From the Pastor's Desk | August 10, 2025

Construction Project and Capital Campaign

Exciting progress is underway as we prepare for the construction of six new classrooms for our parish and school community! Behind the scenes, a great deal of work has been accomplished. We are pleased to share that Don Morgan has graciously agreed to serve as our Construction Manager, and he will be providing an update to the parish after each Mass next weekend.

Following a thorough search and interview process, we have selected a construction firm and entered into a contract with an architectural firm. We continue to navigate the diocesan building approval process and are very close to setting a groundbreaking date and planning a ceremony to mark this major milestone. This is truly an exciting time for our parish!

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has made a financial commitment to the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars capital campaign. It is essential that pledges continue to be honored throughout the five-year redemption period, as this allows us to move forward with construction and secure necessary financing.

If you have not yet made a commitment to the campaign, there is still time to participate. Your support is vital to the success of this project. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Kimberly Keefe or me to discuss how you can contribute.

Thank you for your continued generosity, prayers, and support as we bring this vision to life!

Lansing State Journal Lansing Community’s Choice Awards

I recently learned about the Lansing Community’s Choice Awards and was thrilled to see that St. Martha School was named one of the three finalists for Best Private School along with Lansing Catholic High School and Children’s House Montessori!

Although Lansing Catholic took the prize, I couldn’t be happier!  Most of our graduates go on to continue their faith-based education at Lansing Catholic High School, as they should.  It’s an honor to be recognized in such outstanding company!  

A heartfelt congratulations to our principal, Andrea Patton, and to our dedicated faculty and staff. This recognition is a testament to the incredible work you do every day.

There are so many exciting things happening at St. Martha School.  I’m incredibly proud of our community!

Gospel Reflection

Have you ever heard the word parousia? It refers to the “end times.”  Not in a dramatic or catastrophic sense, rather, parousia refers to the period we now live in: the time between Christ’s resurrection and His promised return.  Scholars generally place Christ’s resurrection between 30 and 33 A.D., meaning it has been nearly 2,000 years since that life changing event. In that light, we might say the bridegroom is indeed long delayed!  And yet, He has assured us: He will return, at an hour and a day we do not know.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus contrasts two types of servants: those who remain vigilant and prepared for their Master’s return, and one who, weary of waiting, indulges in food, drink, and drunkenness. Imagine the shame of being found in such a state when the Master finally arrives.

So the question set before us is simple: Are we prepared for the Master’s return?  To help us answer that, we might reflect on another question: Where is our treasure?  For, as Jesus reminds us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

St. Ignatius of Loyola, in his Rules for Discernment, helps us to examine our interior lives - our thoughts, feelings, and desires.  He teaches that when we are drawn toward worldly things like status, wealth, and comfort, we are often in a state of desolation, disconnected from God’s presence.  In contrast, when we’re drawn toward things like prayer, Scripture, the Sacraments, fasting, and acts of love, we are likely experiencing God’s consolation, God gently drawing us closer to Himself.

Are we aware of what we are drawn to?  Do our thoughts, feelings, and/or desires lead us toward the things of God or the things of this world?

St. Ignatius also offers his First Foundation and Principle in his Spiritual Exercises:

“God created human beings to praise, reverence, and serve God, and by this means to save their souls. All other things on earth are created for us to help achieve this goal. Therefore, we should use them as far as they help us toward our end, and rid ourselves of them so far as they hinder us. To do this, we must make ourselves indifferent to all created things, choosing neither health over sickness, wealth over poverty, honor over dishonor, a long life over a short one, but rather only what best helps us fulfill our purpose.”

The key word here is indifference - not in the sense of apathy, but holy indifference. This means we don’t cling to the things of this world, but instead see them as tools to help us glorify God. The more we are attached to worldly things, the less ready we are for the Lord’s return. Holy indifference frees us to be fully available to God’s will and helps us avail ourselves all the more to God’s grace.  

So we return to the central question: How will the Master find us when He returns? Distracted and drunk on worldly pleasures?  Or awake, prepared, and living for the things of God?

Know of my prayers for you all! 

Fr. Ryan