received a gift from a donor so that I can hire a personal assistant whose sole focus will be working with me on Catholic Schools.  Just a reminder that the donor is not a parishioner, nor is the donor affiliated with our LMC-affiliated parishes.  I have a brief “announcement” about it in the bulletin today.

Those of you who participated in my online forums know that I said that I would provide information from the Bishops of Michigan regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the current guidelines for receiving holy communion.  Many thanks to those who have heeded my call to consider receiving on the hand for the safety of the priests and the safety of others.  Those guidelines are in the bulletin today, and you will find links to the vaccine information on our website, and there are some copies available at the main door of the church.

Many thanks to those who made special donations because of our low weekend collections.  Last week wasn’t great, either.  I’m assuming that is because of the heavy snow.  As I have said before, we have savings but that that one-time money is not part of the budget.  So please do whatever you can to help us.  Again, I utilize online giving.  Perhaps more could use that means, too.

Finally, let’s never forget to pray for an end to this pandemic!  Hopefully, more and more people will receive their vaccine soon and we will start to see more and more things “open up.”  And as always, thanks for your continued use of masks in church.  I have gotten a lot of good feedback from people who appreciate that I keep mentioning it.

Have a good week; and Praised be Jesus Christ!             Fr. John

Dear Friends:
In the second reading, Saint Paul poses an interesting idea.  Essentially, he asks if we are “of the world” or “of the Lord.”  Of course, we are all a little bit of both.  And sometimes we lean towards one side or the other.  Some days we are more of the world, and some days we are more of the Lord.  Of course, we are called to be “of the Lord.”  But we are also called to take the things we experience in the world and see how we can make it “of the Lord.”  What could those things be?  That’s a good question to talk to God about this week.
A couple of words of thanks this week.  First, many thanks to those who participated in my online forums several days ago.  As you have learned, communication is important to me so that you know… and are part of… what is going on in our parish.  I hope that between these columns, those forums, my homilies, and more, everyone is feeling well-informed.  I look forward to the day when I can get to know parishioners better!
Second, many thanks to those of you who heeded the call for helping our Sunday collections.  As you know, two weekends ago we only received $6,400.  Last weekend it increased to $14,600.  While it is still behind our collections of the past, some parishioners helped us with some special donations in addition to the collection.  We’ve also noticed an increase in online giving.  That’s the best and easiest way to give, I think.  I do that myself, and I never have to worry about it.  So maybe more people will consider it.
On a special note, we have put on our website a link to the statement of the Bishops of the State of Michigan regarding the moral considerations of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.  We will also provide some copies of it at the main doors of the church.  I hope it will be helpful as we make our efforts to receive the vaccine.
This week is very special as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week.  It is no secret about my passion for Catholic School education.  If you took part in one of my online forums, I talked about this.  I think it should be obvious that one of the reasons I was sent to our parish was to see what I might be able to do by working with others and make our schools grow and thrive.  I love living next to the middle/high school because it adds so much life to the parish.  And our students, from the littlest ones to the seniors in high school, are a real blessing.  I don’t apologize for saying that I wish more families would consider sending their kids to our LMC schools.  While there are other ways to teach the faith to our young people, we cannot deny that the best way is through our Catholic Schools.  Remember the days when most families would make any sacrifice necessary to send their kids to our schools?  We should consider that now.  Subsidy from the parishes, reduced tuition for parishioners, available tuition assistance, and utilizing SCRIP are all ways to help make it affordable.  I’ve seen families reduce tuition dramatically with just a little effort.  So, give it some thought.  For people who need it and are willing to sacrifice, I pledge that if you want a Catholic school education, I’ll help make it happen!
This week, I also look forward to meeting with our parish council and my general theme is, “How do you think it is going?”  And I’ll be spending lots of time in our schools.  Thanks to those who have been patient and understanding during these busy days while Fr. Arul is away.  We need him badly!
Speaking of Fr. Arul, he arrived safely in India and sends his prayers and greetings to all of you.  He won’t be back for a few more weeks, and then he has to be tested for COVID and isolate for a while.  But I’m very happy for him, as he was so excited to go home after a very long time.
I’m also happy to say that a few of the current COVID guidelines have been revised by the diocese (not much but we can do a little more.)  So, in the coming days, we will figure out the best way to do that, so stay tuned.     
Have a good week, and Praised be Jesus Christ (remember to say “Now and Forever” at Mass!)
Fr. John

