Fr. Tom's Blog

The Gospel for this 5^th Sunday of Lent is the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. This story shows forth Jesus’ humanity as he weeps at the death of his friend Lazarus and tries to bring comfort to Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary. He is even referred to as being perturbed a couple of times in the story at the impatience of others. But the story also shows forth the extraordinary power of God at work in Jesus. He is able to call Lazarus out of the tomb and restore his life. This story is a foretaste of Christ’s Resurrection when death is conquered for all through the life of Jesus. But this story also reminds us that through Christ, whatever is dead within us, whatever needs new life, can be restored through him. May our Lenten journey lead us to a deeper trust in the freedom and new life that only comes through Christ.
 
This may be an appropriate Gospel for all of us to hear as it feels like we are being isolated in our own “tombs” during this coronavirus outbreak. With the new measures called for this week, we are being asked to limit our activity and interaction even more. We are especially being called to trust in the power of our faith and our belief that Christ can bring new life to us. Let us continue to remember the importance of prayer in this difficult time. Our faith in Christ connects us, no matter our physical separation. Let’s use all the appropriate means possible in these restrictive times to reach out and stay connected.
 
These last two weeks I have valued more than ever the ability to gather as a community for worship, share in the busyness and activity of all our ministries, listen to each other, and see one another in person. We are blessed to be in such a vibrant parish, but with all our events and activities canceled, things are definitely not the same. While we trust that brighter days are ahead, I think the best thing we can do as people of faith in this current environment is find ways each day to grow in our faith. We are in the season of Lent, a time when we talk about going out into the desert, letting go of distractions, purifying and simplifying our lives. Although we probably would have never chosen to do it under these circumstances, we find ourselves confined to limited spaces and with time away from our normal routines. We have an opportunity to use this time to explore new ways of praying, new ways of being “church” together, and new ways of connecting with others. God has given us this time. May we use it wisely to focus on lasting things that matter most.
 
I encourage you to utilize all the resources we are offering to stay connected to the parish and your faith. Please look at all the information in this bulletin and check our website regularly for updates, schedules for our virtual liturgies, links to our daily Mass Gospel and homily and to view our weekend celebration of Mass. I received many emails from parishioners this past week saying what comfort it brought to be able to view the Mass being celebrated in our own parish. As I mentioned last week, I miss having all of you there in the church, but I am so glad we are able to connect through technology. I know it is difficult to not receive the Eucharist, but please remember that the power of the Mass transcends this current situation and brings God’s grace to all of us. Please know that our parish staff and I continue to be here to serve you. Do not hesitate to call or email with any needs or questions. We are in this together and we are better together. 
 
On a final note, many of you may have heard this, but the Catholic Church actually has a Saint Corona. There is some dispute about whether she is actually the patron saint of pandemics (there are other patron saints in this category), but she is buried in the Basilica of Anzu in northern Italy. You can Google to find out more about her. Whatever the case, saints are there to intercede for us. Maybe amidst our worries and anxieties with the current state of the world, we need to call upon the prayers of the saints to lead us to a deeper faith and trust in God.
St. Corona, pray for us!
Stay blessed and healthy!       
 

In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus opens the eyes of a man born blind. The story begins with the disciples asking Jesus: Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus quickly dispels this commonly held belief of his time by saying that neither sinned. The mercy of God that Jesus shares turns everything upside down and allows those who experience it to see everything differently. Jesus goes further by saying that the works of God will be made visible through the healing of the blind man and help reveal Jesus as the light of the world. This powerful story is an invitation for all of us to see with the eyes of faith. Most of us will never have to deal with physical blindness. We often take our physical sight for granted, but spiritual blindness is something that affects all of us at times. This season of Lent is a time for our eyes to be opened so that we may recognize the presence of Jesus in our midst. In what ways are we being invited to see more clearly with the eyes of faith?
 
