Announcements

From Msgr. Lane for Sunday 9-3-23

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                    We have two major events for which we are preparing. Our Parish Religious Education program will begin on September 24. There are registration forms at the back of both churches. Please keep checking the bulletin for more information.                                                                                                                                                          October 6-8 is the Columbus Italian Festival in our neighborhood. Jeremy Polk has volunteered to lead the car parking at Sacred Heart. This is a major fundraiser for Sacred Heart, so we need as many volunteers as we can get. The festival also needs volunteers from both parishes. I ask the parishioners of St. John who may not yet be involved to consider helping and encourage parishioners at Sacred Heart to seriously consider pitching in as volunteers for this major Catholic neighborhood event. There will be sign-up sheets available soon.                                                                                                                                                            The Josephinum has asked if we would accept a seminarian for the year to help in our parishes. I told them I thought that could be helpful for us and for him. They have asked us to welcome Brother Zachary Feldker, CPM. Brother Zachary is in third year theology at the Josephinum so he will be ordained a deacon this coming March. He is a member of the religious community of the Fathers of Mercy. His superior at the Josephinum is Father Victor Moratin, CPM who has offered to help with Masses here when it is possible for him. I think this will be a great opportunity for us to be a little more flexible on weekends and get some new perspectives on the life of the Church.                                                                                                                  Have a blessed week!                                                          Msgr. Frank Lane

Aug 31, 2023

From Msgr. Lane for Sunday, August 27, 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                We’ve begun the process of providing Religious Education for the children of St. John the Baptist and Sacred Heart Parishes. We are also prepared to initiate an RCIA program for adults who would like to learn more about the Church or have an interest in joining the Church. Anyone interested or if you know anyone who is interested, please check with Sharon Curtin at Mass this Sunday at Sacred Heart or call the Office at 614- 294-5319.                                                                                                                                                            Sharon Curtin was at St. John’s last Sunday and will beat Sacred Heart this Sunday after the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Please check in with her if you have children to enroll in Religious Education, are interested in RCIA or would be interested in being a catechist. There are PSR registration forms in the back of Sacred Heart which are available to you this Sunday also.                                                                                                                            This is a very important step for our two parishes. Canon Law mandates that a parish should provide Religious Education to fulfill its obligations to the local community. Itis important for the children, interested adults and families that we live our parish lives more completely and continue to open windows into the deeper realities of our Faith. There isa great deal of false understanding and misunderstanding of Catholicism in popular culture. If we are well informed and deeply familiar with our faith, we become real disciples and faithful witnesses who offer the truth of the Faith to others.                                                                                                                                                    Have a blessed week!                                                        Msgr. Frank Lane

Aug 24, 2023

From Msgr. Lane for Sunday, August 20, 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                        I know this is a long way off, but on July 17, 2024, the10th National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis. This is part of the American Bishops’ plan for the reawakening of the reality of the Eucharist for our country. There will be pilgrimages from various parts of the country beginning in May. You can find all the information on the Eucharistic Revival by going to: www.eucharisticrevival.org.                                                                                                                                        The first American Eucharistic Congress was held in Washington, DC in 1895. There have been eight subsequent Congresses in such cities as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and others. There has been some interest in attending the Congress by some of the younger people in our parishes and we’d like to make that opportunity available to as many of our parishioners as possible.                                                                                                                                            Through the Diocese, we have the opportunity to obtain tickets at a discounted price. We should make a decision soon. I would ask that if anyone is interested in attending the10th National Eucharistic Conference in Indianapolis on July 17 – 20, 2024, they should call the parish office at 614-294- 5319 before next weekend.                                                                                              Have a blessed week!                                                  Msgr. Frank Lane

Aug 18, 2023

From Msgr.Lane for August 13, 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                There are many things happening in our parishes. There is a lot we can share to make things work better and more effectively. One of these shared activities can be a Religious Education Program. Sharon Curtin, who is a very experienced Religious Education Coordinator, has offered to organize a program for us. I have no idea how many students there might be from both parishes, but we’ll find that out. We would also like to start an RCIA program that is open to both parishes. Again, there’s no idea how many adults might be interested in learning more about faith, but we can offer and see who responds. Most probably this will be a very modest beginning, but we do need to provide the opportunity for families and for adults, and we have a start somewhere.                                                                                                                                                                    In addition, there are a few young adult groups who would like to find a place “to call home” in our part of the city. I’m not sure about space and schedules at either parish but it would seem to be a good idea to host Columbus Young Catholics if that is possible for us. Obviously, parish activities come first but what we can do, we’ll try to do. We already have a Young Catholic Professional group open to both parishes that meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart. We have Mass, Adoration, and Confession every Thursday and an exploration of the Faith every other Thursday after Adoration.                                                                                                                                                            Also, if anyone might be interested in organizing a group to visit the homebound from either or both parishes, that would be a great service, I think. We need to become a home to the young but must care for those who have kept the faith over the years,  and given us the opportunity to be a place of worship and a community of neighbors in the Lord.                                                                                                                        And – Don’t forget that Tuesday is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. She has gone to where we all hope to go and one way to get there is to honor her and celebrate her great gift with her. She’ll certainly help us get there if we trust her and stay close to her.                                                                  Have a blessed week!                                                  Msgr. Frank Lane

Aug 10, 2023

From Msgr. Lane for Sunday, August 6, 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                  With a clear statement from Bishop Fernandes, a full-page ad in the Catholic Times from the Catholic Medical Association and an intense media interview with Fr. Dan Dury from Sunbury, St. John Neumann Parish, I thought it appropriate to say something about the two ballot initiatives that face us this Tuesday and in November.                                                                  This Tuesday, we have the opportunity to go to the polls and make a critical decision on a proposed constitutional amendment. We are asked to approve a voting procedure for changes to the State Constitution. While this seems a purely legal/political issue, it is not. It has enormous implications for the people of our state, especially women and children. A Constitution is of a different nature than statutory law. Statutory law is intended to guide a society in its contemporary experience; constitutional law is intended to provide a more stable and less whimsical core to our social development and cultural fluctuations.                              In November, with an incredibly well-funded initiative from organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, the people of Ohio will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment that enshrines all abortions, including late-term abortion when the child is fully formed, sentient and viable. It also aims to deny parental rights over minors in cases of abortion and gender reassignment. They deny it says anything about parental rights or gender transition, but they use the euphemism “reproductive rights,” which in modern parlance, includes all of the above.                                  If the November issue is passed, any organization could influence and provide for an abortion or gender transition for a minor without parental knowledge, involvement or consent. This is what the ACLU wants to do to us and palling along with them is Margaret Sanger’s ever-present Planned Parenthood, which she founded to eliminate, what for her in a radically racist sort of way, were social undesirables. They say there is no mention of minors in the proposed amendment, which there is not, but they use the term “individual” which includes everyone including minors and that inclusion would become a legal tool to attack minors. The reason to VOTE YES on the August Issue #1 is to make it more difficult for these national organizations, through clever and less than straightforward advertising, to lead the people of Ohio into approving the abandonment of parental rights over minors and the continuing exploitation of women and children. It would become a Trojan Horse for the powerful anti-life lobby to use against the young. Were they asking for a straight up statutory decision, it would be “one person, one vote” but they are asking for a constitutional amendment, which is quite different.                    I refer you to Bishop Fernandes’ letter in the Catholic Times, the statement of the Catholic Medical Association and Fr. Dan Dury’s video which has appeared in national media. Let us pray for the people of our state in this very important time.                                                      Have a blessed week!                                                  Msgr. Frank Lane                                        

