26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 Dear Friends in Christ, 

As summer gives way to autumn, each warm day is more precious. The trees are beginning to turn as the night air is crisper. With the change of seasons, the Saturday 4:00 pm Mass will move to the St. Stephen campus beginning next Saturday, October 5. 

This past weekend we celebrated the wedding of Chase Freyer and Kayla Alemino. We congratulate them and ask for the Lord’s continued blessings as they begin their life together in Christ. 

The parable of the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, is the centerpiece of today’s Gospel. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, but the message is more than a pointed warning to men of power. How often do we ignore someone in need who is right in front of us, turning our head to not meet their eyes or truly see them? Maybe it is the shabby looking person along the road with a cardboard sign, or the name we see on our Caller ID that is someone who will talk and talk, and we just don’t have time or energy for them. We have many justifications to remain indifferent to others, like the rich man in the parable. It is not about our personal accomplishments but about how we treat one another that counts with the Lord. Pope Francis has referred to this as the “culture of indifference.” We need to work harder to see Jesus Christ in each person and to love them like Jesus does. 

This week marks the start of Respect Life Month. Compassion and love for every human life is the opposite of indifference. Please pray for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Sometimes it is hard to look at someone’s life and not condemn them, but the Lord loves every human life. His grace is sufficient to redeem even the most terrible of sinners. Pray for the unborn, refugees, and the terminally ill, and also the homeless, those on death row, and all sinners. 

Baptism class for the parents of infants and children up to age 7 will be held this Sunday, September 29 at 1 pm at the Parish Office. Even if you have not registered, all parents and sponsors are welcome to come to the class. The next class will be offered on November 17, 2019. I will be out of the office for a few days in the coming week. Please contact Fr. Melwin for any of your spiritual and pastoral needs. 

I am grateful to be your pastor! 

Rev. Gilbert Mascarenhas SAC 

“Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well” – St. Vincent Pallotti