Our lives are certainly being turned upside down by the coronavirus crisis. Things may have changed again from the time I am writing this to the time you are reading it. And most of you are probably reading this through our website as we were not able to have public celebrations of Mass this weekend and do not anticipate being able to do so for at least a couple of more weeks. Just a reminder that the Bishop has extended the dispensation for all the faithful from the Sunday Mass obligation at this time. I can tell you that in my 24 years of priesthood I have never experienced anything like this. The life of the parish is just not the same without having parishioners at our Mass celebrations and without being able to connect through our weekly events and ministries. Please know how much I miss seeing you. Fr. Olvin and I have still been celebrating Masses and offering prayers for all of you. We encourage you to join us for weekend Mass through the video recording available on our website – www.olpls.org. We hope this will provide some comfort during these difficult times and allow us to stay connected to one another through the prayer of the Mass. As a sacramental church, I know how important the reception of Holy Communion is to our faith life. Although we will not be able to offer the physical reception of the Body & Blood of Jesus at this time, I hope as you watch the Mass you will take a moment at the time for Communion and allow the spiritual presence of Jesus to enter your life in a special way. One of the best ways for us to stay connected during this time of social distancing and limited gatherings is through our prayer. Let us keep one another in our daily prayers. I hope you will take advantage of the Lenten prayer resources we handed out and the Best Lent Ever videos and journals. The church will also be open certain hours during the day and on weekends to allow times for private prayer and devotions. Please check the website or call the Parish Office for the specific times and for other updates.
Our parish Lenten Reconciliation service was scheduled for this Sunday, March 22. The service has been cancelled due to the current restrictions. We will be offering opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the week and on weekends. Please check the website for the specific times. If you do come to church for Reconciliation and there is a line, please observe the social distancing recommendations when around others.
As we all make adjustments and sacrifices to our lives and strive to stay healthy, let us be people of hope and prayer, especially as we pray for each other, for those affected by the virus, for all the caregivers, and for a speedy end to the spread of the virus. And as our schedules and routines are changed dramatically, let’s use this time to slow down and deepen our relationship with God, our families, friends, and one another.
Many Blessings!    
 
 

The Gospel for this Sunday is the powerful story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. While the story is lengthy, it is rich with symbolism and reminders of the life Jesus invites us to share with him through our baptism. Jesus recognizes the woman as an outcast of society and through their dialogue he reveals his identity to her. Jesus breaks many societal taboos – passing through Samaria, speaking to a woman who is alone, and asking to drink from her water jar – in order to break through the woman’s shame, guilt and doubt and bring her the healing water of his love. Jesus tells her: whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst, the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The Samaritan woman recognizes Jesus as the Savior and has a conversion of heart. Do we trust in this gift of living water that has been shared with us through our baptism? Do we allow Jesus to wash away our shame, guilt, and doubts?
 
This Sunday at the 8:30am Mass we celebrate the First Scrutiny with the elect and candidates from our parish preparing to join the Catholic Church at Easter. This is a time for the elect and candidates to reflect on their lives so they can enter into fullness of life with Christ. Please keep our elect and candidates in your prayers. Although this is a ritual action for those preparing to enter into the Church, it is a good practice for all of us to take some time to “scrutinize” our lives.
 
This week in the Catholic Church we celebrate a couple of important saints in our tradition. This Tuesday, March 17, is St. Patrick’s Day and this Thursday, March 19, is St. Joseph’s Day. A number of popular customs and devotions have developed over the years to honor these saints. But let’s remember the example of service both of these saints provide for us. St. Patrick left his homeland to spread the gospel in a foreign land and St. Joseph risked his own reputation to lead and protect the Holy Family. Do something to serve others this week in celebration of St. Patrick and St. Joseph.
 
Thank you to all those who helped make our St. Joseph Table last Sunday a wonderful community event. We had a beautiful table and delicious food for all to enjoy. A special thanks to our 6^th grade teachers, students, and their families for organizing the event and for all the volunteers who made it run smoothly. All proceeds from the event will benefit our service partner, Uplift, to help serve the homeless. St. Joseph, pray for us!
 
Please remember that our Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service is next Sunday, March 22, at 6:30pm. All of us are encouraged to celebrate this sacrament of God’s forgiveness and mercy in preparation for Easter. We hope to see you there. Many Blessings!
 
