Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 17, 2023
Dear Friends,
As we enter into the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the theme of anger and forgiveness stares at us. We hear from our Scripture readings that it is crucial for us to not to hold on to anger. We must be ready to forgive those who have sinned against us.
From the Book of Sirach we hear: “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. . . . Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.” In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the unforgiving servant to illustrate the imperative of forgiving our neighbors.
Avoiding anger and offering forgiveness: this is difficult for most or all of us. So much around us triggers anger. Let us pray for the grace to be patient and forgiving. Let us not carry bitterness and anger and hatred into death, for there if we wear these garments to the Wedding Feast of Heaven, there may not be any place for us to sit at the banquet table. If there is no place for us there, this will be of our own making.
Thanks to all those who participated in the 40-Hour Adoration event. What a blessing!
Please remember to participate in some way in the St. Brother André Golf Tournament to be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Duran Golf Course.
Let us now continue with the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI entitled Sacramentum Caritatis.
Have a Blessed Week!
With love,
Fr. John
W e e k 12 — SA C R A M E N T U M C A R I T AT I S ( TH E SA C R A M E N T O F C H A R I T Y : T H E E U C H AR I ST )
CONTINUATION OF THE POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS OF THE HOLY FATHER BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND THE LAY FAITHFUL ON THE EUCHARIST AS THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF THE CHURCH'S LIFE AND MISSION
P A R T O N E : T H E E U C H A R I ST — A M Y ST E R Y T O B E B E L I E V E D ( c on t i n u e d )
“This is the work of God: that you believe in whom he has sent.” (Jn 6:29)
T HE EUCHARIST AND MATRIMONY (continued)
THE EUCHARIST AND THE INDISSOLUBILITY OF MARRIAGE
- If the Eucharist expresses the irrevocable nature of God's love in Christ for his Church, we can then understand why it implies, with regard to the sacrament of Matrimony, that indissolubility to which all true love necessarily aspires.
(91) There was good reason for the pastoral attention that the Synod gave to the painful situations experienced by some of the faithful who, having celebrated the sacrament of Matrimony, then divorced and remarried. This represents a complex and troubling pastoral problem, a real scourge for contemporary society, and one which increasingly affects the Catholic community as well. The Church's pastors, out of love for the truth, are obliged to discern different situations carefully, in order to be able to offer appropriate spiritual guidance to the faithful involved. (92) The Synod of Bishops confirmed the Church's practice, based on Sacred Scripture (cf. Mk 10:2- 12), of not admitting the divorced and remarried to the sacraments, since their state and their condition of life objectively contradict the loving union of Christ and the Church signified and made present in the Eucharist. Yet the divorced and remarried continue to belong to the Church, which accompanies them with special concern and encourages them to live as fully as possible the Christian life through regular participation at Mass, albeit without receiving Communion, listening to the word of God, eucharistic adoration, prayer, participation in the life of the community, honest dialogue with a priest or spiritual director, dedication to the life of charity, works of penance, and commitment to the education of their children.
When legitimate doubts exist about the validity of the prior sacramental marriage, the necessary investigation must be carried out to establish if these are well-founded. Consequently, there is a need to ensure, in full respect for canon law , (93) the presence of local ecclesiastical tribunals, their pastoral character, and their correct and prompt functioning. (94) Each Diocese should have a sufficient number of persons with the necessary preparation, so that the ecclesiastical tribunals can operate in an expeditious manner. I repeat that "it is a grave obligation to bring the Church's institutional activity in her tribunals ever closer to the faithful." (95) At the same time, pastoral care must not be understood as if it were somehow in conflict with the law. Rather, one should begin by assuming that the fundamental point of encounter between the law and pastoral care is love for the truth: truth is never something purely abstract, but "a real part of the human and Christian journey of every member of the faithful." (96) Finally, where the nullity of the marriage bond is not declared and objective circumstances make it impossible to cease cohabitation, the Church encourages these members of the faithful to commit themselves to living their relationship in fidelity to the demands of God's law , as friends, as brother and sister; in this way they will be able to return to the table of the Eucharist, taking care to observe the Church's established and approved practice in this regard. This path, if it is to be possible and fruitful, must be supported by pastors and by adequate ecclesial initiatives, nor can it ever involve the blessing of these relations, lest confusion arise among the faithful concerning the value of marriage. (97)
Given the complex cultural context which the Church today encounters in many countries, the Synod also recommended devoting maximum pastoral attention to training couples preparing for marriage and to ascertaining beforehand their convictions regarding the obligations required for the validity of the sacrament of Matrimony. Serious discernment in this matter will help to avoid situations where impulsive decisions or superficial reasons lead two young people to take on responsibilities that they are then incapable of honoring. (98) The good that the Church and society as a whole expect from marriage and from the family founded upon marriage is so great as to call for full pastoral commitment to this particular area. Marriage and the family are institutions that must be promoted and defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature, since whatever is injurious to them is injurious to society itself.
