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November 13, 2020This Sunday, November 15th from noon to 3pm
Masters Watch Party in the Churchyard
Final Round TV, Putting Green, Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
Thursday, November 26th at 9am
Thanksgiving Day Mass
Sunday, November 29th at 5pm
Praise and Worship in the Churchyard
Great music, okay cheese, and cheap wine
I welcome the report of the Holy See’s investigation into its knowledge and decision-making regarding Theodore McCarrick during his long career as a priest, bishop, and cardinal. We are studying these findings, and we are grateful to our Holy Father Pope Francis for his pastoral concern for the family of God in the United States and his leadership in calling the Church to greater accountability and transparency in addressing issues of abuse and the mishandling of abuse claims at every level.
This is another tragic chapter in the Church’s long struggle to confront the crimes of sexual abuse by clergy. To McCarrick’s victims and their families, and to every victim-survivor of sexual abuse by the clergy, I express my profound sorrow and deepest apologies. Please know that my brother bishops and I are committed to doing whatever is in our power to help you move forward and to ensure that no one suffers what you have been forced to suffer.
To all those who have suffered abuse by a priest, bishop, or someone in the Church, I urge you to report this abuse to law enforcement and to Church authorities. You can find detailed information on how and where to report abuse at www.usccb.org/committees/protection-children-young-people/how-report-abuse.
This report underscores the need for us to repent and grow in our commitment to serve the people of God. Let us all continue to pray and strive for the conversion of our hearts, and that we might follow Jesus Christ with integrity and humility. -- Archbishop José H. Gomez- President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Throughout my priesthood, I have been wounded by too many scandals within the Church that I love. I am certainly not without my faults, but some of the abuse, sloth, lack of accountability, lack of compassion, and general stupidity, that I have witnessed and experienced among the clergy of the Church has been so disheartening. No doubt, this moral turpitude is one of the major reasons, why for every one person we welcome into the Church, seven baptized Catholics stop practicing their faith. And yet my work as a parish priest remains pretty simple and wonderful. I am at my best when I am helping people live in the way of Jesus with the heart of Jesus. We are at our best when we are using our God-given talents to build up God’s kingdom. I thank you for also loving our wounded Church. I thank you for partnering with me to see beyond the humanity of the Church to the knowledge that the Church is the main channel of God’s grace that leads us ever deeper into the Mystery of God’s love. Together with God’s help we will bring healing and growth to our Church. Praise God!! -- Fr. Jerry
Taking the Gospel Home -- Read Matthew 25:14-30 What resources or abilities have been given to you, do you think? Are you using them? Are you willing to take risks, or are you paralyzed by fear? If you were a leader in the Church, what kind of risks would you take to insure the growth of the faithful? With a prayerful awareness of God’s presence, reflect upon how to better use the abilities and resources God has given you in a way that honors Him.
