What a rich blessing it is to be here! I’m not sure when one is no longer “new,” but I continue to thank the Lord for sending me here, especially as I get more into the rhythm of the parish and school. My feet are more on the ground now and I am calling OLPH home more and more. We have a great spiritual family here, and it is a true honor to be part of it.

Every Friday morning I teach 5th grade religion, and am consistently impressed by their ability to learn, process and clearly understand even the deepest parts of our faith. This past Friday, we went into some of the what and the why of the New Roman Missal. While we do this at every Mass, the new translation brings us into greater union with the Church throughout the world and the Church through the centuries.

What a great time to be Catholic! What a great spiritual family we have in the Church! With the Church we can say, with Pope Benedict, “I am not alone. I do not have carry alone what in truth I could never carry alone. All the Saints of God are there to protect me, to sustain me and to carry me. And your prayers, my dear friends, your indulgence, your love, your faith and your hope accompany me.”

This is what Christ offers us through the Church! This Advent, let us dive deeply into what it means to be Catholic – what it means to be part of the great spiritual family of the Church. This is not abstract! It is concrete. It is real. It happens at the Mass. It happens when we pray. It happens when we make God the priority by our time. It happens when we love by our words to and about one another.

You all continue to be in my prayers and I ask for yours as well!

Peace in Christ,
Fr. John