Dear Friends:
In our first reading today, we hear the Lord commanding Jonah to “…announce the message that I will tell you.” The best part about it is that the people of Nineveh heeded the call, and turned from their evil ways. Let’s tie the first reading into the second reading when Saint Paul says, “…time is running out.” And on top of that, in the gospel Jesus says, “Repent and believe in the gospel.” These are all strong invitations (as I talked about in my homilies last weekend) that we should heed well. Where have we reached out to others in a charitable way? Have we realized that the Lord could return at any time… even while you are reading this column? Have we repented of sinfulness that we have done? These are all good things to bring to prayer this week.
Many thanks to those who participated in my “online forums” last week. I found the communication to be very helpful, and I think those who participated did too. Please know that I am doing all I can to communicate with you and in various ways. I believe such ongoing communication is very important.
One of the things I mentioned in my open forums is my deep concern about our parish finances. Last weekend, our Sunday collection was only $6,400.00. Quite frankly, in nearly 19 years in the priesthood (17 as a pastor), I have never seen a Sunday collection so small… even in the smallest parish where I served. Before COVID, I am told that the weekend collection was around $18,000 or more. Fortunately, we have had a few donors who have made special gifts this year, and the additional monies from the 2020 Bishop’s Annual Appeal will help, too. I’m concerned to the point that we have bills and commitments to complete, and I’m not sure we will be able to. For now, I am freezing all expenses that are not already committed. For example, for many weeks (and prior to my arrival) there was built into the budget new security for all of our buildings. Such a system must be accomplished… sooner rather than later. Another project was to install a safe in the sacristy. We certainly learned a couple of weeks ago, when the sacristy was broken into, that we need it. I will be reaching out via letter to all of our registered parishioners, too, and that will include a plea for people to maintain their weekly contribution, even if they are not coming to church because of COVID. I’m sorry to do implement a freeze, but I feel that I don’t have any choice.
Several days ago, I had an opportunity to speak with about 25 student leaders in our high school. Soon, I will do the same with our middle school and elementary school students. It was a very enlightening and lively conversation. It was just the students and me… without the principal or teachers present. I am excited that it reaffirmed my passion for the importance of Catholic Schools here. In a couple of weeks, registration will begin for the 2021-2022 school year. To all of our families, please remember to re-enroll, and I strongly urge all of our families to consider sending your kids to our schools if you are not doing so already. I’ll speak more about this when Catholic Schools Week comes along.
In the last several days, I have reached out to all of the couples who are scheduled to be married here in 2021 and 2022. Currently, we have 12 couples who are to be married in 2021. Please keep them in your prayers. Additionally, we are about to begin a “quicker” version of the RCIA process. Due to COVID restrictions and other reasons, we didn’t start the process in the Fall as is usually the case. If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming Catholic, please reach out to me. I’ll do my best to include you or your friends in this year’s class.
Finally, this week I look forward to having a conversation with our youth group for the first time. We need to keep our youth active and welcome our young people in the parish. It helps us thrive!
Have a good week, and Praised be Jesus Christ! - Fr. John