Aug 3, 2023

From Msgr. Lane for Sunday, July 30, 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                  Our parishes have a great tradition and a long history in Columbus. It’s a privilege for me to become part of that tradition and share that history with all of you. It is my hope that we can strengthen St. John the Baptist and Sacred Heart spiritually, materially, and socially. Certainly, attendance at Mass and availing ourselves of the Sacraments is primary. Financially supporting the parish keeps us going and stabilizes our presence as active and viable parishes within the Diocese. Fundraisers give us the “extra “we need to care for the physical needs of the churches and other buildings on our properties. St. John’s amazing Italian Festival is an anchor of security and permanence for the Catholic Church in our area of the city and deserves and, I know, receives support from everyone in both parishes. To volunteer is a great service to our communities.                                                                                                      We know that the Church’s main mission is salvation for all people and so our main mission is exactly that. That mission is not only a “spiritual” mission but, like the incarnation, is also a human endeavor, it is both spiritual and material. Jesus became human so He could live with us and be known by us. Our human endeavors to create local communities of faith and provide suitable places for the worship of God is all part of living our faith and of evangelization which simply means giving this great opportunity to be Catholic to others in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and families.                                                                                                                  Today’s Gospel reminds us that where our treasure is, there is our heart. St. John the Baptist Parish and Sacred Heart Parish are certainly a treasure. May our hearts turn ever more to the parish that we may be good stewards and good providers for this community of the faithful.                                                                Have a blessed week!                                                        Msgr. Frank Lane

Jul 27, 2023

Letter from Msgr. Frank Lane

Dear Friends in Christ,I want to greet the people of St. John’s and Sacred Heart and introduce myself. I look forward to our journey together to practice our faith and face the difficulties and the opportunities that lie ahead. I was born and raised in Western New York State near Buffalo and attended public schools except for junior high school when I went to Catholic School at the Sisters of Mercy in Plattsburgh, New York.I came to Ohio to go to college and graduated from Ohio Northern University. I then attended St. Charles seminary for two years and was sent to the University of Innsbruck, Austria to do my theology studies. I was ordained over there and came home to take my first assignment in Chillicothe, Ohio. After a year there, Bishop Carberry reassigned me to teach at St. Charles in both the college and the high school and attend graduate school at Ohio State. I lived at St. Thomas and then Holy Family during those years. After graduation, I taught at St. Joseph’s Academy and then became pastor of St. Anthony for 11 years, during which time I joined the National Guard. After that, I went to Perry County and had five parishes, spent a stint on active duty in the army and returned as chaplain and teacher at Kenyon College.Bishop Griffin reassigned me to be pastor of St. Andrew parish in Upper Arlington, from there to teacher and Vice-Rector of the Josephinum. In 2002 I became pastor of St. Margaret of Cortona in San Marguerita. I retired from there and was invited by the Archbishop of Cincinnati to come to Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary as Spiritual Director. I accepted that invitation and worked in parishes while I was there. Last year, Bishop Fernandes asked me to return to Columbus, my home diocese.In the conversations about “Real Presence, Real Future,” we discussed the situation with St. John the Baptist and Sacred Heart. He asked me if I would be willing to go there as Administrator and I willingly agreed. I am very happy to come and will do all I can to serve the needs of the two parishes. It’s a real gift to be able to return to parish ministry and I am grateful to you and to the Bishop for this opportunity.  Have a blessed week!

Jul 14, 2023

Fr. Andrew’s Farewell Comments

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                Since this is my last weekend as the administrator of Sacred Heart and St. John the Baptist parishes, please allow me to express my deepest gratitude to all of you. I feel like a Gypsy moving from place to place. It is a difficult process to be on the move and changing parishes so often, even before I begin to know my parishioners. But there is also a positive side to it. Because I worked in so many countries(Poland, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, and USA)and so many parishes, it gives me a great opportunity to learn how beautiful, diverse and complex is our Church.                                                                                                  My dear friends, I would like to thank our parish staff members: Aggie Howard and Vicky Scruggs for being great helpers in supporting me in the process of coordinating: pastoral, financial, and technical needs of our parishes. Gina Bishop and John Huffman always make our liturgies special; thank you both for sharing your talents with us. Jim Merckling and Dale Romick always made my life easier by their commitment to liturgical preparations and taking care of the sacristy. Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Money Counters, those preparing coffee and doughnuts for us every weekend, and so many other groups involved in keeping our churches beautiful, active, alive – to all of you, from the bottom of my heart: THANKYOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND REWARD YOUFOR YOUR COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, AND LOVE FORHIS CHURCH.                                                                                                                  I experienced an amazing time with you. Please remember me in your prayers.                                          With joy and gratitude in my heart.                                Fr. Andrew

Jul 6, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, July 2, 2023

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                      In today’s Gospel, St. Matthew puts together six sayings of Jesus, because they are all about costs and rewards of being a Christian.                                                                                                                                      T.S. Eliot describes Christianity as “a condition of complete simplicity, costing not less than everything.” Both the cost and the benefit are total. God cannot be just one of many good things in our life; He is either everything or nothing. Christ tells us, as He tells Martha, who was busily worrying about many things, that “there is need of only one thing” (Luke 10:42).That’s Him.                                                                                                    He wants to save and perfect our whole life, not just part of it. We must give Him everything so that He can give us everything. We must open our hands to let Him put His gifts, His grace, in them. We must open our hearts to let Him into our hearts.                                                                                                                    Hospitality is not so much about open doors as about openhearts.                                                                                                                                                            There is a risk in having an open heart. One can get hurt. But to open once’s heart is to begin to live. To close it is to begin to die.                                                                                                                                        Lord God, whose Son declared that when we welcome another person, we welcome Him, grant that the door of our heart always be open.                                                                                                                                    Keep smiling, be positive, God loves us!                        Fr. Andrew

Jun 29, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, June 11, 2023

                                                                                                                                                                                      My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,                                    As we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Eucharist), let us reflect upon this mystery of our faith: “Why does Jesus give Himself to us as food and drink?” Jesus gives Himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because He loves us. God’s whole plan for our salvation is directed to our participation in the life of the Trinity, the communion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our sharing in this life begins with our Baptism, when by the power of the Holy Spirit we are joined to Christ, thus becoming adopted sons and daughters of the Father. It is strengthened and increased in Confirmation. It is nourished and deepened through our participation in the Eucharist. By eating the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, we become united to the person of Christ through His humanity. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (Jn 6:56). In being united to the humanity of Christ, we are at the same time united to His divinity. Our mortal and corruptible natures are transformed by being joined to the source of life. “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me” (Jn 6:57). By being united to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we are drawn up into the eternal relationship of love among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As Jesus is the eternal Son of God by nature, so we become sons and daughters of God by adoption through the Sacrament of Baptism. Through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation (Chrismation), we are temples of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, and by His indwelling, we are made holy by the gift of sanctifying grace. The ultimate promise of the Gospel is that we will share in the life of the Holy Trinity. The Fathers of the Church called this participation in the divine life “divinization” (thesis). In this, we see that God does not merely send us good things from on high; instead, we are brought up into the inner life of God, the Communion among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the celebration of the Eucharist (which means “thanksgiving”), we give praise and glory to God for this sublime gift.”                                “By his Real Presence in the Eucharist, Christ fulfills His promise to be with us “always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “It is the law of friendship that friends should live together... Christ has not left us without His bodily presence in this our pilgrimage, but He joins us to Himself in this sacrament in the reality of His body and blood” (Summa Theologica, III q. 75, a. 1). With this gift of Christ’s presence in our midst, the Church is truly blessed. As Jesus told His disciples, referring to His presence among them, “Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Mt 13:17). In the Eucharist, the Church both receives the gift of Jesus Christ and gives grateful thanks to God for such a blessing. This thanksgiving is the only proper response, for through this gift of Himself in the celebration of the Eucharist under the appearances of bread and wine, Christ gives us the gift of eternal life. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink... Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. (Jn 6:53- 57)” This is a quote from the document: “The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers Produced by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the full body of bishops at their June 2001 General Meeting.” We are blessed!                              Keep smiling, be positive!                                                Fr. Andrew                                                                                                                                                

Jun 10, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Trinity Sunday, June 4, 2023    

From Fr. Andrew for Trinity Sunday, June 4, 2023            My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,                            Today, we celebrate the greatest mystery of our faith, namely, the mystery of the Trinity. God is the Father, Son, and Spirit.                                                                                                                                                          According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (261)“                                                                                                                              By the grace of Baptism, ‘in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’ we are called to share in the life of the Blessed Trinity, here on earth in the obscurity of faith, and after death in eternal light.” (265)                                                                                                                                                                                “Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son’s is another, the Holy Spirit’s another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty co-eternal.” (266)                                                                                                                                          Let us pray today with the words of Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity:“                                                                              O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me forget myself entirely so to establish myself in You, unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to trouble my peace or make me leave You, O my unchanging God, but may each minute bring me more deeply into Your mystery! Grant my soul peace. Make it Your heaven, Your beloved dwelling, and the place of Your rest. May I never abandon You there, but may I be there, whole, and entire, completely vigilant in my faith, entirely adoring, and given over to your creative action. ”Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.                                                                                                                              My Friends, be happy, keep smiling – God loves us!      Fr. Andrew

