Clergy Bulletin Articles

Happy 33rd Sunday of Ordinary time! We have only one Sunday yet left before we begin a new cycle beginning with Advent. As we end the liturgical cycle the theme goes that way as well to the “Last Things” of death, judgment, heaven, and hell. This Sunday we get the parable of the talents. Next Sunday, Jesus speaks on judgment, the separating of sheep and goats, and says “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

In November, the Church especially remembers those who have died and prays for them. I always kind of thought the praying part was most important, but in my All Souls’ Day homily I reflected on how important and holy it is to remember. I share some scripture passages with comments.

We celebrate All Saints’ Day this Sunday, November 1. In this, we celebrate all the saints in heaven, especially those not officially canonized, including any of our loved ones who have died and are among the blessed in heaven. The following day, Monday, November 2, is All Souls’ Day, and we remember all those who have died and especially all the souls in purgatory. The whole month of November really reminds us of the importance of remembering the dead and praying for the souls in purgatory.

Next Sunday, November 1, we will celebrate All Saints Day. We celebrate all the saints in heaven, especially those not officially canonized, including our loved ones who have died and are among the blessed in heaven.

October 18th is World Mission Sunday and comes with a reminder of our mission given us by Christ himself to spread the Gospel to the whole world. We should pray for the missions and all missionaries, but also remember God has sent us to the mission field of our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

As we approach an election we have to decide who and what to vote for. Catholics are not told who to vote for, but are given guiding principles about voting. We are then called to be spiritual and civic adults who research, pray, and weigh out our decisions. It is possible we come up with different conclusions. I encourage you to read “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a 2007 U.S. Bishops’ Conference document (go to USCCB.org and you will see a link to it on the home page). I include some quotes from it that I think particularly relevant and helpful:

This Sunday, October 4th, is Respect Life Sunday, and October is Respect Life Month. This month always has had a personal “life” meaning to me because it is the month of my birth! I was born in 1976, three years after the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Legally, I could have been aborted, so I am so grateful for life, and grateful that abortion was never even a consideration by my parents. But as a man of science and faith (recall my background before priesthood was engineering), I also know my life did not begin back in October of 1976.

This Sunday, September 27th, at the 11:00 AM Mass, Archbishop Naumann will publicly and officially install me, Fr. Greg Hammes, as the pastor of Prince of Peace Parish. I’d like to reflect a little on what this is about. When I hear the word “install”, I, having been a software engineer before becoming a priest, first think of loading a new program onto a computer. However, in this case to have an installation of a pastor means the Archbishop is placing me into a new position of authority with a ceremony.

The Season of Autumn also known as Fall begins this Tuesday, September 22. Many love the change in colors of the trees, the cooler temperature, and the nice weather. On September 22nd we experience the Autumnal Equinox, where day and night are roughly equal in length. School is back in session, and football games have begun. The harvest approaches. There is so much for which to be thankful.

Pope Francis in an interview in America Magazine was asked how he prefers to pray:

“I pray the breviary every morning. I like to pray with the psalms. Then, later, I celebrate Mass. I pray the Rosary. What I really prefer is adoration in the evening, even when I get distracted and think of other things, or even fall asleep praying. In the evening then, between seven and eight o’clock, I stay in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour in adoration. But I pray mentally even when I am waiting at the dentist or at other times of the day.