 

In today’s Gospel we hear Matthew’s version of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop. The identity of Jesus is revealed when the voice from the cloud says: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death and resurrection by allowing them to see a glimpse of his glory. During this season of Lent, we are invited to enter more deeply into the death and resurrection of Jesus by being transformed in his image and recognizing we are God’s beloved children. Our journey up the mountaintop of Lent is an opportunity to see clearly the presence of Christ and to listen attentively to his call in our lives. In what ways do we need to listen to the voice of Jesus in our lives? How can this Lent be a time for us to shine forth the glory of Christ for others to see?
 
As many of you know, the current principal of our school, Mrs. Jodi Briggs, will be serving full-time next year as the principal of St. Michael the Archangel High School. We are grateful for the twelve years of dedicated service Mrs. Briggs has given to our school. After careful consideration of several qualified candidates and interviews that included parents, teachers, and staff, we are pleased to announce that beginning next school year our new principal will be Mrs. Marianne Organ. Mrs. Organ is not new to our school, as she has been serving as our assistant principal the past two years. She has already been assuming some of the principal responsibilities this year and we believe she is well suited to serve our school community. Please keep Mrs. Briggs and Mrs. Organ in your prayers as they move into their new roles.
 
This Sunday, March 8, we will gather for our annual St. Joseph Table. We will gather for the blessing of the table and call upon the intercession of St. Joseph at 11:00am. The delicious pasta meal will be served until 3:00pm and traditional Italian cookies and other items will also be available throughout the day. Our 6^th grade teachers and students, along with their families and many other volunteers, have been working hard the last couple of months to prepare for the St. Joseph Table. All proceeds will benefit Uplift, one of our parish service partners. Uplift provides direct outreach to the homeless in Kansas City. Please come out and support the St. Joseph Table and be sure to invite your family and friends to come along.
 
Once again this year, our parish is participating in The Light Is On For You initiative to provide additional opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent. Fr. Olvin and I will be hearing confessions several times during the week as well as our usual weekend times. Our communal Reconciliation service will also be on Sunday, March 22, at 6:30pm. Please see the bulletin for all the times.
Many Blessings!
 

The Gospel for this 1^st Sunday of Lent is the familiar story of Jesus being led out into the desert and being tempted by the devil. From the story, we get the traditional length for the season of Lent as it corresponds to Jesus fasting for forty days and forty nights in the desert. Jesus resists the temptations presented to him by arming himself with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reminds us that the battle between good and evil is real. He models for us how we are to overcome the temptation to evil. Jesus does not give in to the easy way out but rather holds firm in his faith. As we enter the desert of Lent, what temptations in our lives do we need to reduce to dust? During these forty days of fasting and praying, let us arm ourselves with the disciplines of Lent and place our trust in God.
 
If you have not already done so, please be sure to pick up our Lenten Guide which lists all the activities happening during Lent. You can also access the information in our bulletin and on the website. We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities for prayer and faith enrichment. The Rediscover the Saints Lenten discussion groups begin this week. If you have not yet signed up, please call Mary Pat at the office on Monday. We also encourage you to take advantage of the Best Lent Ever daily emails and daily journal. The journals were handed out on Ash Wednesday and are provided through our participation in the Dynamic Parish Initiative.

One of our annual Lenten service projects is the Lenten Blessing Boxes.  You can create a container in your home for your Lenten almsgiving and use the resources provided each week in the bulletin to assist your journey. At the end of Lent, you can donate the money collected in your container or write a check in the amount to Presentation. All contributions raised through the Blessing Boxes will be used to support our sister community in El Salvador through student scholarships. We have been able to increase the number of scholarships provided to young people in our sister community through your continued generosity. This outreach ministry of our parish helps change lives and our world. This is a great way to live the Lenten discipline of almsgiving and make a difference for those in need.
 
This past week our construction contractor was once again on site to begin the next phase of our Capital Campaign projects. We began the process of renovating some of the old classrooms on the south end of the hallway into larger meeting spaces. We will then move into the north end and begin work on the new Mulligan Room, kitchen, and new Gathering Space. Our hope is to stay in the church for weekend Masses during this phase. Your support of the Campaign is greatly appreciated.
Many Blessings!