Jun 4, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday May 28, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday May 28, 2023                   My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                                Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. “The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the “dispensation of the mystery” – the age of the Church, during which Christ manifests, makes present, and communicates His work of salvation through the liturgy of His Church, “until He comes.” In this age of the Church, Christ now lives and acts in and with His Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the sacraments ...” (CCC1076)...                                            “The Church, a communion living in the faith of the apostles which she transmits, is the place where we know the Holy Spirit:                                                          - in the Scripture He inspires.                                            - in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses.                                                    - in the Church’s Magisterium, which He assists.              - in the sacramental liturgy, though its words and symbols, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ.                                                    - in prayer, wherein He intercedes for us.                          - in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up.                                                                              - in the signs of apostolic and missionary life.                  - in the witness of saints through whom He manifests His holiness and continues the work of salvation.” (CCC688)Saint Basil said: “Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, led back to the Kingdom of Heaven, and adopted as children, given confidence to call God ‘Father’ and to share Christ’s grace, called children of light and given a share in eternal glory.                                                                                                  ”Let us pray: “O Lord Jesus Christ who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He made perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this  world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit on Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I maybe filled with a loving reverence toward God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.                                                                                                                                                        ”May the Holy Spirit come upon us and sanctify us!    Be positive, keep smiling, God loves us!                          Fr. Andrew

May 25, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, May 21, 2023

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,                                    In our profession of faith (Credo), we proclaim: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” On this Sunday we celebrate one of the most powerful mysteries of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Ascension into heaven.                                                                                                                                              The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us: “So, then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” (Mk 16:19). Christ’s body was glorified the moment of Resurrection, as proved by the new and supernatural properties it subsequently and permanently enjoys. But during the forty days when He eats and drinks familiarly with His disciples and teaches them about the kingdom, His glory remains veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity. Jesus’ final apparition ends with the irreversible entry of His humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where He is seated from that time forward at God’s right hand. Only in an exceptional and unique way would Jesus show Himself to Paul “as to one untimely born,” in a last apparition that established him as an apostle.” (CCC 659)“Jesus Christ the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father’s glorious kingdom so that we, the members of His Body (Church), may live in hope of one day being with Him forever.” (CCC 666)“                                                                                                                                                                    Jesus Christ, having entered the sanctuary of heaven once and for all, intercedes constantly for us as the mediator who assures us of the permanent outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”(CCC 667)                                                                                                                                      Jesus blessed the apostles on the day of His Ascension; may He bless all of us with peace, love, and hope.                                                                                                      Be positive, keep smiling, God loves us all!                      Fr. Andrew

May 18, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, May14, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, May 14, 2023                    On behalf of Fr. Andrew Kozminski and the staff of Sacred Heart Church – we wish all moms a very Blessed and Happy Mother's Day!                                                                                                                                        “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:24-28                                                                                                  Today, let’s come before the Lord to express our gratitude for our beautiful moms and mothers everywhere through this prayer. Dear Lord, we humbly come before You today giving thanks for the gift of motherhood. Thank You for the special role that mothers play in our lives. Today, we want to celebrate them and all they do for us. Thank You, Lord, for their unconditional, faithful love and sacrifice. We pray that they will be blessed with good health, happiness, and peace of mind. We ask that You grant them wisdom, strength, and courage as they meet the unique challenges of motherhood. Father, bless them abundantly for all they do. And those mothers who already left us; may they feel Your nearness and know Your eternal peace. Amen.                                                                                                                                             “A  mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”                            – Cardinal Mermillod                                                        “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.”  – Abraham Lincoln                                                        “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.”                          – Honore de Balzac                                                        “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.”                                                   – Jill Churchill“                                                          When you are a Mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A Mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”                          – Sophia Loren                                                                                                                                                          With prayers and gratitude, yours in Christ                   Fr. Andrew

May 11, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, May 7, 2023

GRACIOUS AND LOVING LORD,                                                                                                                                We come before You in prayer and thanksgiving for all the blessings You bestow on us as a Diocese – Your faithful family. We know you are with us.                                                                                                                    We ask You to help us to be present to all the members of our diocese, especially those who are most in need. Help us to foster and nurture the mission of evangelization, the education and promotion of vocations to ministry, the need of Catholic education, and our outreach in social concerns.                                                                                                                          We offer our prayers and support for all these needs, trusting that You always hear our prayer. Help us to build on the foundation of those who have gone before us to further these goals within our diocesan family. We always need Your grace, assistance, and guidance to carry out our task that You have entrusted to us, dear Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                      Please continue to watch over and bless all of us in our endeavors to further Your kingdom of love, worship, and service to others.                                                                                                                                                  We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.            Amen                                                                                Fr. Andrew

May 4, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, April 30, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, April 30, 2023                Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            This Fourth Sunday of Easter is called “the Good Shepherd Sunday.” Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd. He compares His love for His disciples to the love of a shepherd for his sheep. This time of the year, when many young men are making choices, regarding their future, we are encouraged by our Bishop Earl to pray for the vocations to the priesthood. Many times, I have asked myself: what happened to our USA society, that so many seminaries are empty or only a few candidates are being prepared for the future work as priests?                                                                                                    My very next question is: what am I doing here? Why can’t I work in my country, Poland? “What’s wrong with the young men of this country?” Why do they play a game of the deaf man, when Jesus calls them to be His apostles? Being a missionary, I had a chance to meet a lot of “old” American priests, especially, during my service as missionary to Papua New Guinea. Leo C. Arkfeld, S.V.D., joined the Divine Word Missionaries at the age of twenty and was ordained to the priesthood in 1943. He was immediately stationed to New Guinea but, for a brief period, was relocated to Australiaduring WWII. There, he became a skilled and well-respected aviator. Upon resuming his ministry in New Guinea, he built numerous private airstrips along shorelines and hillsides, thus, permitting access to locales which allowed for him to carry out his ministry. He was credited with many emergency flights, in treacherous jungle and mountain areas, which saved many lives. He was ordained Titular Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Central New Guinea in 1948. He became the first Bishop of Wewak in 1966 and was Archbishop of Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 1975-87. His ministry in New Guinea spanned 54 years. Father Frank Mihalic SVD was head of the Communication Arts Department at Divine Word University from 1982 until his retirement in 1997.                                                                                          Originally sent to Papua New Guinea in 1948, Fr. Mihalic wrote the first English lexicon of Toks Pisin, a form of Melanesian Pidgin English that is one of the country’s three official languages. The Pennsylvania native would write many more Pidgin dictionaries and grammar books, as well as a history of Divine Word Missionaries in Papua New Guinea.                                                                                                                                                    And there were more great, dedicated, hardworking American missionaries – but not now. There is no replacement, no young men, no continuity in this great process of giving God their whole life in the service of preaching the Good News and serving our brothers and sisters in the spirit of Jesus the Good Shepherd. So, let us pray for the vocations to the priesthood and try to encourage young and faithful men to answer God’s call: Come follow me!                                                                                                                                                          Fr. Andrew

