Fr. Tom's Blog

And who is my neighbor? This is one of the questions Jesus is asked by a scholar of the law in the Gospel for this Sunday. Jesus answers the question by telling the story of the Good Samaritan. This story challenges us on several levels. We are invited to reflect on who we consider our neighbor. Do we extend care and compassion to all those in need or do we stay within our circle and those who are “like” us? Jesus challenges us to extend our boundaries and see all people as children of God. The story also reminds us to be open to the goodness of God working through others. For those listening to Jesus, the Samaritans were despised and considered outsiders. Yet, it is the Samaritan in the story who models love for neighbor. The story of the Good Samaritan also illustrates the kind of love Jesus calls us to imitate. We are to love God with our whole selves and love others the way God loves us. How are we being challenged to be a Good Samaritan in a world that is often divisive?
 
As the Gospel today invites us to expand our sense of those we consider neighbor, this seems an appropriate time to highlight one of the ways we can help serve our neighbors in need. Every few months we have a special blue envelope that is included in the contribution envelope packet and is marked “For the Poor”. We do not take up a second collection on the designated weekend for this envelope but invite our parishioners to place their contribution in the regular collection. Next weekend, July 20-21, is one of the designated weekends. If you do not receive contribution envelopes, you can simply mark your check appropriately or place your contribution in your own envelope marked “For the Poor”. All contributions go to our Emergency Assistance and Charity account to help us serve those in need in our area throughout the year. Because of your generosity, we help people with basic needs such as food, clothing, utilities, rent, and prescription medications. We also support other organizations that directly work with those in need. In the course of the year, we help people of all backgrounds, races, and religions. We are grateful for your generosity that helps us live out the Good Samaritan story in our community.
 
Work on the south drive parking lot is supposed to begin this week. Please use the north side for general parking. There will be limited short-term parking in front of the Parish Office. Thanks for your patience.
 
Please keep in prayer the youth and adults who will be leaving next week for the Youth Mission Trip. This is an exciting time for these teens to put their faith into action and join with other young people from around the country to serve others. We will send them forth with a special blessing from our community this weekend.
Many Blessings! 
 
 

In the Gospel today, Jesus continues his mission by calling 72 others to go ahead of him in pairs to proclaim the Good News of salvation. Jesus encourages them not to be worried about their physical and material necessities, but to stay focused on the mission. By recognizing their total dependence on God and the hospitality of others, they will be better able to model the life of discipleship for others. Jesus says to them: The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. As we hear this Gospel, we are invited to be laborers for his harvest by being good stewards of God’s gifts and living as faithful disciples. Like the first disciples, we can rejoice in knowing our names are written in heaven. What distractions might we need to let go of so that we can focus on the mission of Jesus?
 
This weekend we welcome Fr. Marcus Coduti from the Institute of the Incarnate Word. Fr. Coduti has been assigned to our parish to make the annual Missionary Appeal and invite us to support the important missionary work of the Church. Please be generous. If you are going to write a check, please make it out to Presentation as we will forward one check to the community.
 
This weekend we also welcome James Wagner, our new Director of Music & Liturgy. James will be jumping right into his role and getting acclimated to our weekend Masses and our various music groups. As has been mentioned previously, James has a variety of musical gifts and brings with him a number of years of experience at other parishes in our area. We are blessed to have James join our staff and community. Please take time to welcome James to Presentation.
 
Although some of our ministries take a break during the summer months, there is still plenty of activity on our campus. I encourage you to take advantage of our summer faith formation offerings. Some of these are one-time sessions and some are a series, but either way, make an effort to grow your faith this summer.

Our campus is also filled with the activity of construction. You can see most of the progress on the south side as you drive by on Murray Road, but feel free to stop and take a look. Our plan is to complete the exterior heavy construction this summer and then when school begins in August, complete the interior work. We will then move into the new classrooms during the Christmas break. This will free up space in the old part of the school that will become the new Gathering Space in church and additional meeting space for the parish. These projects would begin in January. Your support of the Capital Campaign is making all of this possible. Please stay current on your pledge or make a pledge if you have not yet done so.
Many Blessings!