Clergy Bulletin Articles

Where’s the turning point in the parable of the two sons (Luke 15:11–32)? Is it the moment when the young rebel “comes to himself” in the pigsty?

 It seems we are always hearing about issues of sexuality; whether within our Church or within society, what is right or wrong, what is acceptable or unacceptable. How do we handle the unique situations that come up? Human sexuality expresses a very important part of our humanity and so deserves our attention and learning.

You might notice we are doing a different Penitential Rite at Masses here during Lent. This is an option that is seldom used, but is another way to focus on mercy.

Lent is a good time for self-evaluation and looking at our life choices. One of the greatest challenges I see in pastoring today and for our mission at Prince of Peace is how complicated lives have become.

In the opening prayer for next Sunday, we pray: “Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.” The Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar (27) states “Lent is ordered to preparing for the celebration of Easter, since the Lenten liturgy prepares for celebration of the Paschal Mystery, both catechumens, by the various stages of Christian Initiation, and the faithful, who recall their own Baptism and do penance."

We receive many requests from parents hoping to have a child baptized. Unfortunately, parents are finding it difficult to find godparents for their child once they find out what it takes to be a godparent.

It is required by universal law that there be at least one godparent. Sometimes parents want to select a Jewish or a Muslim friend to be godparents, as someone once told me “we thought it would be nice and inclusive”. Once, parents told me the people they had selected had no religion at all, “but they are really good people."

This coming week begins the long awaited summit on clerical sex abuse at the Vatican. February 21-24, presidents and other representatives of the worlds nearly 130 Catholic bishops’ conferences will gather in Rome, and we need to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all those who will be present.

The readings this Sunday all contain a manifestation of God: to the prophet Isaiah, to the psalmist, to the apostles and five hundred after the Resurrection, and by the Lake of Gennesaret. In all of these instances, the recipients of God’s revelation experience a degree of trepidation and inadequacy. God reveals Himself to ordinary people in ordinary situations; like to the fishermen, Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee and to all married people too.

In a message from Pope Francis on World Communications Day, January 24, 2019 he wrote:

It is that time of year for us to champion and celebrate Catholic schools. We are blessed to have a Catholic elementary school here at Prince of Peace, and to have many area Catholic high schools as well.