A Note of Welcome
We extend a special welcome to all who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, y no hable Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail, or could afford to lose a few pounds.
We welcome you if you can sing either like our music leader, or even if like our pastor, you can hardly carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up, or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, haven’t been to church since little Joey’s baptism, or have never been in a church ever.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but have not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome single parents, gay parents, all parents, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte- sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome those who have big problems or are down in the dumps, and those who don’t like “organized religion” (We’ve been there, too.)
If you blew all your offering money before you arrived, you’re welcome here. We welcome those who think the earth is flat, who work too hard, who don’t work, can’t spell, or who are here because grandma is in town and she wanted to go to church. We welcome those children who run down the aisle, those who need an arm to lean on, those who see and hear with assistance, and those who don’t miss a word or note or gesture.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throats as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers, and doubters, bleeding hearts… and you!
– Author Unknown
Father John’s Homilies
Each week Father John’s Homilies will be posted here.
Pastor’s Points
April 16, 2025
In this passage excerpted from While I Breathe, I Hope – A Mystery of Dying, author Richard R. Gaillardetz profoundly reflects on the mystery of the Paschal Triduum under the weight of his terminal cancer diagnosis. Read the passage here.
October 18, 2024
Our Bishops remind us that we have a moral obligation to vote, and to vote our conscience. No one can tell us how to live out our conscience; it’s a decision between us and God. I recommend that you read the Bishops’ Document on voting as a guide.
* Read more from Father John here.
* Learn more about the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Faithful Citizenship here.
September 1, 2024
As we all return from our summer vacations and breaks, Father John has asked us to reflect on this article. Who might be at our doorsteps that we need to bridge the gap with?
Corpus Christi Sunday – June 2, 2024
On this Corpus Christi Sunday let us take a few moments to reflect on the profound words of Pope Francis about the Eucharist here.
Easter 2024
Easter is a powerhouse of God’s grace, bursting into our world to renew us from anything puny, little, or insignificant. Easter invites us to live a big life, an ALLELUIA life, a life that is filled with love and goodness, generosity and compassion, forgiveness and service to others. Read more here.
Advent 2023
Father John recently found the following reflection and wanted to share it with all parishioners. Like the Turtle in the reflection, he hopes that we all might also find stillness this Advent while also trusting that the world will warm again. Read the story of the turtle here.
November always ushers in another set of questions in our faith journey. We start off with ALL SAINTS and our call to holiness, and ALL SOULS reminding us of our mortality. The gospel images speak of the end things – heaven, hell, purgatory and judgment. It’s sobering stuff, but good stuff. Important stuff. Stuff we all have to deal with. Read more about that in Father John’s latest Pastor’s Point here.
Throughout the Easter season, Father John has been singing part of the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass. That’s the part that contains ‘the Institution Narrative’ – containing the words of consecration “He took the bread, blessed it, broke it…Then He took the cup, gave thanks and said…” Did you know that our own Greg Santa Croce wrote this beautiful music to be part of our liturgies? Read more about that in Father John’s latest Pastor’s Point here.
From time-to-time Father John has a message for the parish which is placed in the bulletin. These will also be posted here for parishioners to read.
During the Covid-19 Crisis,
Father John is communicating regularly with the parish.
Click here to view these messages.
Previous to the Pandemic, Father John’s communication are found below.
July 2019- An Invitation to Father John’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
A Musical Pastor’s Point- Published May 12, 2019
Lent 2019- Published March 30, 2019