Apr 28, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, April 22, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, April 22, 2023                Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            One of the loveliest stories in the Gospel is the story of how the Risen Jesus joined two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus.  He explained the Scriptures to them and revealed Himself in the breaking of bread. The same thing happens for us when we celebrate the Eucharist. Jesus speaks to us in the Scriptures and nourishes us in Holy Communion.                                                                                                                              The Emmaus story is a sophisticated Eucharistic catechesis: a “Liturgy of the Word” is followed by a “Liturgy of the Eucharist.” The expression “breaking of bread” is a technical form of the Eucharist. St. Luke deliberately uses Eucharistic language: Jesus took bread, blessed, broke, gave it to them. By the time Luke wrote his Gospel, half a century had gone by since the Lord’s death and Resurrection. So, his readers might look back with envy at the people who were fortunate enough to have seen the Risen Lord with their own eyes. But in this story, Luke makes the point that those who were in that enviable position did not truly know Jesus until the Scriptures were expounded and the bread was broken.                                                                                                                                                      The Christians of Luke’s time had those same means of recognizing the Lord – the Scripture and the breaking of bread. And so have Christians ever since, for the Scripture and the Eucharist are the essential components of our Sunday service. In the matter of encountering Jesus with faith, a past generation is no more  privileged than the present one. “If you wish to have life, do what the disciples did. They offered Him hospitality. The Lord looked set on continuing His journey, but they detained Him. At the end of their journey, they said to Him: ‘Stay with us, for the day is far spent.’ The Lord revealed Himself in the breaking of bread.Hospitality restored to them what lack of faith had taken away.So, if you wish to recognize the Savior, take in the stranger.Seek the Lord in the sharing of bread.”(St. Augustine                                                    )My friends be positive, keep smiling, God loves us!     Fr. Andrew

Apr 20, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday April 16, 2023

Feast of the Divine Mercy Divine Mercy Sunday: Celebrating God’s Unconditional Love and Forgiveness                                                                                          The Second Sunday of Easter, which falls on the Sunday after Easter Sunday, is a special day of celebration for Catholics allover the world. On this day, Catholics celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, a day dedicated to reflecting on God’s infinite mercy and love for all people. Divine Mercy Sunday was officially declared by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000 at the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who received visions from Jesus and is considered the Apostle of Divine Mercy.                                                                                                                                                              The Image of Divine Mercy was one of the most important of the many visions and messages that Jesus gave to St. Faustina. In this vision, Jesus appeared to her while dressed in white, with red and white light beams emanating from His heart. He told her that He wanted the Image to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. Jesus also said that He desired the Feast of Mercy to be a refuge and shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. Jesus promised complete forgiveness of sins to those who partake of Communion and go to Confession on the Feast of Mercy, according to St. Faustina’s diary.                                                                                                                    The Image of Divine Mercy holds great significance for Catholics as it is a reminder of God’s infinite love and mercy for all people. Pope John Paul II spoke about the Image in his homily for St. Faustina’s canonization, where he said that the two rays of light shining from Jesus’ heart represent blood and water. The blood recalls Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross and the gift of the Eucharist, while the water represents Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Together, these rays symbolize the complete forgiveness and renewal that comes from God’s love and mercy.                                                                                                                                                    Divine Mercy Sunday is a day of celebration and reflection for Catholics worldwide. On this day, they are encouraged to attend Mass, receive Communion, and go to Confession. Through these acts, they receive God’s mercy and forgiveness and are renewed in their faith. Divine Mercy Sunday is also an opportunity for Catholics to reflect on their own lives and consider how they can extend God’s mercy and love to others. In a world filled with pain, suffering, and sin, Divine Mercy Sunday offers hope and a reminder that God’s love and mercy are always available to those who seek them. It is a day to celebrate the unconditional love and forgiveness of God and to reflect on how we can extend that same love and forgiveness to others in our lives. As Pope John Paul II once said, “Mercy is the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.” On Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholics celebrate this ultimate act of love and are reminded that they, too, can be instruments of God’s mercy in the world.                                                                                                        Please come and join us at the celebration of the Divine Mercyholy hour at Sacred Heart Church.                      Fr. Andrew

Apr 13, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Palm Sunday 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            Everything You Need to Know About Holy Week      Holy Week is one of the most important weeks in the Catholic Church. Not only is it a part of the Lenten season, but itis also the week where we remember the life and death of Christ. In Holy Week, we celebrate Jesus’ love for us, as He died on the cross and resurrected for us to have eternal life.                              Palm Sunday                                                                    To start, Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, which is also the last day of Lent. During Palm Sunday, the Church conducts a blessing of Palms to commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The readings for Palm Sunday are known as one of the most extended Gospel readings since it narrates the story of the Passion of Christ.                                                    Triduum                                                                            The Triduum consists of three days to pray and remember three essential days in Christ’s Passion. The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday and ends on the Easter Vigil celebration, which happens on Holy Saturday.                                                                        Holy Thursday                                                              Holy Thursday is also called Maundy Thursday. During Holy Thursday, it is customary that the Catholic Church commemorates the Last Supper. The celebration of the Mass happens at sundown, then a procession of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament commences as the priests place it on the Altar of Repose. After this, there will be no Masses celebrated again until the Easter Vigil.                                                                                  Good Friday                                                                Good Friday is the day that we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. It is also the second day of the Easter Triduum. On Good Friday, we do not celebrate Mass; however, we observe three things on Good Friday: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Communion. Do take note that fasting and abstinence from meat are required on Good Friday.  Holy Saturday                                                              Holy Saturday marks the last day of Holy Week and Lent. This day, we prepare to celebrate the Easter Vigil at sundown. The Easter Vigil is the only Mass that is observed during Holy Saturday.                              Easter Sunday                                                                    Easter Sunday is a very important day, and it is the day that Christ rose from the dead, a day that symbolizes our Christian faith. Usually, families celebrate Easter Sunday by attending Easter Sunday Mass and having a family Easter feast to commemorate Christ’s Resurrection.                                                                    My Friends in Jesus Christ,                                              Have a blessed and spiritually fruitful Holy Week.         Fr. Andrew

Mar 30, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, March 26, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                                In today’s Gospel, we see a scene with which all of us are familiar, namely people weeping over the death of a loved one (Lazarus). Jesus is at the center of that scene. He is the one who gives hope to those who are surrounded by the shadow of death.                              St. John’s main aim is to arouse faith in Jesus and to show the effects of faith in Him.                                  “Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe.” And the story ends with the words: “Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what He did believed in Him.”                                                                          Martha is presented as a model of faith. In defiance of the evidence, she makes a wonderful profession of faith: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world.”                Jesus is the source of life, not just physical life, but the undying life of God. This new life is not a mere future hope, but a present reality which physical death, despite appearances, does not negate. The key words in the story are: “I am the resurrection and the life.” The delay in coming to Martha and Mary, and the fact that Lazarus has been dead for four days, serve to underline the point the evangelist is making, namely, that Jesus is the Master of life and death.                                      Jesus is God.                                                                  God is life, and the source of life.                                      God is love, and the source of love.                                Do you believe that?                                                          Tell your answer now.                                                        Be positive, keep smiling, God loves you!                        Fr. Andrew

Mar 23, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, March 19, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            There is a frightening amount of darkness in the world today. But the Gospel of today’s Mass contains the wonderful words of Christ: “I am the light of the world. ”Christ is indeed the light of the world and of our lives. Jesus, the light of the world, not only gives sight to the physically blind, but the light of faith to the spiritually blind. The Gospel story is a lesson on growth in faith. The climax of the story comes when the man makes a profession of faith in Jesus: “Lord, I believe. ”His journey from blindness to sight symbolizes the journey from unbelief to faith, which is a journey from darkness to light. This Sunday is traditionally called Laetare Sunday from the opening words of the Entrance Antiphon. The strictness of the Lenten liturgy is interrupted on this Sunday, with words that speak to us of joy. In this way, the Church wishes to remind us that joy is perfectly compatible with mortification and pain. It is sadness and not penance which is opposed to happiness. Taking part to the utmost in this liturgical season which reaches its climax in the Passion, and hence in suffering, we realize that approaching the Cross also means that the moment of our Redemption is coming ever closer. In this way, the Church and each of her members are filled with joy: “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her.”                                                                                                 Be positive, keep smiling, God loves us.                         Fr. Andrew

Mar 16, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for March 12, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                                As the Israelites journeyed through the desert, Moses provided them with the life-saving gift of water. Jesus, the new Moses, gives the people something infinitely better – “living water,” a share in the very life of God. “There is a thirst in every human heart. Each of us is like that lonely Samaritan woman. We are thirsting for something, something that will satisfy all our longings. But often we search in the wrong places. We draw water from many wells: the water of praise to quench our thirst for self-esteem. the water of success to quench our thirst for importance. the water of pleasure to quench our thirst for joy… but we still get thirsty. Only God can give us what we are looking for. He alone can cause a spring to well up inside us. The water from this spring will sustain us in our journey to the Promised Land of eternal life.” (Flor McCarthy SDB) As we continue our Lenten journey, may our resolve to follow closely the path of Jesus be strengthened through prayer, forgiveness, fasting and assistance to those in need. When you meditate upon today’s Gospel, remember; that as we thirst for mercy of God: God is thirsty for our faith and our love.                                                                                                                                Be positive, keep smiling, God loves us!                          Fr. Andrew