Dear Friends:
I love today’s First Reading because Samuel reminds us of what we should always do. In many ways, it isn’t all that hard to know what God wants us to do… and what He doesn’t want us to do. The harder part is responding to God’s call. So, Samuel teaches us to always stand before God and proclaim, “Here I am, Lord… your servant is listening!” Notice there are two parts to this: listening and doing. Sometimes we are tempted to say that we don’t know what God wants us to do. Perhaps the problem is that we aren’t listening. God speaks in many ways. Maybe we aren’t listening enough. And then we do the right thing!
I very much look forward to our online communications this week. It’s been very tough for us to really meet because of the COVID pandemic and the distance that we must keep. And although it won’t work for everyone, having some “face to face” interaction online will get the ball rolling. In the bulletin today you will find information about how to “link” into this opportunity on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. We have divided up the days by asking people to come online according to the first letter of their last name. Of course, if it doesn’t work for you, you can certainly go online and participate during the other evenings that are offered. But by dividing the days this way, I hope there will be plenty of “room” for anyone who wishes to attend. You are welcome to continue to submit questions to me by email (frjohnstj@gmail.com) and I’ll be happy to respond… especially if your question is particularly pertinent to the people in general.
First, I want to share with you the sad news that our sacristy was broken into several days ago. Someone came into the open church during an afternoon or early evening and broke through the door into the sacristy. I have been concerned about just such a thing since I became the pastor. Fortunately, we did not find anything missing and it appears that the intruder(s) went out the opposite door of the sacristy. I’ve also been concerned about the church being open in the evenings without anyone there. On top of that, I am concerned about the security of anyone who might be in the church alone. Another issue is that we don’t know where anyone has sat, so that could be a problem in terms of keeping the seats sanitized. As a result, my first step is going to be that we will be locking the church at approximately 3:00 PM each weekday. The church will also be locked after the last Mass on the weekends. Finally, the only door that will be unlocked outside of the Mass times is the side door that faces the rectory. It may be necessary for us to take some other actions. But for now, that’s the plan. Thanks for understanding.
Second, this weekend will be the last weekend that we will see Fr. Arul for several weeks. If all goes well, he will be leaving for India, his home, a trip that was planned once before, but COVID prevented him from going. Now, it appears that protocols will permit him to go. When he returns, he will likely need to “isolate” himself to ensure that he remains COVID-free. We wish him safe travels and hope he has quality time with his family and friends. During these weeks, I ask for a little extra patience from you because we will be “short” one priest. That will certainly stretch us, but I’m glad he can return home for a good visit.
Third, I sure look forward to meeting with our LMC school board this coming week. You likely know how committed I am too Catholic school education. It won’t be long before we start registration for the 2021-2022 school year. In these early days of my pastorate, I have been impressed with the work of our teachers and students. We must make strengthening our schools a top priority. It is well known that having a strong school does relate to having a strong parish. So, I very strongly urge our families to utilize our LMC system. You will hear me speak of this many times in the future.
Finally, here’s a little teaser… We will be starting our part in this special “Year of Saint Joseph” as proclaimed by our Holy Father. It will begin March 19 until December 7. Stay tuned!
Have a good week, and Praised be

Dear Friends:
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  I like this feast because it should remind us of our very own baptism.  I think we sometimes forget our baptism.  For most of us, we were baptized as infants and unless we have some pictures, it is just “one of those things” that happened early in life.  But it should be a true celebration.  Just think about it: when we are baptized, we are given the sure promise of eternal life.  And it is the doorway to the other six sacraments.  Baptism put a permanent mark on our souls that cannot be removed… even if we want to denounce it!  It seems odd to us that Jesus would be baptized.  After all, he’s the Son of God!  Jesus was not baptized to become holy; he was baptized to make the waters holy. 
Sadly, COVID-19 prevents us from filling fonts at the doors of the church.  It is meant to be a reminder of our baptism and, in a certain sense, renew our baptismal responsibilities.  Today, let’s try to remember the importance of our baptism, and thank the Lord for opening the door for us to receive the sacraments!
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord also brings with it the end of the Christmas season.  With all of the challenges, restrictions, and guidelines, I think our precautions and “methods” worked quite well.  Hopefully, we will have such necessities behind us next Christmas!  For now, let’s pray that Holy Week 2021, which begins on March 28, will also see many different necessities this year.  Last year, the guidelines were so tight we could only have a handful of people in the church.  We all hope we won’t be anywhere near those same circumstances this year!
You can’t imagine how many people, and groups, I have met with over the last few weeks since I became pastor of our parish.  Many of them have been by Zoom… which, I actually, like because I find more people attend meetings and the turnout is better!  This week, I really, look forward to meeting with a number of the students from our middle and high school.  It’s no secret of my passion for Catholic school education, and I am jumping in with both feet to see what I can do to make our Catholic schools grow and thrive.  I’m meeting with student leadership because we sometimes forget to ask the students what they love… and what they are challenged by, in our schools.  In fact, the majority of my meetings this week are about our schools.  I look forward to Catholic Schools Week at the end of the month, and where you will hear much more from me! 
I want to say thank you, to those who have been attentive to our fellow parishioners by receiving communion in the hand at Mass.  While receiving on the tongue is acceptable, and I understand the desire of those who do, I remain concerned about how sanitary it is for those who receive communion behind you.  But some have heeded my request to receive communion last if they intend to receive on the tongue.  I’ve had parishioners who have asked that I repeat these thoughts, that I have written about before in this column.  So, it is just a friendly thought… we leave it in your hands.
Have a great week, and Praised be Jesus Christ!
Fr. John

