From the Pastor's Desk | November 24, 2024

Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Today is the last Sunday of Ordinary Time ushering in the last week of Ordinary Time.  We always celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe on this last Sunday of the liturgical year.  We have taken the last several weeks praying for the dead, contemplating those four last things - heaven, hell, judgment, and death, - and contemplating our own mortality.  
In our Gospel today Jesus encounters Pontius Pilate as he interrogates the Lord specifically asking Him if He is a king and where His kingdom is.  In reply, Jesus says, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.  If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over…”  
I don’t know about you, but I am quite happy the election is behind us.  Today’s Solemnity is a great reminder for all of us that, as Christians, we belong to a Kingdom not of this world.  This world is passing away.  Whatever our political allegiance, there is nothing salvific dying a Republican or dying a Democrat.  As amazing and as awesome as our country is, there is nothing salvific dying an American.  Rather, salvation is merited only through Christ, and it is merited to those who strive to live in relationship with Christ, those who strive to live as a disciple of Christ, those who strive to do the will of the Father as Christ showed us.   
In Matthew 24, Jesus reminds us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away (Matthew 24:35).  Furthermore, in his first letter John echoes these words in writing, “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.  Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever” (1 John 1:17).  
Let our first allegiance, our first love, our first devotion, our first praises be given to Jesus Christ our King. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week we will gather with family and friends for Thanksgiving!  I know the school kids and teachers are looking forward to a slight reprieve.  As we gather this year, let’s “Thank God ahead of time.”  This wisdom, to thank God ahead of time, comes to us from Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey. 
Bernard Francis Casey was born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin in 1870, the sixth of sixteen children born to Irish immigrant parents Bernard and Ellen Casey.  At eight years of age, Bernard contracted diphtheria which severely affected his voice and killed two of his siblings.  After grade school, he worked many different jobs including a state prison guard, hospital orderly, lumberjack, and streetcar operator.  During his time as a streetcar operator, he witnessed a severely drunken man stab a woman to death.  It was then that he began to seriously look at his own life, what direction he wanted to go, and began to contemplate the priesthood.  
Bernard wanted to be a diocesan priest, and so he enrolled in St. Francis High School Seminary (albeit at the age of 21).  He struggled greatly because the classes were taught in both Latin and German.  He didn’t understand the languages and had a very difficult time learning them.  One of his advisors instructed him to seek a religious order where they might ordain him a simplex priest meaning he would have the faculties to pray the Mass but would not be allowed to hear confessions or preach homilies.  
Bernard, who had always been a prayerful man, heard the voice of the Lord say to him, “Go to Detroit.”  So he went and was accepted into the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor where he received the religious name Solanus.  Upon ordination as a simplex priest and for the next fourteen years, he served in very minor roles in parishes such as sacristan, altar server instructor, and porter.  The pastors didn’t know what to do with a priest who really could not do the work of a priest.  However, by the time he was ordained, people saw something in him and began referring to him as “that holy priest.”
Fr. Solanus served in parishes in New York but eventually made his way back to Detroit to St. Bonaventure Monastery (off of Mount Elliot Rd.) where he served as porter and sacristan.  He also worked in the Capuchin Soup Kitchen serving the poorest during the Great Depression.  His reputation as “that holy priest” followed him to Detroit as he took on a new reputation, one in which his holiness seemed to have brought about miracles.  Up to two hundred people would seek him out on any given day for advice, counsel, prayer, and his intercession for healing.  
Though he struggled and suffered much, Fr. Solanus turned to his deep faith and prayer.  He had an unwavering hope found in God’s providence and goodness even though he not only experienced his own suffering but witnessed the suffering of so many around him.  It was because of his deep faith that he would say things like, “Blessed be God in all His designs,” “God will answer our prayers,” “God’s will be done,” and “Thank God ahead of time.”  
Thank God ahead of time.  As we gather this year on Thanksgiving, let us thank God ahead of time.  Though we may have suffered much or perhaps we find ourselves in the midst of suffering, we can, nonetheless, give God thanks ahead of time.  Why?  Because God is doing something.  If God had not allowed Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey to suffer throughout his life, would he have become the holy and humble priest he became?  Would hundreds of people have sought his wisdom, counsel, and prayer each day?  Would the pride of the individual get in the way of God’s action, or did God allow Blessed Fr. Solanus to become humble so God could act?  
We don’t necessarily always know what God is up to, but we can be assured of the fact that he is doing something.  So, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in this year as we gather together with those we love on Thanksgiving, let us be like Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey in giving God thanks ahead of time.
(As an aside, from time to time I like to take the drive to 
St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit to pray and visit the tomb of Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey.  I encourage you to do the same.  Take the time to drive to Detroit to pray at the tomb of Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey as he is a powerful intercessor.  Pray also for the cause of his canonization.  The Capuchin Fathers also hear confessions all day Monday through Friday).  

Fall Fundraiser/Annual Appeal

Thank you to everyone who participated either financially in our annual appeal or by attending our Fall Fundraiser and Auction!  It was a great night and a successful endeavor.  As soon as we have the numbers tallied, we will be sure to let you know how successful this year’s appeal was.  
A HUGE thank you to Andrea Patton, Cynthia and Matt Farnsworth, Ron Lenz, Mark Farone, Andrew Brieschke, Claire Boomer, and Dave and Bonnie Maluchnik who helped plan such a successful event!  They began the planning process way back in June and have worked exceedingly hard to make sure this year’s event was even better than last.  I cannot thank them enough. 
Thank you too to all the volunteers!  You played an important role in pulling off a very complicated task.  It is not easy putting everything together and many hands make all the difference.  Thank you for stepping up in support of the parish!  
And so we begin planning next year’s event…!

Capital Campaign - Thank You, Ben Giles

As we wrap up our Capital Campaign, we also big farewell to Ben Giles from The Steier Group.   I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done to help us achieve a successful campaign.  Please pray for him as he moves on from here and as he and his fiancee prepare for their wedding this coming December! 
We will now be moving into the planning and building stage, and I want to thank everyone who pledged to give toward this endeavor thus setting the parish and school up for future success! ​

Know of my prayers for you all! 
Fr. Ryan