Mar 9, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, March 5, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, March 5, 2023              Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            This year Pope Francis’ Message for Lent invites us to ascent the mountain on which Jesus offers three of his disciples a very bright moment, which will have to sustain their journey.“Here, there are two challenges to common sense. First: that beauty comes from change, or rather from the effort to think again. In biblical language from conversion. Second: that beauty is a collective experience, intimate yes, but not private. In ecclesial language, it is a synodal experience. So, when we work on ourselves in Lent – an ascesis – we yearn for the light to increase, the joy to increase. We hope for light in change and collective joy. It Is customary for the Pope’s Lenten message to contain a charitable element that is, it directs the prayer and fasting of believers in the direction of an improvement of the world. Saint Paul VI said: in the direction of integral human development. The Gospel image of the Transfiguration helps us this year to interpret this orientation in a more radical way.                                                                                                                                  We are distressed by dramatic events. The pandemic situation is still uncertain. The war in Ukraine does not seem to end and is only one among dozens of others, the one that reveals that the entire world is exposed to destruction. In addition, terribly destructive earthquakes remind us of all the natural catastrophes of a creation that seems to cry out, because it groans and suffers. A primitive idea of divinity would suggest sacrifices and penances to appease the forces that harm us. This is not the Lent of Christians, who confess Christ as the light of the world and are oriented to Him.                                                                                              At the end of the last century, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini chose the passage of the Transfiguration to respond to Dostoevsky’s question. “What beauty will save the world?” And he observed: “In the disciples who climb the mountain, carrying in their hearts all the anxieties and burdens that agitate their personal and collective history, it is possible to read the questions that are in us about the meaning of time, the demand for meaning that comes from the anguish produced by violence and all tragedies.” In this year’s message, Francis brings this observation even closer by employing what Saint Ignatius called the “composition of place,” that is, the exercise of the imagination that makes us identify with the situation being described. The Pope writes: “During any strenuous mountain trek, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on the path; yet the panorama that opens up at the end amazes us and rewards us by its grandeur.” Thus, we feel the surprise of the Transfiguration: “The divine beauty of this vision was incomparably superior to any effort that the disciples might have made in climbing Tabor.”                                                                                                      Assuredly, this leads us to think of the labors of all who suffer and live their lives as an excessively harsh ascent. And we might ask ourselves if it is not our indifference that makes their journey harder. The Church wants to help remove obstacles and the burdens that hinder human development, life in abundance.” This a part of the: Intervention of His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J.                                                                           God loves us, be positive, keep smiling!                                  Fr. Andrew

Mar 2, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, 2-26-23

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            Last Wednesday, with traditional distribution of the ashes, we entered the Holy Season of Lent. This time I would like to present to you – a spiritual reflection by St. Vincent Pallotti entitled: “The Infinite Love and Mercy of Jesus Christ in the Desert.                                                                                                                ”Enlightened by faith, I must recall that Our Lord Jesus Christ, after humbling Himself by the Baptism of Penance, went to the desert. For forty days and nights He prayed and fasted; He even permitted Himself to be tempted three times by our common enemy, the devil. But He overcame the temptations. He permitted this for all our sake, out of His infinite love and mercy, although He knew how little we would profit from it, and how much we would abuse it, by acting contrary to His will. He nevertheless condescended to teach us the practice of solitude, in order to speak alone to God about the business of our eternal salvation. He taught us how to pray in order to profit efficaciously by this ineffable means of obtaining all graces. He taught us how to fast in order to keep our passions and our flesh mortified. Finally, with His victory over temptations of the devil, He taught us how to overcome the temptations of our spiritual enemies, so that we may persevere in the work of sanctifying our souls, living images of God. In this way, we will never do anything to destroy our soul. Jesus did this not only as an example to us, but also in order to grant us the grace of imitating Him in everything. Thus, all the infinite merits of His retreat, prayer, fast, and victories over the devil, would be ours.                                                                                               My Jesus, my most loving first-born brother, true God and true man, eternal God, infinite, immense, incomprehensible, infinite love and mercy. Only You with the Father and the Holy Spirit can enlighten us, so to that we may know Your infinite love and mercy, manifested in Your solitude, prayer, and fast, and Your victories over the devil in the desert. You can help us with your grace to profit from it as You wish. Not because You need this, but because of our great necessity. Allow us, therefore, to perform our duties well, so that we may perfect our soul, a living image of You, and thus atone for the excesses of our ingratitude and impiety... Amen.                                                       (St. Vincent Pallotti; God, the Infinite Love)                  Have a blessed Lenten journey.                                  Keep smiling, be positive God loves us!                            Fr. Andrew

Feb 23, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, 2-19-23

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            There is a story from the life of Abraham Lincoln: When Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States, there was a man called Stanton, who never lost an opportunity to vilify him. Yet when Lincoln won the election, he gave Stanton a post in his cabinet. Why? Because he considered him the best person for the job. Lincoln was proved right. Stanton gave him loyal service. Asked why he didn’t destroy his enemies, Lincoln replied: “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends? "                                                                                                                                              In today’s Gospel passage from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus continues His demand for higher holiness, amore sacred sanctity, a great goodness, than the Old Law demanded. The Old Law defined justice. It limited vengeance to what was just and equal: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” no more. But Jesus’ New Law not only goes much farther, from justice into mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and compassion but is different in principle. Jesus’ radical new lifestyle is based on a radically new principle: LOVE, unselfish love.                                                                                                                                                                              And this LOVE is radical because it is for all, for enemies as well as friends. And is for all because it is a participation in the love that God has for all. And we know this love, the love that is the very nature of God, because of Jesus Christ, who is the complete and perfect image of God: like a Father, like a Son. He loved His enemies, who hated Him and tortured Him and killed Him. He loved them so much that He died for them. And as we call ourselves: Christians, Christ bearers, Christ followers, Christ disciples, we must all learn to imitate Him.“ So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This is nothing less than the whole meaning of our Christian spiritual life. As we are loved by God, so love one another.                                                                                                                                                       Keep smiling, be positive...                                             Fr. Andrew

Feb 16, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday February 5, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                              We are Christ’s disciples. As such we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In the ancient world, salt was one of the most important necessities of life, especially for preserving and seasoning food. So, too, the light for obvious reasons. These are beautiful images used by Jesus in today’s Gospel. Both images are making the same point: Jesus’ disciples have avital role to play in the world through their good deeds. When the disciples stop witnessing through their deeds, they become as useless as salt that has lost its taste or a lamp that doesn’t give light. Pope Saint John Paul II meditated upon the above theme, for the occasion on the 7th International Youth Day in Toronto; 2002.“ You are the light of the world...”. For those who first heard Jesus, as for us, the symbol of light evokes the desire for truth and the thirst for the fullness of knowledge which are imprinted deep within every human being. When the light fades or vanishes altogether, we no longer see things as they really are. In the heart of the night, we can feel frightened and insecure, and we impatiently await the coming of the light of dawn. Dear young people, it is up to you to be the watchmen of the morning (cf. Is 21:11-12) who announce the coming of the sun who is the Risen Christ! The light which Jesus speaks of in the Gospel is the light of faith, God’s free gift, which enlightens the heart and clarifies the mind. “Itis the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). That is why the words of Jesus explaining His identity and His mission are so important: “Iam the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).Our personal encounter with Christ bathes life in new light, sets us on the right path, and sends us out to be His witnesses. This new way of looking at the world and at people, which comes to us from Him, leads us more deeply into the mystery of faith, which is not just a collection of theoretical assertions to be accepted and approved by the mind, but an experience to be had, a truth to be lived, the salt and light of all reality (cf. Veritatis Splendor, 88).In this secularized age, when many of our contemporaries think and act as if God did not exist or are attracted to irrational forms of religion, it is you, dear young people, who must show that faith is a personal decision which involves your whole life. Let the Gospel be the measure and guide life’s decisions and plans! Then you will be missionaries in all that you do and say, and wherever you work and live you will be signs of God’s love, credible witnesses to the loving presence of Jesus Christ. Never forget: “No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a bushel” (Mt 5:15)! Just as salt gives flavor to food and light illumines the darkness, so too, holiness gives full meaning to life and makes it reflect God’s glory. How many saints, especially young saints, can we count in the Church’s history! In their love for God their heroic virtues shone before the world, and so they became models of life which the Church has held up for imitation by all. Let us remember only a few of them: Agnes of Rome, Andrew of Phú Yên, Pedro Calungsod, Josephine Bakhita, Thérèse of Lisieux, Pier Giorgio Frassati, Marcel Callo, Francisco Castelló Aleu or again Kateri Tekakwitha,the young Iroquois called “the Lily of the Mohawks.” Through the intercession of this great host of witnesses, may God make you too, dear young people, the saints of the third millennium!”                                                                                        Keep smiling, be happy, God loves you!                        Fr. Andrew

