FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR

June 18, 2021

Dear Friends in Christ,

The passage we hear in this Sunday’s Gospel is one of my favorites because it applies to so many circumstances of our lives.   Jesus and the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee. A terrible storm comes up, and the boat is taking on water.   Jesus, seemingly oblivious, is asleep in the back of the boat on a cushion.   They wake him asking, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?”  They wake him, and the Lord rebukes the wind, and there is a great calm. Then he asks them, “Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have faith?”

This applies to so many of own experiences.  So often the storms of our lives seemingly break over us, and we feel that we are taking on water or even sinking.   In the midst of our doubts, fears and uncertainties, we even forget that the Lord Jesus is in the boat with us. He is with us.  Or even if don’t forget that he is with us, we ask or shake our fist at God, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?”  Yes, it is this Jesus, who took on our whole human condition—the good, the bad and the ugly--- who has time and time again proven his love for us--- who is with us, and who can calm the storms of our lives, of our fears, and of our anxieties.  We need not fear because we are in his care, because he suffered for our sins, and because he has already won the victory for us.   We know that he will lead us through the storms of our lifes safely to the other side, safely to dry land.

This is what he has been doing for us throughout this pandemic. If we but follow him, call upon him, and place our trust in him, he will bring about a great calm in us and lead us safely home to heaven.

A few notes about this coming week…

Annual Priest Meetings – This week Fr. Anh and I will be participating in our annual priest meetings.  Fr. Anh will also be away with family.   So, this week, there will be just one daily Mass on Friday at 9 am at St. Jude.  Please pray for the fruitfulness of these meetings.  One major topic will be the implementation of the pastoral plan developed by the Archbishop and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council – Knowing Christ -Embracing His Mission.

Next Sunday we will take up the Peter’s Pence collection for the support of the Holy Father Pope Francis and his ministries.  You may give on line through the parish giving website.  Please be as generous as you can.

Next Saturday, Deacon Kyle Poje, our new parochial vicar will be ordained to the priesthood at St. James Cathedral.  Please pray for him that the Holy Spirit will fill him with grace through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  We look forward to his service in our parishes this summer beginning July 4.

Blessings on your week!

Fr. Johnson