From the Pastor's Desk | June 30, 2024

Capital Campaign

We are moving toward the future! 

As you are aware, we spent the spring months really discerning and asking for feedback regarding a proposed combined capital campaign for the parish in conjunction with the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars diocesan campaign effort. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive! 

If you recall, we tested four proposed projects for the campaign including (1) constructing 5-6 classrooms, (2) growing the education endowment, (3) remodeling the parish hall, and (4) constructing a building for our outreach ministries. These are all needs of the parish. The feasibility study showed us that constructing 5-6 classrooms to grow preschool, expand Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and reclaim the parish hall by removing the temporary classrooms tested as the highest priority among the parishioners. In addition to that, those who participated in the study through the in-pew surveys, interviews, and the mail-in surveys indicated that they were willing to both give and volunteer for the effort. The Steier Group, the firm that conducted the feasibility study and will be managing the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars initiative with the diocese, is confident in the results of the study and recommended that we move forward with a combined campaign at St. Martha.

Using all of the information gathered from the feasibility study, the recommendations and projections from the Steier Group, and the enrollment study, the Finance Council unanimously decided to move forward with a combined campaign and enlisted the Steier Group as our partners in this venture. We will be taking the summer months to plan the campaign and enlist parish volunteers to help lead the effort. 

I am so encouraged by all of you! This is an incredibly exciting time for the parish, and I am both excited and humbled to be a part of it. We are setting up the parish for the future, and the future is bright! 

Gospel Reflection

“Do not be afraid; just have faith” These words must be read in light of the words we hear in the first reading today, “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.” 

We use a big word frequently in the spiritual life - sin. We have to properly understand what this word means. The word sin has two connotations - personal and corporate. We talk about personal sin in the sense that we do things contrary to the Gospel and God’s law for us. We do these things personally - lie, cheat, steal, gossip, slander, etc. 

Sin also has a corporate connotation. Illness, disease, natural disaster, human tragedy - all of these are contrary to God’s plan and design for his creation, particularly his highest creation, humanity. It is not part of God’s plan that we fall ill, experience tragedy or disaster. These are all effects of the fall - in other words sin. 

When Jesus tells Jairus, “Do not be afraid, just have faith,” we can read that word just as sounding trite or even lacking compassion. Might I suggest we read Jesus’ words to Jairus as God speaking to humanity telling us that He keeps his promises. God has conquered sin in both the personal and corporate senses. One day will destroy it forever and we will live in eternal glory. For now, let’s not be afraid. Rather, let us just have faith. 

Know of my prayers for you all! 
Fr. Ryan