Feb 2, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, January 29, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As Peter Kreeft said in his commentary on today’s Gospel: “Jesus is not nice. Jesus is not comfortable. Jesus is not safe. Jesus is not boring. Jesus turns our world upside down. This is shown most radically in today’s Gospel, which is the famous “Beatitudes,” the eight blessings, or graces, or gifts, which don’t look like blessings at all.” In the Beatitudes, we see the values a Christian should live by. While they present a great challenge, they also offer great rewards both here and hereafter. “...The Beatitudes are the badges of a true disciple of Christ. They are the marks of a child of God. They make us rich in the sight of God. They open our minds and hearts to a new way of seeing and judging. They give us a whole new set of bearings.                                                                                                                                                    The things the Beatitudes stand for are exceptionally beautiful and very precious – things such as peace, goodness, joy, love, gentleness, compassion, mercy, integrity … A person who lives according to the Beatitudes is already living in the Kingdom of Heaven. Eternal life will merely be the full blossoming of a plant that is green with life.” Fr. Flor McCarthy                                                                                                                Keep smiling, be positive,                                            God loves us!                                                                   Fr. Andrew

Jan 26, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday January 22, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? "These words of the Responsorial Psalm are a confession of faith and a manifestation of our certainty – faith in our Lord, who is the Light of our lives, and certainty because it is in Christ that we find the strength we need to stick to our path each day. Mankind walked in darkness until Jesus was born in Bethlehem and a light shown on earth. Over these past weeks, we have considered how Christ’s brightness shown on Mary, Joseph, on the shepherds and the Magi. Then He hides Himself for years in the little town of Nazareth and lives the normal life of His fellow countrymen. After He has left Nazareth and has been baptized in the Jordan, He goes to Capharnaum to begin His public life. And people, who lived in darkness have come to the source of light. And they were rewarded: they have seen a great light. My Friends, this light shines on us now as we come together in the Name of Jesus, to pray, to adore and to worship. The light of Christ comes to us as a friend. His light brings healing not hurt, freedom not oppression, life not death. Those who follow Jesus will always have the light of life. By living in it, we become sources of light to others, a lamp for their paths. There is an immense joy in being in the light. And there is even greater joy in being a source of light to others.                                            Keep smiling, be positive,                                            God loves us!                                                                   Fr. Andrew

Jan 19, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday1-15-23

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, 1-15-23                            Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            With the last Monday celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we ended the liturgical season called Christmas Time, and entered a new liturgical season called Ordinary Time.                                                                                                                                                 The 34 weeks of Ordinary Time contain the rest of Jesus’ earthly ministry and some of the major events of the Gospel we have come to know and love. The miracles, the parables, the calling of the Twelve, the Sermon on the Mount, the Bread of Life Discourse. . . we get all that and more during this season. Truly, there is much to celebrate.                                                                                                                                                  The term “ordinary” in our common use typically refers to something being plain, unimpressive, or unexciting. A sense of “it is what it is” mentality. For that reason, many people hear “Ordinary Time,” and they immediately think of the season as such. But that understanding doesn’t reflect the true meaning of the season.                                                                                                                                                                Ordinary, in this context, comes from the Latin term ordinarius, meaning “numbered” or “ruled.” This title simply refers to the ongoing and rhythmical nature of the season. Just like everyday life, there is a rhythm to the days and the weeks. Sure, we have holidays and special occasions that we look forward to that change the pace, just like we have holy days and feasts in the Church year. But those special occasions aren’t the whole picture, just like there is more to the life of Christ than what we celebrate in other liturgical seasons. The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green. This is to represent the time of growth and expansion of the Church following the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Green is a very natural color and is often a symbol for growth and new life.                                                                                                                                Like all Liturgical Seasons, Ordinary Time is meant to be lived! We aren’t passive receptors of the liturgy – or at least we shouldn’t be. We are called to be active participants! Participating in Ordinary Time means participating in the everyday life of Jesus.                                                                                                      According to the USCCB, “The Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time take us through the life of Christ. This is the time of conversion. This is living the life of Christ. Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ.”                                                                                                                                Think about that last phrase for a moment.                Keep smiling, be positive, God loves us.                          Fr. Andrew

Jan 12, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Epiphany, Jan. 8, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This Sunday, we celebrate the feast which is called the "Epiphany of the Lord. "The word “epiphany” means “showing” or “revealing.” It commemorates the event that was the first showing of Christ Jesus to the nations of the entire world, when the three Wise Men from the East, directed by the star, came to Bethlehem to worship the Christ Child. They took this journey through the mountains, and valleys, rivers, and deserts, never being discouraged by the obstacles on the way.                They saw the sign of the time: “the Star,” and decided to walk in the light of God. Through their perseverance, they reached the goal of their journey. At Bethlehem they found the promised King, and they worshiped Him. They didn’t arrive to the presence of Christ empty-handed. They brought with them mystical gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Gold, a symbol of royalty. Frankincense, the perfume which was burned each evening on the altar as a symbol of the hope placed in the Messiah. Myrrh, because God Incarnate – Jesus – will take upon Himself our weakness and be burdened with our sorrows. My friends, pause for a moment and reflect: God gave us the most precious gift: His only Begotten Son. Magi offered Jesus “special gifts.”      And we, in response to God’s every-day generosity, what will we offer Him today, tomorrow, and at any moment of our life?                                                    Keep smiling, be happy, God loves us!                           Fr. Andrew

Jan 5, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, January 1, 2023

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday January 1, 2023Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The 1st Day of the New Year, traditionally – in our universal Church – is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Mary is Our Lady, full of grace and virtue, conceived without sin, who is the Mother of God and our Mother, and who dwells both body and soul in heaven. Sacred Scripture refers to her as the most exalted of all creatures, the blessed one, the most praised among women, full of grace, she whom all generations shall call blessed. Mary’s divine motherhood was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Mary is truly the Mother of God, since she gave birth to the Second Person of the Trinity, who became man for our sake. In the East, this Dogma is referred to by the original Greek title of Mary: Theotokos, which means “God-bearer.” Mary of Nazareth is clearly the mother of Jesus. She bore Him in her womb, gave birth to Him, and raised Him with the help of her chaste spouse, Joseph. How can we say that Mary is the Mother of God Himself then? Because God is, in fact, a Trinity: One God in Three Persons. Is Mary the Mother of the Trinity? No, Mary is not the Mother of the Trinity, she is only the Mother of the Second Person of the Trinity because it is only the Second Person of the Trinity who took on flesh. What the Church teaches about Mary safeguards the more central teachings concerning Jesus Christ. When Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Blessed VirginMary, His eternal divine nature was united perfectly to the human flesh offered from Mary’s own human flesh. Jesus has a human nature and a divine nature, but we say truly that He is a Divine Person. However, mothers do not give birth to natures, but to persons. And so, we can say rightly that Mary is the Mother of God because Jesus is God and Mary is the Mother of Jesus. On this solemnity of Our Lady, we begin the New Year. Truly there could not be a better start to the year, and to all the days of our life, than being very close to Mary. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, let us pray: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, you have given the world its true light, Jesus, your Son – the Son of God. You abandoned yourself completely to God’s call and thus became a wellspring of the goodness which flows forth from Him. Show us Jesus. Lead us to Him. Teach us to know and love Him, so that we, too, can become capable of true love and be fountains of living water in the midst of a thirsting world.                                                      "Blessed New Year – my Friends. Keep smiling, be positive, God loves us!                                                    Fr. Andrew