(90) Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1640.
(92) John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (22 November 1981), 84: AAS 74 (1982), 184- 186; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Letterto the Bishops of the Catholic Church concerning the Reception of Holy Communion by Divorced and Remarried Members of the Faithful Annus Internationalis Familiae (14 September 1994): AAS 86 (1994), 974-979.
(93) Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Instruction onthe Norms tobe Observed at Ecclesiastical Tribunals in Matrimonial Proceedings Dignitas Connubii (25 January 2005), Vatican City, 2005.
(94) Propositio 40.
(95) Benedict XVI, Address to the Tribunal of the Roman Rota for the Inauguration of the Judicial Year (28 January 2006): AAS 98 (2006),
(96) Propositio 40.
(97) ibid.
(98) ibid.
Dear friends, This weekend, we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. At a time when our country is so deeply divided, the Gospel of Luke (10: 25-37), with the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan, challenges us to put aside division and learn to love everyone. We must ask ourselves: How can I overcome divisions and hatred and infuse my life and the lives of those around me with the spirit of Christ? How can I apply merciful love in all the circumstances in my life that cry out for it? The 4th of July celebration at our parish was splendid, with many prayer opportunities as well as great food, fun, and fireworks. We even extended the fun through Sunday so that our children could play in the bounce house and on the slide. We were blessed with a wonderful group of people who stepped up to assist Justin and Amanda Libak with this event. Thanks to all who pitched in. I am also grateful to Miller’s Ale House for sponsoring the hot dogs and for covering the cost of the bounce house, the slide, and the face painting stations. If you stop by Miller’s Ale House, please tell them you are from St. John’s and appreciate their generosity! The peak of summer break is upon us, and I know many of you will be traveling. Summer travel doesn’t mean that you press “pause” on your Catholic faith. Wherever you are in the world, you are still called to practice your faith and to locate a Catholic church at which to celebrate Mass on Sunday, at the very least. Please continue to remain faithful to our Lord wherever you may go. The Brother André Golf Tournament will help kick off our parish’s Silver Jubilee year. It will be held on Saturday, 13 September, at the Duran Golf Course. This is a great opportunity to come together to celebrate our parish family – you can sign up to play or just come for the catered picnic lunch. Thanks to Paco Farach and David Tomczak for spearheading this event. We need many volunteers to for supporting this event! You may remember that I announced last week another Silver Jubilee event: a year-long parish dedication to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially within the Congregation of Holy Cross. Called the “Vocation Prayer Challenge,” this will be similar to the parish’s previous “Elijah Cup” and “St. John’s Cup” vocation prayer efforts. Sign- up will begin in August, and the first week of the challenge will begin on 7 September. You will hear more about this in the coming weeks. Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope does dot disappoint,” written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, “Pilgrims of Hope.” It is an appropriate reflection as our St. John’s group of pilgrim visits the holy sites in Croatia and those of the apparitions in Medjugorje. Please pray for us; we will certainly pray for you. Let us turn now to where we left off with Spes Non Confundit last weekend. 3. Hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life” (Rom 5:19). That life becomes manifest in our own life of faith, which begins with Baptism, develops in openness to God’s grace and is enlivened by a hope constantly renewed and confirmed by the working of the Holy Spirit. By his perennial presence in the life of the pilgrim Church, the Holy Spirit illumines all believers with the light of hope. He keeps that light burning, like an ever-burning lamp, to sustain and invigorate our lives. Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or the sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” ( Rom 8:35.37-39). Here we see the reason why this hope perseveres in the midst of trials: founded on faith and nurtured by charity, it enables us to press forward in life. As Saint Augustine observes: “Whatever our state of life, we cannot live without these three dispositions of the soul, namely, to believe, to hope and to love”. [1] To be continued … [1] Serm. 198 augm. 2
