| Hating and Renouncing: This Sunday’s Gospel, much like every word in Scripture, is challenging as we learn to be disciples of Jesus. Jesus invites us to ‘hate’ our father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters—even our own life—in order to be his disciple. Later, he will say that whoever does not renounce all his possessions cannot be his disciple. He uses this strong language for us so that we put Jesus first in our life, surrendering to his love, making him the center of our lives, and the heart of all our decisions. This leads to greater love and not hate. What place do we put Jesus in our lives? How do we respond to Jesus’ incredible love for us?Presumption: A couple of Sundays ago, the Gospel was on Jesus stating: “Strive to enter the narrow gate, for many will try to enter and will not be able (Luke 13:22-30).” Pope Leo XIV had some interesting comments on this Gospel passage. He said that “the Lord’s words are meant to primarily challenge the presumption of those people who think they are already saved, who perform religious acts and feel that is all that is needed.” He added, “Our faith is authentic when it embraces our whole life, when it becomes a criterion for our decisions, when it makes us women and men committed to doing what is right and who take risks out of love, even as Jesus did. Jesus is the true measure of our faith; he is the gate through which we must pass in order to be saved by experiencing his love and by working, in our daily lives, to promote justice and peace.”Two: This coming Sunday, September 7, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. They died at the ages of 15 and 24, respectively, from diseases. Blessed Carlo combined his deep faith, especially his love for the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother, with his love for computer programming. He developed a program to showcase 187 Eucharistic miracles in the world. Blessed Pier had a father who didn’t go to Church and a mother who went to Church but didn’t receive the Eucharist. Blessed Pier too had a deep love for the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. He was a man of charity and social justice and desired to bring others to Christ. They were both disciples of Jesus on mission!Age: I keep on thinking about the two new saints and how young they were when they died. It’s true that it’s not so much how long we live, but how we live as disciples of Jesus.Minnesota: Like you, I was devastated by the shooting during a school Mass at Annunciation Parish. I wrote a letter to Archbishop Bernie Hebda of Minneapolis-St. Paul assuring him and the Annunciation Parish and School of our prayers.Thoughts: Some thoughts on the tragedy in Minnesota. How do we keep guns out of the hands of people who use them to harm others? However, what is the root cause of all these killings? It’s a matter of the heart; hearts not conformed to God’s will for them.Our Youth:CYO: I was happy to visit the Junior CYO Camp on Sunday. The campers were in good spirits despite the off and on rain. What impressed me the most were the camp counselors. They gave their hearts to serving the junior high students. I was also glad to hear that we had 50 more campers this year than last year.NCYC and Pope Leo: I am really looking forward to joining many of our young people at NCYC in November. I also received exciting news that Pope Leo will be having an interactive digital presence at NCYC. This will be awesome for all our young people and sponsors who are attending. It looks like our diocese will be bringing the 2nd most young people there this year. The only diocese bringing more is Indianapolis, the host diocese. Our Brothers and Sisters: If you haven’t read the statement on immigration from the bishops of Kansas, you can find it here.Visit: Last week some members of the USCCB Committee on Migration visited our diocese. It was a wonderful week visiting our Hispanic brothers and sisters throughout the diocese. It was a joy to listen to them. Their stories are compelling. They just want a peaceful and better life for their families.Creation: Yesterday (September 1) was the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The theme this year is “Seeds of Peace and Hope.” Pope Leo XIV wrote: “Environmental justice – implicitly proclaimed by the prophets – can no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal. It is an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment. For it is a matter of justice – social, economic and human. For believers it is also a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.Phones: Our cellphones are a blessing in so many ways as they allow us to communicate with everyone and everywhere—and quickly too. Yet, I found a comment interesting from one of our seminarians who is in a spirituality year and can only have their phones on Sundays. He said that when his classmates had their phones, they stayed in their own rooms and spent time looking at their phones. But after the phone restrictions came, everyone came out to talk with each other. What gives us life?Roma: My nephew, Charles, is a seminarian for the Diocese of Saginaw (I tried to get him to study for our diocese!). He has been studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome for the last three years and will be ordained a deacon with his classmates on October 2. I look forward to attending the ordination.Roma II: By the way, if you visit Roma please visit our two seminarians, Collin Thielen and Max Megaffin, studying at the College. If they have time, they will be happy to show you around.Conference: I thoroughly enjoyed our Eucharist Conference in early August. I’ve heard so many positive comments from others. Thank you for attending. Please mark your calendars NOW, as next year’s conference will be held the weekend of July 31 – August 2. More details will follow.Restored: We are excited as a diocese to be transitioning to the Restored Order for the Sacraments of Initiation. The process will be a little messy at times, but I am trusting that through patience and perseverance all will be well. Two special Days: On September 8, we celebrate the birth of our Blessed Mother. What a joyful day for the Church! On Sunday, September 14, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. I look forward to celebrating Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pfeifer that day. |
| Some quotes from St. John Chyrsostom, whose feast day is September 13.“Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.”“God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves.”“There is nothing colder than a Christian who does not seek to save others.”“The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock (Christ). Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. I have only contempt for the world’s threats, I find its blessings laughable. I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence. If Christ is with me, whom shall I fear?” |
E-News to the Faithful | September 2, 2025
Bishop's Office