Dec 29, 2022

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, December 4, 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                              This coming Thursday, December 8th, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States since it is the patronal feast of our nation. The Immaculate Conception is not the virgin birth. I want to make that really clear at the beginning, since far too many people get hopelessly confused on that point. Furthermore, the conception that was “immaculate” was Mary’s, not Christ’s. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: "To become the mother of the Savior, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.” The angel Gabriel at the moment of her annunciation salutes her as “Full of grace. ”In fact, for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be borne by God’s grace. Through the centuries, the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. This is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.                                                "My friends: Mother Mary experienced uncertainty and insecurity when she said “yes” to the angel. She knew what oppression was when she couldn’t find a room in which to give birth to Jesus. She lived as a refugee in a strange land. She knew the pain of having a child who does not follow the accepted path. She knew the loneliness of the widow and the agony of seeing her only Son executed. She is the friend of all the poor and oppressed women of our times. She gives hope to those who struggle for justice, and challenges us to live a simpler life, a life of unconditional trust in God.    Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, keeps her vocation of holiness before us, and serves as a model for us. She attained holiness by obedience to God. She is blessed, not simply because she was the mother of Jesus, but because she heard the word of God and did it. Let us imitate Her!                                                                          Fr. Andrew“                                                                                              O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

Dec 1, 2022

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, 11-27-22

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,                            This Sunday, we begin a new liturgical year. The liturgy invites us to come to the house of God, so that God may teach us His ways and help us to walk in His light. Beginning the Church’s liturgical year, Advent (from, “ad- venire” in Latin or “to come to”) is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.                        The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the Scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighed down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36).                        With the author of the Psalm 24, we pray: “Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior.” Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas. Every Sunday, I am available – one hour before Mass in the confessional. Please use the Sacrament of God’s love and mercy as a special way of preparation – cleansing of your soul for the great feast of Christmas. Once in the past, Jesus was born in the stable, and now He would like to be reborn in our clean and shining hearts. “Let us go forth with a clean heart to receive the supreme King, for He is to come, and He will not delay,” as we read among the Advent Antiphons of the Liturgy.                            Have a blessed Advent. Keep smiling and be positive – God loves you! Fr. Andrew                                                            

Nov 25, 2022

From Fr. Andrew for Sunday, Nov. 13

Dear friends in Christ, We live in a world which is full of confusion and unrest. In the midst of such a world, we are expected to be witnesses to Christ. To be good and faithful witnesses, we need help from on high. As the liturgical year draws to a close, the focus is on the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ (Parousia). The prophet Malachi (First Reading) says that for evildoers, the Day of the Lord will be a day of judgment; but for the upright, it will be a day of salvation. His stark message was meant to act as a warning to sinners and as an encouragement to the just. The Second Reading also relates to the Second Coming (Parousia). Some of the Thessalonians, believing that the Parousia was imminent, saw no need to work. Presenting himself as an example, Paul tells them to go on living and working as normal, and not to be content to live off the community. Luke talks about the Parousia in close association with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The destruction of the Temple, which Jesus had predicted, had already occurred by the time Luke was writing. This would have been interpreted by some as a sign that the end of the world was starting. But Luke reminds them of the words of Jesus, in which He warned His disciples not to be deceived by rumors and apparent signs that the end is near. The Gospel goes on to address the situation of Christians in a time of persecution. Persecution will be an opportunity to bear witness to the Gospel. The Lord will see to it that believers will triumph in the end, provided they remain steadfast. Saint Vincent Pallotti tells us: “All of us are obliged to help each other to obtain heaven … Everyone must try to prevent his neighbor’s damnation and procure his salvation with all possible means.” Yours in Christ, Fr. Andrew Keep smiling, be positive; God loves you!

Nov 11, 2022

From Fr. Andrew for October 30, 2022

Dear friends in Christ, In the month of November, just from its first two days, the Church asks us to look up to Heaven. All Saints’ Day is a solemn Holy Day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls’ Day, which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven. Although millions, of people may already be saints, All Saints’ Day observances tend to focus on known saints --that is those recognized in the canon of the saints by the Catholic Church. All Saints’ Day is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, meaning all Catholics are required to attend Mass on that day, unless they have an excellent excuse, such as serious illness. All Saints’ Day was formally started by Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs on May 13 in 609 AD. Boniface IV also established All Souls’ Day, which follows All Saints. The Holy Day was eventually established on November 1 by Pope Gregory III in the mid-eighth century as a day dedicated to the saints and their relics. The May 13 celebration was subsequently abandoned. I would like to invite you to celebrate this special Holy Day at St. John the Baptist on the first of November at 12:00 p.m., and at Sacred Heart at 10:00 a.m. and at 6:00 p.m. Our ties with deceased relatives and friends do not end with their death. In November, the Church invites us to pray more insistently and offer suffrages for the souls in Purgatory. Saint Catherine of Genoa writes: “No one is barred from heaven. Whoever wants to enter heaven may do so because God is all-merciful. Our Lord will welcome us into glory with arms wide open. The Almighty is so pure, however, that if a person is conscious of the least trace of imperfection and at the same time understands that Purgatory is ordained to do away with such impediments, the soul enters this place of purification glad to accept so great a mercy of God. The worst suffering of these souls is to have sinned against Goodness and not to have been purified in this life.” (Treatise on Purgatory). On the second of November, I would like to invite all of you to celebrate All Souls Day at St. John the Baptist at 12:00 p.m. and at Sacred Heart at 6:00 p.m. Come as one family to join our hearts in prayer with those who are already walking on the spiritual side of the journey – Merciful God marked for all of us. Yours in Christ – Fr. Andrew

Oct 27, 2022

A Message from Fr. Andrew

My Dear Parishioners of Sacred Heart Church                    With this introductory letter, I would like to express my deepest thanks to our Bishop Earl K. Fernandes for entrusting me with the administration of this parish. Since the 1st of October, I was assigned to the Sacred Heart Parish and on November 1st, I will begin my work at St. John the Baptist Church. Many thanks to Fr. Adam Streitenberger and Deacon Frank Iannarino for their dedication and commitment in taking responsibility for these parishes during the last couple of years.                    My name is Fr. Andrew Kozminski. I was born, grew up and was educated in Poland. In 1980, I joined the Congregation of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, known as Pallottine Fathers and Brothers. This is originally an Italian Order present in Poland since 1907. Our founder - Saint Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850), was a priest from Rome, Italy. (From his last name, we are being called Pallottines.)  In the entire world, there are 406 communities of the Pallottines, 1,720 priests and 106 brothers, and with our young members in formation, there are about 3,000 of us. In 1988, I was ordained a priest. The first year of my priesthood I worked in Poland and then I began my missionary journey throughout the world. These are the countries I worked in: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, and United States. I came to this country a couple of days before the tragic events of 9/11/2001. I was assigned first to Buffalo NY, Sarasota FL, then returned to Buffalo NY and two years ago, I came to Columbus. My assignment here was St. Christopher parish in Grandview.  I am looking with great excitement to serve you and work with you, I have a lot of fears, knowing that the process we are going through in our diocese (Real Presence, Real Future) will bring us a lot of changes and challenges. With this in mind, I ask you to be very patient with me and please support me with your prayers. We – together – are responsible for bringing the burning torch of our faith and love of God to a new generation. Let our faith burn brightly, that many can see it, be inspired by it, and join us in this special commitment. As St. Vincent Pallotti used the words of St. Paul the Apostle, as his life motto, let us make it our own:                                                            “The love of Christ urges us!” (2 Cor 5:14) God Bless!                                                            Fr. Andrew Kozminski                                        

