Letter from the Pastor

The accounts that we have of Jesus’ life make it abundantly clear that Jesus was a man of prayer.  The first thing he did after His baptism was pray.  The last thing that he did before His death was pray.  And in between, there are so many references to His personal prayer life.  For example, the gospel tells us that rising early in the morning, Jesus went off into a lonely place in the desert; there He was absorbed in prayer.”  The context in which that statement is made clearly indicates that Jesus did not use prayers as a substitute […]

I remember reading a story about a businessman in San Antonio, Texas, who parked his shiny new automobile outside a downtown bank and went inside. When he returned he found a little shoeshine boy examining the car in wide-eyed amazement. As he opened the door to get in, the little boy said, “Is this your car Mister?” “Yes, Son, it’s my car.” “Where did you get it?” the little boy wanted to know. So the man explained that the car had been given to him as a birthday present from his brother. “Wow said the little boy “I wish…” And […]

Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  Peter, as was often the case, spoke for the group:  “You are the Messiah.” You and I can hear those words with little or no emotion; but to those first   disciples they were dramatic beyond measure.  From the beginning they had taught, hoped, even dared to believe that Jesus might be the long-awaited redeemer, spoken of by the prophets.  Now they were sure of it. Then, at that very point, Jesus began to teach them that He had to suffer, be rejected by His own people, and die.  […]

In this Lent 2023, we Catholics need to reflect on ways of winning people back to Jesus.  One way is a deliberate attempt to bring people to Christ by befriending them.  As soon as some hear this, they might wonder, “Can that be right?  Should we befriend people just to bring them to Christ?”  Absolutely!  The greatest reason to befriend someone is Jesus Christ.  The greatest gift we can give a friend is Jesus Christ.  If we are truly someone’s friend, we want what is best for him or her.  What can be better for anyone than to come to […]

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and we begin the season of Lent.  It is a time for all of us to stop and to reflect and remember   Do you remember those days when you dreamed beautiful dreams?  You were thinking about the wonderful life that was waiting for your over there in the future.  Dreaming is a vital part of living.  Think how impoverished our world would be without dreamers.  Every great human accomplishment is nothing more than a dream come true.  The electric light was once a dream in the mind of Thomas Edison.  The Fifth Symphony was once a […]