From the Pastor's Desk | October 29, 2023

Congrats to Sr. Pat

Thank you! This weekend we celebrate 65 years of Sr. Pat’s profession of vows.  Congratulations, good and faithful servant!  Thank you for your dedicated service to the Lord, His Church, and to St. Martha Parish and School!  
 

All Saints and All Souls Days

A reminder that Wednesday, November 1, is a Holy Day of Obligation.  We will have an early vigil Mass on October 31 at 6:00 pm due to trick-or-treating.  On the actual Holy Day, will have an early Mass at 6:30 am for those who may be going to work.  We will have 8:30 am Mass with the school and 7:00 pm evening Mass. 

For All Souls Day, we will have our normal 8:30 am Mass with the school and our special Mass of Remembrance at 7:00 pm.  
 

Gospel Reflection

Our Gospel this weekend focuses on the word love.  Unfortunately in the English language we are a little restricted because only have one word to use to convey a variety of meanings, whereas the Greeks have four: 
· Storge - familial love
 
· Philia - friendship 
 
· Eros - erotic or sexual love
 
· Agape - the fulfillment of love being self sacrifice 

St. Thomas Aquinas defines the theological virtue of love as “willing the good of the other”.  Our culture has reduced love to sentiment, emotion, or whatever or whoever makes us feel good about ourselves.  That is our tendency because of the human condition - to turn love into something about us which makes it more selfish than self giving.

As we pray into the Mass this weekend, let us pray for the grace to really understand what love is and what love of God and neighbor look like.  You may even want to pick up a copy of C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves.  

A blessed week and know of my prayers for you all!

 
Fr. Ryan