From the Pastor's Desk | May 25, 2025

Memorial Day

I wish everyone a happy and blessed Memorial Day holiday.  It’s odd, isn’t it, wishing everyone a happy Memorial Day.  We tend to forget why we have reserved certain days throughout the year as moments of remembrance.  I think this is true in terms of both the religious and secular calendar.  More often than not, these days of remembrance simply become long weekends or a chance to take a quick trip up north with family and friends to relax. 

Memorial Day, however, has deep meaning.  It is a time to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives while serving our nation.  While you spend time with family and friends this weekend, I encourage everyone to pause in remembrance of those who died defending our freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Pause in remembrance and pray for the repose of their souls. 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.  And let perpetual light shine upon them.  May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Construction Project

There has been a lot of work behind the scenes as we prepare for an addition of up to six classrooms for the school and a refurbishment of the parish hall.  We have been working diligently with Mayotte Group Architects for pre-design, schematic design, design development, and construction documents.  The Requests for Proposals were sent out to various construction firms on Friday, May 9.  Once we receive bids, we will schedule interviews with each firm, and, with the help of Don Morgan, the Diocesan Building Commission, and Mayotte Group, we will choose a firm to help construct the addition.  This should happen by the end of the month.  We plan to work through the summer to solidify the construction documents and build a budget.  We hope to break ground by September or October of 2025.

I want to thank everyone who has sacrificed in giving toward this endeavor!  At the same time, I want to impress upon you the importance of continuing to make payments on your pledges.  We will work with the Diocesan Office of Finance to take out a short-term construction loan and will use the revenue generated from the pledges to pay off the loan over the five year pledge redemption period.  This will allow us to break ground and construct the classrooms before the pledge redemption period ends.  Again, thank you very much for your help!  This is an important undertaking and will position both the parish and the school for the future.  

Deacon Jim Collom

As you heard last weekend, Bishop Boyea and his team have asked Dcn. Jim to pursue a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) in order to help the diocesan tribunal with its work, particularly with the ministry of helping divorced couples heal through the process of annulments.  Dcn. Jim certainly has the intellect to pursue the degree but, more importantly, he has the heart for the ministry.  I have witnessed firsthand how gentle and merciful he is working with couples (and families) who are navigating the pain of a broken marriage.  Dcn. Jim, after prayer, discernment, and discussions with his family, has graciously agreed to Bishop Boyea’s request.  

What does this mean for the parish?  This means that for the next three summers he will be away at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. for in-person classes.  For the remainder of the academic year, his work will primarily be online.  He will leave for Washington D.C. shortly after Memorial Day weekend and return sometime in early August.  

He intends to continue administering the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults but, in his absence, Fr. Mike has graciously agreed to be the point person over the summer(s) to meet with people and get them ready for classwork and prayer beginning in the fall.  

Please keep Dcn. Jim and his family in your prayers.  While the request from the Bishop is a sign of deep respect for Dcn. Jim, it is also a sacrifice for him, his family, and the parish while he is away.  So, as we move through the summer, we commit to praying for the Collom family.

Parish Picnic

Please join us for the Parish Picnic on June 8 following the 10:00 am Mass.  I am so optimistic that many of you will attend that I purchased A LOT of food (1,000 brats and 1,000 hamburger patties) from Mert’s Meat!  This has to get eaten!  So, please come celebrate with the parish in thanksgiving for everything that God is doing within this amazing parish community.  

A HUGE thank you to the Knights of Columbus and the Council of Catholic Women who are helping organize all of this.  I look forward to seeing everyone and relaxing after a very busy and hectic Easter season!  

Gospel Reflection

We find ourselves in the midst of the Farewell Discourse in John’s Gospel.  These readings are appropriate leading up to next weekend when we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.  In His Farewell Discourse, Jesus explains things that the disciples just cannot understand at the time He is explaining them.  He is revealing realities that will take place in the future - after His death and resurrection.  The disciples are a bit dumbfounded.

Jesus knows the plan that is about to unfold.  He certainly knows about His death and resurrection.  He also knows that after His resurrection He will return to His father.  But, He will not leave His disciples abandoned.  Rather, He will send them the Advocate - the Holy Spirit - who “will teach [them] everything and remind [them] of all that [he] told them” (John 14:26).  The Father and the Son long to make their dwelling within each human person.  Jesus Himself explicitly indicates this when He says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23).  The Father and Son come to make their dwelling within the human person through the sending of the Holy Spirit.  It is through this indwelling, through baptism in the Holy Spirit, that we are able to participate in the divine nature of God Himself.  

There seems to be, however, a condition placed upon us, and we might ask ourselves, “How can God who loves unconditionally place a condition upon us?”.  God’s love can be rejected.  We have the freedom to reject His love.  He has given us that freedom.  It’s not so much a condition placed upon us, but rather a result of our rejection of His love through our disobedience.  Where is the room for the indwelling of God if we will not accept it?  Our rejection of God’s love manifests itself through disobedience.  Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word” (John 14:23).  Earlier, in the same discourse Jesus says, “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

We tend to think of obedience as mere compliance.  An order is given, and I will obey.  Or, perhaps you’ve heard or remember the old adage pray, pay, and obey.  That is not quite how obedience is understood as one of the three evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, and obedience).  Obedience is a willingness to submit to God’s will (and certainly to those in legitimate authority). It is a reasoned and loving response to God’s guidance and direction for our lives.  Obedience is the way in which we follow Christ more closely which involves denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following after Him.  

Jesus, very clearly, teaches that there is a link between authentic love and obedience (properly understood) to Him.  “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  “Whoever loves me will keep my word” (John 14:23).

As we reflect today and as we move toward the great solemnities of the Ascension and Pentecost, perhaps we should take time to reflect on these questions: Is there room for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within my heart?  Or, does my pride occupy the space within my heart?  Do I manifest love for Christ through my own willingness to submit to Him?  Or, am I held back from loving Christ more deeply out of fear that Christ’s plan for my life will be unfulfilling or not enough?  

As we approach the Ascension and Pentecost, let us make room for the Holy Spirit by keeping Christ’s commandments and His word.  And, as we do so, let us pray for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit within our lives, the lives of those around us, and within the Church. 

Know of my prayers for you all! 

Fr. Ryan