On this Sunday before Labor Day, we have an opportunity to reflect on what the Church teaches us about the dignity of work and the rights of workers. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, together with Catholic Relief Services, recently created a video to communicate the Church’s teaching on work, this video is available on our website. Many Catholics do not know the rich social justice tradition defending the rights and dignity of workers. Many encyclicals have been written on the issue especially: Rerum Novarum or Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor. This is an encyclical issued...

On Sunday, September 16th, at the 11:00 Mass at St. Clare, Sr. M. Peter and I invite you to attend this special Mass to recognize 125 years that the Servite (Servants of Mary) have served in the United States.   As our friends and as our coworkers in the mission field of St. Clare we would like you to be there to celebrate with us.   Many of you have offered to help.  If you would like to assist, Sr. M. Peter and I will meet with you next Sunday after the 9:00 Mass, August 26 in the social hall. 

The Christian Service Commission will be hosting our annual Capuchin Signature Drive the weekend of August 25-26 to support their local Soup Kitchens. Envelopes will be on the church tables beginning August 11 if you would like to turn in a $20 donation and a signature early, otherwise, we hope you will consider making a donation after Masses in late August. Tables will be set up next to the carport, weather permitting. While the Signature Drive supports the Meal Program, don’t forget there are many other wonderful programs offered by the Capuchin’s.  Allow me to share with you the opening paragraph on their website...

As we finish the week of celebrations of the birth of our country and express our gratitude to all those past generations who made it what it is now we also give thanks for the church, school, family, for our own life as all of us are part of the fabric of our country, we are ready to enter the second half of this swiftly moving calendar year. During these weeks of summer, I will be presenting excerpts from Unleash the Gospel, the pastoral letter. Not in any particular order but something that is easy to grasp and remember providing us material for personal and parish reflection and perhaps discussion around our picnic tables, so let’s begin.

Now that summer is in full swing, vacations bring many visitors to our parishes. If you notice someone new please welcome them with a warm smile, simple greeting, or handshake. Thank you to the Knights and choir members for organizing the Mass of Thanksgiving for Fr. Tom Quirk last week at St. Clare and to all those who came to be with him and congratulate him. Fr. Tom, thank you for coming to St. Clare, for remembering your Alma Mater, and for your prayer for our parish and the new vocations to the priesthood and religious life. May God bless you in your priestly ministry.