Dear friends, After six straight Sundays of celebrating the most solemn mysteries of our amazing Catholic faith, we now enter into a period of ordinary Sundays. On this 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 10, presents a beautiful scene: Jesus sends 72 men on a mission to prepare the people for his coming. They return overjoyed because they have experienced life-changing transformations in the lives of the people among whom they were sent, including, the witness of demons fleeing from them. This is the beauty of working for the Lord, a beauty that we, too, will experience when we work for the Lord with total commitment. Our second annual 4th of July celebration was wonderful! We celebrated not only the historical event that gifted us with freedom but also the gift of our St. John the Evangelist family. I am deeply grateful to Justin and Amanda for managing the entire effort and to the Kitchen Crew and other volunteers who helped make this day an amazing experience. A special thanks to our Brother Knights for managing the parking. And thanks to each of you who contributed drinks, tablecloths, games, cookies, and other items. I wish to preview here another Silver Jubilee event: a year-long parish dedication to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially within the Congregation of Holy Cross. Called the Vocations Prayer Challenge, this event will be similar to the parish’s previous “Elijah Cup” and “St. John’s Cup” vocation prayer efforts. Sign-up will begin in August, and the first week of prayers will begin on 7 September 2025. You will hear more about this during Mass and in the bulletin beginning next week. Please join me in congratulating Fr. Jim Preskenis, C.S.C., on his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood. Fr. Jim was ordained to the priesthood in the Congregation of Holy Cross on March 22, 1975, with the motto: Know, Love, and Serve God. Fr. Jim served as a chaplain in the United States Air Force for 10 years, as the pastor of Holy Cross Parish in South Easton, MA, and also at Sacred Heart/St. Francis de Sales Parish in Bennington, VT. This was where I had the opportunity to serve as a deacon for seven months and as a priest for one year. After his full-time ministry, Fr. Jim moved into our Holy Cross senior men’s residence in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Whenever I needed a priest, Fr. Jim was always there to help us with Masses and confession. He has been a great brother to me. I would like to thank him for his priestly ministry and congratulate him for his steadfast commitment to serving the Lord. Fr. Jim will celebrate the 4.30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, 6 July 2025; we will use that opportunity to again thank God for his ministry. Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope does not disappoint,” written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 titled “Pilgrims of Hope.” We pick up where we left off last weekend. With Love, Fr John A word of hope 2. “Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God… Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:1-2.5). In this passage, Saint Paul gives us much to reflect upon. We know that the Letter to the Romans marked a decisive turning point in his work of evangelization. Until then, he had carried out his activity in the eastern part of the Empire, but now he turns to Rome and all that Rome meant in the eyes of the world. Before him lay a great challenge, which he took up for the sake of preaching the Gospel, which knows no barriers or confines. The Church of Rome was not founded by Paul, yet he felt impelled to hasten there in order to bring to everyone the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, a message of hope that fulfils the ancient promises, leads to glory and, grounded in love, does not disappoint. To be continued …
Dear friends, The long list of solemnities is not over yet, with this weekend’s bonus of Saints Peter and Paul. It is a solemnity which is celebrated by the Church every 29 June but only occasionally on a Sunday. This is indeed a gift, because our whole Church family gets to celebrate together two foundational characters, true pillars of the Church. It is important for us to see why and how St. Paul is joined with St. Peter for this celebration. In the Scripture readings provided for our reflection this weekend, we hear how St. Peter was miraculously rescued from the prison into which he had been thrown by Herod. We also hear how St. Paul, in his turn, is protected time and again from his vicious enemies. Despite the many attempts to silence them both, they continue to boldly proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Through them, the Church shows us how we as disciples of Jesus are called even today to proclaim unabashedly in word and deed that Jesus is truly the Son of the living God. On the 4th of July, we will gather once again as a parish to celebrate the gift of freedom we have received through the blessing of living in this country. What a privilege to be able to gather as a community here at St. John’s to celebrate this holiday! We will have a Mass and Rosary followed by food, festivities, fellowship and fireworks! See page eight of the bulletin to RSVP for this event. We extend a huge thanks to Justin and Amanda Libak for their devotion in making sure our remembrance of this day is a true tribute and great fun. We are now fully into the summer season, which I believe is a wonderful time for us to study one of the key papal documents marking the Jubilee Year. We will do this in small doses so that we can savor the richness of our Catholic tradition and the depth, power, and potency of our faith. Let us now begin at the beginning of Spes Non Confundit, “Hope does not disappoint,” the papal bull written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 with the title, “Pilgrims of Hope.” Let us begin! With Love, Fr. John SPES NON CONFUNDIT BULL OF INDICTION OF THE ORDINARY JUBILEE OF THE YEAR 2025 FRANCIS BISHOP OF ROME SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD TO ALL WHO READ THIS LETTER MAY HOPE FILL YOUR HEARTS 1. SPES NON CONFUNDIT. “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). In the spirit of hope, the Apostle Paul addressed these words of encouragement to the Christian community of Rome. Hope is also the central message of the coming Jubilee that, in accordance with an ancient tradition, the Pope proclaims every twenty-five years. My thoughts turn to all those pilgrims of hope who will travel to Rome in order to experience the Holy Year and to all those others who, though unable to visit the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul, will celebrate it in their local Churches. For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1). Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future, as if nothing could possibly bring them happiness. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God’s word helps us find reasons for that hope. Taking it as our guide, let us return to the message that the Apostle Paul wished to communicate to the Christians of Rome. To be continued …
Dear friends, The culmination of a secession of the foundational mysteries of our Catholic faith is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, known to us in the West as Corpus Christi Sunday. It is the day when we recognize, celebrate, venerate, and worship the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. This solemnity encourages us to profess, adore, and grow in love of our Eucharistic Lord, thereby deepening Eucharistic devotion throughout the Church. As you know, celebrating the Lord’s Body and Blood began at the Last Supper and continues to be celebrated at every Holy Mass. However, the formal feast of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) began in 1246 in the Diocese of Liege in Belgium. It was extended to the wider Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. The feast incorporates texts composed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican priest who lived from 1225 to 1274. St. Thomas was commissioned by Pope Urban to compose a special Office of Readings and hymns for this feast. It is from these that we have the two most well-known Eucharistic songs: Pange Lingua, which contains the beautiful Tantum Ergo,) and O Salutaris Hostia, which we regularly use at our Masses and Benedictions here at St. John’s. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi occurs on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday, two weeks after Pentecost Sunday. It is designed to honor and celebrate the second person of the Trinity, our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, by affirming him as really, truly, and substantially present in the consecrated bread and wine at Mass. Christ’s Real Presence comes to us at every Mass through the act which the Church calls “transubstantiation” (change of substance). This occurs when, at the consecration, the priest says the words that Christ himself pronounced over bread and wine, “This is My Body,” “This is the chalice of My Blood,” “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Corpus Christi Sunday calls us to focus on two manifestations of the Body of Christ— in the Holy Eucharist and in the Church. At every Mass, our attention is called to the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ in it. But the Body of Christ is also present in the Church. The Church is called the Body of Christ because of the intimate communion that Jesus shares with his disciples. This is foreshadowed in the gospels through the image of Christ as the vine and his believers as the branches. It is made explicit in the letters of St. Paul who says, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it” (1 Corinthians 12:17), and “[the Father] put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way” (Ephesians 1:22-23). This image helps keep in focus both the unity and the diversity of the Church. In most places, the Feast of Corpus Christi is an opportunity for public Eucharistic processions which serve as a sign of common faith and adoration. It is a public act of worship. I have been hesitant to do it at our parish because of the heat here in June. However, I really would like to have a Eucharistic procession next year during our Silver Jubilee celebration. I invite those who are interested to become part of a team to organize the procession. Please let me know if you would like to do this. It is a great way for you to bless our community here at St. John’s. Coming together to publicly declare our worship of Jesus in His Real Presence is a way of offering God our Father a pledge of undivided love. It also is an offering of ourselves in service to others. The 300 tickets for REBOOT! that were set aside at a discounted price have been sold! We are now opening registration to other parishes and cities in the area. I truly hope many more of our parishioners will register for this life-changing event with Christ Stefanick on Wednesday, 1 October 2025. Chris is undeniably one of the most gifted, powerful, and passionate Catholic speakers of the day. The REBOOT! experience has proven to change lives by reenergizing and renewing the faith life of those who attend. May your coming week be glorious! With Love, Fr. John
