A photo of coffee in a glass mug on a rustic wooden table in Copenhagen, Denmark

Weekly pastor’s post (September 29 – October 5, 2024)

by | Oct 3, 2024 | Pastor's post

Though only half-way done, this week has already been a whirlwind. The installation Mass this Wednesday at Queen of Angels turned out quite nicely, especially for an evening celebration in the middle of the week! I was pleasantly surprised at how many people were able to come – and from nearly all of our churches. Though I only had minimal speaking parts, if you will, I was caught off-guard at the intensity of emotions that hit me as I pledged to collaborate with our parish councils and renewed the Oath of Fidelity. It isn’t that these are new things to me (on the contrary, this is the third or fourth time I have made this oath!), but the weight of it all hit me square between the eyes as I recited – hand on Gospels – this promise before the People of God. It is a great privilege to be a pastor, and a serious responsibility.

Of course, keeping me grounded were not only plenty of parishioners but my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, nephews, and niece! My dad, in particular, was quite proud of the fact that he got to whip out a few embarrassing stories about the newly installed pastor! I mostly avoided getting sucked into those stories (having a surplus of lumpia helped!). All in all, a wonderful evening.

A painting of the three archangels (Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael). Each bears symbols of their charism.

In addition to the pastoral, I had a neat personal discovery this week – in the form of a geeky app that gamifies accomplishing tasks, building habits, and managing to-do lists. I’d like to introduce you to Habitica: an open-source RPG-style task management app. Long story short, you create a (simple) character that gains XP and items with every habit, task, or to-do item that you complete. It’s been around for quite a while, apparently, and is well-supported by open-source developers and donations. I’ve started using it to help keep track of my daily prayer routine, basic chores, and the many, many to-do items that come my way regularly or spontaneously! For example, finishing my daily routine – including this pastor’s post (a “medium” task in the app) – leveled up my character and prepared me for a low-level quest. Is this necessary for me to do what I’m supposed to do? Definitely not. Is it a wonderfully geeky extra to help me be motivated to do so? Absolutely!

Saint Thomas Aquinas famously said gratia non tollit naturam, sed perficit – “grace does not destroy nature, but perfects it”. The Lord never tears down but rather redeems all that we are. Whether it is in individual quirks that are turned towards His glory or the coming together of a diverse group to form a new family, He perfects all things – demonstrating His delight in us and His creativity in our lives. Whatever comes next, it is sure to be a fruitful and grand adventure.


A painting of the three archangels (Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael). Each bears symbols of their charism.

September 29 – Though Sunday trumps nearly everything, today’s memorial of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael is still worth noting. Sacred Scripture testifies to three named archangels: Michael, whose name means “who is like God?”, Gabriel, whose name means “God is my strength”, and Raphael, whose name means “God is my health”. Though we are confident that there are many other angels, these three hold a special place in the revelations of God’s plan throughout salvation history. Each came at just the right moments, guiding those towards the Lord and inviting those to whom they had been sent to participate in His providence. May we call upon them (each has their own prayer!), likewise fulfilling our part in the great work of God. Read more about them at Word on Fire.

September 30“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” – with these words, Saint Jerome exhorted Christians of his time (and beyond) to take seriously our responsibility to approach the Scriptures regularly and devoutly. I must admit that until relatively recently, my own Bible lay untouched – certainly unopened! – for years. Oh, I had plenty of excuses as to why reading the Scriptures wasn’t feasible: where would I start? how could I decide how much to read in a sitting? when would I finally get through the whole bible? what about the boring parts? It wasn’t until I just started reading the Bible (yes, from the beginning!) that I realized how silly all those objections were. God desires for us to know Him, and He’s got a whole set of writings for us to approach Him – on our own schedule and as much or as little at a time as we feel comfortable! Read more about today’s saint from Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 general audience.

October 1 – Today is the memorial of Thérèse of the Child Jesus. A virgin and Doctor of the Church, her life stands witness not to grand acts but to great love in all things. The second reading from today’s Office of Readings, taken from her autobiography, shares the moment of her realization that love was to be the hinge for her vocation. When this realization struck her, she prayed “O Jesus, my love, at last I have found my calling: my call is love. Certainly I have found my place in the Church, and you gave me that very place, my God. In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love, and thus I will be all things, as my desire finds its direction.” Read more about her at Patheos.

October 2 – Today is the memorial of the holy guardian angels. Moreover, it is the celebration of my installation as pastor of the Catholic communities of the Olympic Peninsula. When we proposed this day to the chancery – and it was accepted – I had forgotten that this memorial was on this day. Since then, I have been considering how neat it is that the Lord allowed these two celebrations to come together. May we take the time to consciously submit ourselves to the guidance of our guardian angels, that we all may worthily fulfill the roles God has for us. If you don’t know it already, the Guardian Angel prayer is an easy one to learn and memorize!

Robed in the brown of his community, Saint Francis kneels on the ground, leaning against a rock on which a bible and crucifix have been placed. He looks devoutly at Christ on the cross, with a forest and the open sky behind and overhead.

October 4 – Today’s memorial – that of Saint Francis of Assisi – is likely one of the most popularly known in modern society. Despite his devout Catholicism, statutes of Saint Francis can be found in the yards of even the most avowed athiest, usually with a bird bath and flowers nearby. And while he did indeed have a love for all created things – sun, moon, plants, and animals – Saint Francis’ faith was rooted not in worship of creation but of the Creator. His devoted his life to service and mission, so united with Christ that he received His wounds (the stigmata). Read more about his life at Franciscan Media.



Priests celebrating their anniversaries this week

A color line art picture of people gathered around an altar as incense rises above them to heaven before the three Persons of the Trinity, Mary & Joseph, and all the saints & angels.
    • No anniversaries this week – pray for vocations!

 

Remembering our deceased priests

    • Msgr. Philip Corboy (September 29, 1981)
    • Fr. Louis E. Schram (September 30, 1898)
    • Fr. Charles G. Crosse (October 2, 2013)
    • Fr. William Bennett (October 3, 1948)
    • Fr. Richard Ward (October 4, 2021)

 

A black and white line art drawing of Christ the judge enthroned within an arch with angels seated on pillars to His right and left with stars behind him.

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