Oct 14, 2022

Sacred Heart RPRF Response Pages 1 and 2 of 4

On behalf of Sacred Heart parish, we would like to humbly propose some considerations for the Real Presence, Real Future planning initiative in response to the second draft models. As parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish, we respectfully acknowledge and appreciate the time and effort put forth by Diocesan leaders to respond to the decline in ordained priests and the decrease in practicing Catholics in the Diocese of Columbus. I. Regarding the proposed model between Holy Name and Sacred Heart We ask that you accept this letter as a written response to the Diocese’s proposed model through Real Presence Real Future to combine Sacred Heart Parish with Holy Name, maintaining Holy Name as the open and active location. Collectively, we would like to address various points which may have been overlooked or points of which the decision makers were unaware. Currently, Sacred Heart Parish is a experiencing a renewal, with increasing attendance by young professionals, a is location in an urban area experiencing exponential growth which provides boundless opportunities for outreach. We believe there are many challenging aspects of the model presented, and that this model fails to accomplish the core purpose of Real Presence Real Future, which is to “better support evangelization and outreach.” To begin, Holy Name is only averaging 55 Mass attendees per weekend, while Sacred Heart is averaging over 130, with several recent weekends reaching over 150 attendees. Our attendance figures have been increasing steadily for the past eighteen months, even during the pandemic. These figures alone show that Sacred Heart is reaching more people each week than Holy Name. In addition, while Holy Name is near The Ohio State University, and could possibly reach a few students, we argue that the Newman Center is already providing sufficient campus outreach and is less than a mile from Holy Name. College students are transient by nature, making it difficult to create stable communities at both Holy Name and St. Thomas More Newman Center. Sacred Heart’s location in Italian Village is attracting parishioners from the South Campus, Downtown, and Short North communities. This area is distant from the Newman Center, so many graduate students from OSU have found a home at their neighborhood parish of Sacred Heart. This has enabled us to actively reach out to and evangelize a growing population of young professionals and graduate students. In fact, this community has formed a “Young Adult” group at Sacred Heart which meets weekly. Looking at the numbers of Catholics in the Diocese attending Mass, this group should not be ignored. As young leaders, there should be thoughtful consideration to this population as we look to expand Catholicism in the city of Columbus. There are several other practical concerns with closing Sacred Heart over Holy Name. Not the least being that Sacred Heart’s parking lot and church are both handicap accessible, where Holy Name’s lot and church are not. Sacred Heart is also home to the active and thriving Syro-Malabar Community. Additionally, the strong community at Sacred Heart has a proven track record of responsible financial stewardship and community outreach. Even if Santa Cruz was to remain at Holy Name, Holy Name is less financially viable than Sacred Heart. Sacred Heart is financially viable, has increasing attendance, and is actively supporting evangelization and outreach with an ever-growing demographic of young professionals, shutting down this community, at a time when growth is needed, would be more detrimental than productive to the Diocese of Columbus. II. Sacred Heart as a place of evangelization The Sacred Heart Campus Sacred Heart occupies a prime location in the center of Italian Village. Our neighborhood had been in decline for decades, but in the past 15 years, it has experienced a renaissance that continues today. The residential housing boom has brought new life and a flood of full-time residents, most of which are young professionals and graduate students, to the area. Our neighbor to the West, the Short North, has for years been a hub of new residential construction. The Weiland Park area just north of us, is experiencing its own resurgence thanks in large measure to the investments by Campus Partners and The Ohio State University. In short, we are literally at the center of an area full of young, well educated, energetic individuals and families that need a spiritual anchor. Over two thousand residential units are planned or under construction within the Sacred Heart parish boundaries. St. Joseph Montessori School (SJMS) is the lessee of our school building with the Diocese as the lessor. When the lease was signed over 25 years ago, our neighborhood had decayed, and the school building was sitting empty. While the agreed to monthly rent was certainly appropriate for market conditions at that time, there was no provision to adjust the rent over the years as market conditions changed. The parish has suffered from the inability to capitalize on stronger commercial markets, particularly in the past 10 years. If the rent were to be adjusted to reflect market rate at the earliest date contractually possible, the parish could remain debt free, repair and upgrade the church and convent buildings, improve the campus grounds, and institute programs of evangelization and outreach to our neighborhood in conjunction with our growing young professionals peer group. SJMS, with no ties to the parish and a minimal to nil Catholic identity, is and has been a detriment to Sacred Heart serving the needs of the neighborhood and the Gospel. Future Use and Mission While increasing the rental revenue at the school building would be an easy way to increase funding, there is a much greater opportunity for substantial, long-lasting revenue, as well as evangelization and outreach, through the development of our campus real estate The arrangement between Sacred Heart and SJMS has been of benefit primarily to SJMS. We think it is time to take the real asset that the school occupies and capitalize on its full potential. Catholic children account for roughly 10% of the current student body, with Catholic faculty in that same 10%. It no longer has a viable Catholic identity and no longer serves to pass on the Catholic faith. Our mission of evangelization and serving as a resource for those in our parish boundaries and beyond cannot be fulfilled if the status quo remains.

Jun 20, 2022

Sacred Heart RPRF Response Pages 3 and 4 of 4

The location and size of our property afford us tremendous opportunity to make our presence felt in our neighborhood by becoming the hub for spiritual guidance, a center for evangelization and outreach programs, and for charitable outreach. We propose that the current lease of the school building be allowed to expire, and that Sacred Heart and the Diocese enlist a partner to redevelop the property from the church North to 2nd Street. 1.The school building will be replaced by an appropriately sized and dense mixed-use building along Summit Street. It would feature: • Retail spaces on the first floor for gathering spots such as a coffee shop, deli, etc., • A community room for church use • Office space for our outreach and evangelization programs • Multi-story housing on the upper floors to generate significant and sustainable revenue to support the church and our community programs • Adequate parking on the interior of the site • Additional housing units could be built along 2nd Ave. and Hamlet Street 2.The Convent will be restored and renovated to include a 3–4-bedroom apartment for members of a religious order, along with Parish offices 3. Green space at the corner 1st and Summit would be transformed into a prayer garden 4. Needed repairs and restoration would be performed on the church building Our "Real Future" The revenue from the apartment building will enable Sacred Heart to establish and fund its outreach programs and restore and maintain the church structure. This is what enables Sacred Heart to become the resource that the Italian Village community, and those on its borders, need. Sacred Heart will be the hub for our neighbors' spiritual needs, social support networking, and community outreach. We have a dedicated and driven congregation yearning to meet the needs of our community by taking our love of God and the Catholic Church beyond our little slice of turf. We can do that by maximizing the potential of our greatest real asset. This spiritual hub will be of a size and scope to serve the needs of Italian Village, the Short North, Weiland Park, and the Ohio State community. It will enable the Sacred Heart community to firmly establish a "real presence" in our area, with resources ensuring a healthy spiritual "real future" for those we serve. III. New Proposed Model for Sacred Heart, Holy Name, and St. John the Baptist As parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish, we respectfully acknowledge and appreciate the time and effort put forth by Diocesan leaders to respond to the decline in ordained priests and the decrease in practicing Catholics in the Diocese of Columbus. We recognize that there are more parishes in the Short North and Campus areas than is perhaps sustainable. However, the area is blessed with beautiful and historic church buildings. It is also blessed with a growing young adult population, which needs to encounter Christ and His Church. We propose that St. John the Baptist, Holy Name, and Sacred Heart be merged into one parish with one pastor. For the near future, it would be one parish with three Mass locations. This will give time to consider the resources of the united parish and how those resources can be used to evangelize and serve the young adult, young professional, and graduate student population of the area. Each of the three locations could be used by different religious communities and/or apostolates to serve unique populations. The merging of the three parishes into one would also free up financial resources to maintain all three of the historic church buildings. St. John the Baptist, while having the larger Mass attendance and greater financial resources, is an Italian ethnic parish with minimal outreach to the local community. While on paper it appears viable, its population is aging. Merging St. John the Baptist now with Sacred Heart and Holy Name will serve to connect the location of St. John the Baptist and the Italian Festival to the local Catholic community in the neighborhood. Moreover, maintaining all three church buildings for the near future will both ensure the acclamation to the new reality of the local Church and ensure spots for sacramental and formational encounters in the area. Again, we thank you for your consideration.

Jun 20, 2022