From Father Sinoj Pynadath:

1. Happy Father’s Day! While a mother’s love and sacrifice have been recognized and hailed by many literary and social expressions, a father’s role and importance in our lives have been found to receive comparatively less voice and glamour. Our fathers take up struggles and pains without visible tears. They stand as rocky foundations for us to build our lives. Most of us do not need a particular date to celebrate our love for our fathers. But still let us make it a day to specially remember their sacrifices and love for us. Let us take some effort to acknowledge and appreciate them. On May 1, 1972, signing the proclamation 4127 and declaring Father’s Day as a national holiday, President Richard Nixon stated, “Let each American make this Father’s Day an occasion for renewal of the love and gratitude we bear to our fathers, increasing and enduring through all the years.” Let us also pray for all the fathers to be empowered with God’s graces, inspired by St. Joseph, to be faithful in fulfilling their vocation to be the guardians of the souls of all in the family. Dear fathers, Thank you for your “yes” to the call to be the shepherds of the domestic Church. 

2.  A special solemnity: On this Thursday, June 24^th, we celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptizer. This is one of the three earthly birthdays celebrated in the Catholic Liturgical Calendar, the others being of Jesus and Mary. John had an important role in the history of salvation, as the forerunner of the Messiah. He was prophesied as the voice that proclaims, “make straight in the desert a highway for our God!” (Is 40:3). John’s call for repentance becomes more significant for our world today as we can see many deny sin. This Solemnity is an invitation to us to be the voice of God and be inspired by John the Baptizer to lead a life of repentance and selflessness. Masses will be celebrated at our Church at 7 am and 12:05 pm.

3.  Welcome! I thank and appreciate all of you for your cooperation with the regulations and possible participation you have made in our Parish life during the past months of pandemic. As more of us are becoming comfortable with the lifting of restrictions attached to the pandemic, I would like to invite you all (back) to the ministries of the Parish. We have various opportunities in the Parish to share our Time, Talent, and Treasure. Actively engaging in the life of the Parish will help us to be more true to the meaning of the Body of Christ, and contribute to fulfil our vocation to be Missionary Disciples. If coming together is a joy, coming together to serve is joy doubled. 

4.  God is in Control! How often have we lost sleep over tensions and troubles of life? How often have we allowed the happenings of life to take away our peace of mind and replace it with anxiety? The liturgy this Sunday, the Twelfth in the Ordinary Time, gives us a reflection on the role of God in bringing the storms of life into calm. When all things are going on well in life, it is easy to be a Christian; it is easy to be at peace. But when experiences of storms arise, we can forget that the same God who was with us in the good times, is also with us in these difficult ones. The true worth of our courage is seen in times of fear; of our hope, in times of despair; of our faith, in times of suffering and difficulty. 

5. Celebrate Saint Stephen! As the Feast Day of our Patron is the day after Christmas, for the past few years we have been celebrating his “half-Feast Day” on June 26^th. This year too, let us set apart this day to celebrate with joy the patronage of Saint Stephen to our Parish and our Diocese. Let us join together on Saturday, June 26 following the 4:30 pm Mass for ice cream treats on the lawn in front of the Parish Office. Bring your lawn chair or blanket for seating. In case of rain, we’ll gather in the Community Center. Fr. Jerry plans to be here to celebrate 4:30 pm Mass and join us for ice cream.