From the Pastor’s Desk: September 30, 2018  

     Every once in a while it is a good thing for us to take time to reflect on topics that make us uncomfortable. Today the Church is inviting us to do just that. Throughout the Readings, today's liturgy emphasizes one simple truth of our Catholic faith: sin matters.
 
     In the second reading, St. James graphically explains that if someone spends their earthly life exploiting and using other people, lying and cheating and hoarding wealth, they may enjoy the fruits of their crimes for a little while, but they can't escape justice forever. He writes, “They will weep and wail over their miseries."
In the Gospel, Jesus is just as clear. He explains that un-repented sin has consequences; it leads to damnation, to hell, which was commonly called " Gehenna." Gehenna became a symbol of the state of eternal separation of a soul from God, and the unending spiritual destruction and frustration that goes with such a separation. According to Jesus, that's what un-repented sin leads us to.
 
     These comments of St. James and Jesus are not meant to scare us into feeling guilty - it's not some psychological manipulation technique. Rather, they simply grasp our attention about the powerful reality that sin- willfully turning away from God and His moral law, has consequences, and they are not good, and we should strive to avoid them. 
 
     On Monday, we begin the month of October traditionally set aside as “Respect Life Month”. Sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since 1972, it provides resources to bring awareness to help Catholics understand, value, and become engaged with building a culture that cherishes every human life. This year’s theme is "Every Life: Cherished, Chosen, Sent." Therefore being cherished, chosen, and sent by God to love one another as He loves us, we need to help to build a culture that cherishes all human life. Building a culture of life is simply part of who we are as Christians, as followers of Christ. This special time offers all of us- people of good will- special opportunities that in coordinated efforts may promote the culture of life. In this time we invite one another to live our faith most actively that opens our eyes to human life in all its grandeur and beauty.
 
     The month of October is also dedicated to the Mother of God under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrated by the Church on October 7 ^th. The day was dedicated by St. Pius V who credited a victory over the invading Turks to the intercession of Mary through the rosary.
 
     “The traditional image of Our Lady of the Rosary portrays Mary who with one arm supports the Child Jesus and with the other is offering the rosary beads to St. Dominic. This important iconography shows that the Rosary is a means given by the Virgin to contemplate Jesus, and meditating on his life, to love him and follow him ever more faithfully. It is this message that Our Lady has also bequeathed to us in her various apparitions.” (Benedict XVI, Angelus, October 7, 2009)
 
     This week of October 1-5, 2018 is the Diocesan Annual Priestly Retreat. Father Xaviour and I will be at Marywood with the rest of the priests of the diocese united in prayer. There will be no Masses on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Please pray for all priests especially from our diocese, that in the midst of struggles caused by the scandal of the clergy sexual abuse and cover ups, we will continue with your prayerful support to grow in courage in our priestly service and ministry to Our Holy Mother Church in proclamation of the message of the Truth.
 
     I wish you a blessed week!
 
With prayers,  
Fr. Andy