I. Anointing of the Sick:   in illness and suffering, we experience our powerlessness, our limitations, and our finitude. Every illness can be a glimpse of death for us! Illness can lead to anguish,
self-absorption, sometimes even despair and revolt against God. It can also make us more mature, helping us discern in our life what is not essential so that we can turn toward that which is. Very often, illness provokes a search for God or a return to God (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1500ff). Christ’s compassion toward the sick and his many healings of every kind of infirmity are a
resplendent sign that “God has visited his people“ (Luke 7:16, Matthew 4:24). Jesus’ power to heal and to forgive sins are often connected. Jesus has come to heal the whole person, soul and body; Jesus is the physician we need. Let’s pray for all those who presented themselves to the Church for healing through this Sacrament of the Sick this weekend.

II. Communion to the Sick: What a privilege and honor to visit and take Jesus in Holy Communion to our parishioners who are homebound, in nursing homes and the hospital. I want to thank Fr. Sinoj Pynadath, who oversees this most important ministry, and works with our Ministers of Care: Gary Aud, Sr. Consolata, Vickie Davis, Sue Gough, Dan & Sally Halbig, Mark Heinz, Laurie Hicks, Don Houle, Mary Ann O’Bryan, Rose Ann and Danny Payne, Theresa Ray, and Mary Alice Wethington, along with Donna Murphy, Rick Rhodes, seminarian Martin Ling (w/drivers Bob
Stone and Jim Duffy), and myself. Whether they go on Friday or Sunday, I thank our Ministers of Care who connect our sick and homebound to our Eucharistic Community. The sick and homebound so appreciate this “holy” visit. This is a wonderful ministry, and If anyone would like join in this outreach ministry of “being” and taking Jesus “under the form of bread” to others in their time of need, please contact Fr. Sinoj or call the Parish Office. You will receive the needed training and go with another Minister of Care the first few times. We could use a few more parishioners in this fulfilling ministry.

III.  Care for our Common Home:   On June 18, 2015, Pope Francis released his encyclical, “Care for Our Common Home” (Laudato Si’), addressing ecology and the need to safeguard the environment. Other popes, including Pope Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI, have spoken out on the importance of environmental stewardship, but Pope Francis broke new ground by elevating this aspect of the Church’s Social Teaching to the topic of an encyclical. Recently Pope Francis said, “The only future worth building is one that includes everyone.” Laudato Si’ is about all people sharing a common home, not just environmental stewardship, important though that is. While there are some skeptics, 97% of the active scientists say climate change is real, and it is caused by human activity, and must be addressed. Young people, in particular, challenge that we go beyond the immediacy of what we consider to be a benefit and consider long-term benefits, for their children and grandchildren. How are we caring for our common home?

IV. Welcome Back Father Titus Ahabyona! Ordained a priest in 1997 for the Diocese of Fort Portal, Uganda, Father Titus was sent by his bishop to study Canon Law in Canada. To gain pastoral experience, he spent six years working in our marriage tribunal, living three years at Saint Stephen Cathedral rectory and three years at Saint Pius X rectory. In 2014, Father Titus was assigned as rector at Our Lady of the Snows Cathedral in his home Diocese, in a country of 33 million people of which 15 million are Catholics! There are over 1 million Catholics in his Diocese of Fort Portal, compared to approximately 85,000 Catholics in our Owensboro Diocese. Father Titus arrived on Thursday and will spend the next eight weeks with us! Welcome!