Dear Friends:
Happy New Year!
As we mark New Year’s weekend, we also celebrate today the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
Today, we mark not only when the wise men recognized Jesus for who he is, but also other times in
which Jesus revealed his divinity. The three kings recognized Jesus, and in doing so they also recognized a new beginning for them, their lives, and the lives of all who would come after the birth of the savior of the world. I like how Isaiah described the moment like this: “…you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb, and overflow…” How often do we recognize Jesus around us? One way we know that we have failed to see Jesus in our midst is by looking at our sinfulness. Sin is always a result of turning away from God. Imagine, for a moment, looking at the newborn savior. Could we turn away from looking at him? Chances are good we couldn’t. So, let’s remember to look for Jesus. And every time we “see” him, let us pray that our hearts “throb and overflow” with joy.
Boy, we need 2021, don’t we? We are all glad that the year 2020 is behind us. It’s a year we will surely never forget. I suggest, though, that we look ahead to the New Year with anticipation and hope. At the same time, to look back at 2020 and pray that we start to see the blessings that can come from such a difficult year. God will always draw good out of bad. We pray that 2021 is a time of having little “epiphanies” of that goodness being drawn out.
Just a quick financial item to share with you. COVID-19 has many victims; including the temporal needs that some people have… and that our parish has. Over the past five years, the Christmas collection has averaged nearly $40,000. This year, as of the time I write this column (December 28), COVID, and restrictions because of the pandemic hit us very hard. The collection was only about $19,000. In some ways, it is understandable. Fewer people were able to attend the Christmas masses, heavy snow hit us on Christmas Eve, and it has been a difficult financial year for many of us for a variety of reasons.
Hopefully, we can make some of this up in one way or the other.
I want to extend a big word of thanks, on behalf of all of us, for all of the ways people assisted us in making Christmas a great celebration… even with all of the unique challenges of the year. The
decorations, both downtown and at south were terrific. (This was my first Christmas here… the nativity scene is the nicest I have ever seen). So, we thank those who decorated; our musicians, lectors, ushers, and everyone else. Our method of “signing up” for mass worked very well. Although it was
inconvenient for some, it worked well and went very smoothly. We had “overflow” seating in the Rose Center if we needed it for the Christmas Eve masses… but we didn’t need it. In the end, each Mass had a few seats left… as people signed up, then some canceled, then others would fill those seats, etc.
On a personal note, an additional word of thanks to those who have expressed various kindnesses to me in the early days of my pastorate. It has been a very interesting few weeks and I am learning a lot, believe me! Thanks for your patience as I take this “crash course” in our particular parish and schools. I
especially look forward now to seeing the faces of students in our middle school and high school. If you haven’t heard already, I have a huge passion for Catholic Schools, and I pray that 2021 will lead us to grow closer to the importance of our schools.
Have a good week, Happy New Year, and Praised be Jesus Christ!
Fr. John