Letter from the Pastor
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July 6, 2023As we begin the new month of July, named after Julius Caesar since 44 B.C., being the month of his birth, we look back and congratulate all our graduates, and those who “moved up.” Hopefully you had a successful year in academics, and now it is time for recreation, time for leisure. Remember, leisure is the freedom from work or things that are forced upon us (like school), in order to pursue personally pleasing, fun activities that are worthwhile, and provides a basis for strengthening our faith. Enjoy your summer break.
Also this past month of June, our parish has been greatly privileged to have the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in our sanctuary. It has been a wonderful blessing to us. Jose Thedim sculpted the original historic statue in 1947. The image of Mary reflects the description of Sister Lucia, one of the three shepherd children who were privileged to see Our Lady each month from May through October of 1917 in Fatima, Portugal. I would like to thank Emma, her family and friends who take such beautiful care of this very important statue.
This Tuesday, July 4th is the 247th anniversary of the founding of our country. It is a day we ought to thank God for our country and how blessed we are to be born and live in such a beautiful country. We need to be proud of all the good our ancestors have done, and how our country continues many great accomplishments today. Like in our personal life, we have moments we are proud and moments when we feel shame. There is no country that is perfect, because its citizenry is imperfect and sinful. When the good outweighs the bad, our moral character is good. We are a good country.
We need to recall that patriotism is a virtue under “Piety.” This at first may seem strange for those who think of piety as pertaining only to God. But once it is remembered that love of neighbor is inseparable from love of God, then we see that love of our fellow citizens is a form of piety. Love of our fellow citizens!
In these days when so many subversive activities are at work, and corruption seems to be rampant, a reminder of the necessity of loving our country is very much needed. If only we were to return to the Judeo-Christian values of which our country was founded, if only we were to live out the teachings of Christ, we would be much better off.
A democracy needs religion, for it assumes that man has not only a body but also a soul, which is the seat of his rights. Democracy has to rely on freedom and liberty; freedom and liberty are inseparable from responsibility and conscience, and conscience is inseparable from religion.
Our democracy must be based on the love and knowledge of God, and therefore the love of neighbor. We are called to live noble and virtuous lives; we are called to be religious.
Our Founding Fathers knew that human dignity and liberty come from God, and if our society looses faith in God, it then means loss of faith in those liberties, which derive from Him. If we wish to keep our rights and liberties, then we must keep God. So come and thank God on July 4th at the 9:00 AM Mass.
In the midst of July 4th celebrations, cookouts, and fireworks;Pray for our Nation and her citizens,
that we put our hope, faith, and trust
In God alone.