Dear friends, We have been celebrating a number of amazing Church mysteries and solemnities since the Solemnity of the Ascension. This weekend, we celebrate the basic and fundamental mystery of the Church and our faith: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Our attempt to understand any mystery is, in the end (and regardless of our efforts), essentially futile, and for none is this more true than the mystery of the Holy Trinity. This is the most mesmerizing and confounding of all the mysteries. As Tim Staples says, “Are we claiming that there are three Gods or are we teaching a logical contradiction such as saying 3 = 1, and 1=3?” As he seeks to answer this question, Staples says: The council of Florence (AD 1338-1445) taught that there is one nature in God, and that there are two processions, three persons, and four relations that constitute the Blessed Trinity. The Son “proceeds” from the Father, and the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son.” These are the two processions in God. And these are foundational to the four relations that constitute the three persons in God. These are those four eternal relations in God: The Father actively and eternally generates the Son, constituting the person of God, the Father. The Son is passively generated of the Father, which constitutes the person of the Son. The Father and the Son actively spirate the Holy Spirit in the one relation within the inner life of God that does not constitute a person. It does not do so because the Father and Son are already constituted as persons in relation to each other in the first two relations. This is why CCC 240 teaches, “[The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity] is Son only in relation to his Father. The Holy Spirit is passively spirated of the Father and the Son, constituting the person of the Holy Spirit. I guess now you can understand why it is better to leave the mystery to itself. Rather, it suffices to say, “I believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Shifting to a more practical issue: For quite some time, we have been unable to use the automatic door opener designed for those for whom the church doors are too heavy to open or who are using assistive devices that make opening the door especially difficult. But now, thanks to the creative mind and expertise of parishioner Richard Krassowsky who, as our electrical engineer, volunteers hours and hours of his time to both solving and fixing our electrical issues. Richard created for us a remote that allows us to turn on the automatic door-opening system. We are now able to keep it working during office hours and whenever we are celebrating the liturgy or having another function in the church. Thank you, Richard, and your lovely wife Mirian, for devoting your time and expertise to us. Our Vacation Bible School (VBS 2025) adventure “True North - Trusting Jesus in a Wild World,” held from Monday, 9 June to Friday, 13 June, was both exciting and meaningful for all the kids (and teens!) who attended. I was so thrilled to see our children having a great time and learning amazing lessons about trusting Jesus at all times, no matter the circumstances in our lives. I am most grateful to Natasha Mikse for volunteering to lead this year’s VBS experience as well as to John Moster, Gail Sullivan, and Art Hudson for their commitment to bringing to life the entire concept of “True North.” They worked many months to make this year’s VBS a worthwhile experience for our children. Thanks also to Kelli Salceda and Schonda Rodriguez for their guidance and to the many volunteers who attended to the multitude of activities and needs of the program, including the kitchen ministry team led by Denise Uram for ensuring our children were well fed. Finally, thank you to all who donated so many items for this year’s VBS. This weekend, we take time to celebrate our fathers, foster fathers, adopted fathers, grandfathers, spiritual fathers, and all who have been fathers to us. Father’s Day offers us a magnificent occasion to thank God for the irreplaceable role our fathers play in the life of the family, the domestic church. They are the ones called to imitate St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family and model of fatherly virtues, in their fidelity to the tasks entrusted to them. Like St. Joseph, they are here to protect and safeguard the family. Through his example and prayers, may fathers be strengthened to live their vocation with faith, love, and steadfast commitment, embracing their sacred role in forming their children and safeguarding the dignity of life. Thanks to those who have bought their tickets for REBOOT!, hosted by Chris Stefanick on Wednesday, 1 October 2025. Soon, we will be opening our ticket sales to other parishes. I wish more of our parishioners would avail themselves of this opportunity, as Chris is undeniably one of the most gifted, powerful, and passionate Catholic speakers of the day. This REBOOT! event is guaranteed to change lives by reenergizing and renewing our faith life. You can still purchase your tickets at our parish. As of now, we only have 25 more that will be offered at the discounted price of $30. With Love, Fr. John
Dear friends, We were blessed to celebrate a Confirmation Mass on Saturday, 7 June, during which 39 of our teens and seven adults were confirmed by Bishop John Noonan. Congratulations to all who received the gifts of the Holy Spirit at their confirmation. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in the liturgical year, the weekend of Pentecost. I would like to thank the parents for their commitment toward ensuring the ongoing gift of faith formation to their children, especially their teenagers. I am most grateful to Schonda and Ronnie Rodriguez and their team of volunteers for their tremendous efforts in passing on the faith to these youth. In addition, I thank the kitchen ministry and, most especially, the team of parents who were engaged in cooking meals for our children on Sundays through the Carlos Acutis Teen Nourishment ministry led by Kelly Rosas. The celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost reminds us of that day on which the Holy Spirit most powerfully demonstrated his presence by the pouring forth of his gifts to over 3000 people gathered together. Pentecost changed their lives! It was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise when he said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1: 1-11). This is the event we continue to commemorate as the birthday of the Church. Ever since that day, the Holy Spirit has been active in leading the Church and in continuing to bring people to the fountain of baptism. Even today, God is active through the power of the Holy Spirit in setting the hearts of many of the faithful on fire with His love, strength, and grace. Through the daily occurrence of Pentecost that we experience in the celebration of the sacraments, God continues to enable us to be powerful instruments of His transforming grace … if only we allow Him. One of the easier ways to be open to receiving the presence of the Holy Spirit is to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Or, you can use the following prayer: “Lord, send forth Your Spirit in my life and set me on fire with the Gifts of Your Spirit. Holy Spirit, I invite You to take possession of my soul. Come Holy Spirit, come and transform my life. Holy Spirit, I trust in You.” Pentecost also signals the end of the Easter season. As a sign that the Easter season has come to an end, we will carry the Easter candle in procession at the end of the Pentecost Mass from the sanctuary to the baptismal Font where it will remain for the rest of the liturgical year. Beginning on the Monday following Pentecost, we will resume Ordinary Time with the tenth week, and it will continue until we begin the First Sunday of Advent on 29 November 2025. We will move from singing Regina Caeli to praying the Angelus during this time. White vestments will give way to green vestments, with the exception of feast days. Also, on the Monday following Pentecost, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, a decree issued by Pope Francis in 2018. To honor our Mother, we will have a special Mass at 7 p.m. on Monday, 9 June at the Grotto. I encourage those who have yet to purchase tickets for Chris Stefanick’s visit on Wednesday, 1 October to do so soon. He is a gifted, powerful speaker and a passionate, faithful disciple of the Lord whose presentation REBOOT! can change lives by reenergizing and renewing our faith life. Chris is also a commentator, internationally acclaimed author, producer of films and documentaries, and a committed husband and caring father. To learn more about Chris and hear the good news he shared at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, scan the provided QR code or click the following link: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=LccklgQU8SA. Remember, the first 300 tickets purchased are being offered at a discounted price. May your coming week be glorious! With Love, Fr. John
Dear friends, Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This solemnity should occur 40 days after the Resurrection, which would be the Thursday after the Sixth Sunday of Easter. However, most dioceses in the U.S. have moved it to the Seventh Sunday so all can celebrate together this awesome and solemn truth of our faith. The truth is this: Our Lord Jesus, after spending 40 days with His disciples and others after His Resurrection, finally ascends to heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. This means that the crucified and risen Son of Man is now victoriously enthroned as King of Heaven and Earth —a huge advantage and of great significance for us as humans. Because of His Ascension, Pope Benedict XVI says, “Man henceforth finds room in God forever.” He goes on to say that through the Ascension, “We draw close to Heaven; indeed, we enter Heaven to the extent that we draw close to Jesus and enter into communion with him.” Our readings for this great solemnity speak of how Jesus promises to send His Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to guide the Church. He instructs the disciples to go forth and engage the world, gathering all within the embrace of their evangelizing mission. Let us rejoice knowing that Jesus is with our Father in heaven, interceding for us and continuing to be with us through the animating presence of the Holy Spirit. Thanks to all who graciously participated in our recent fundraising efforts. These included the Blaze Pizza dinner, the Make-Your-Own Sundae movie event, and the Spaghetti dinner. Congratulations to John and Holly Russo and their sons Maximilian, Alexander, and Leo, recipients of the Family of the Month award for May 2025. I thank them for their dedication and commitment to our parish family and for their involvement with our ministries. What a blessing they are! I would like you to become aware of the huge impact that Chris Stefanick’s visit on 1 October will have on our parish and the surrounding communities. He is a gifted, powerful speaker and a passionate, faithful disciple of the Lord whose presentation REBOOT!, can change lives by reenergizing and renewing our faith life. Besides presenting this remarkable program, Chris is a commentator, author, producer of films and documentaries, and a committed husband and caring father. There will be a high demand for tickets to his presentation, as it is being advertised in all the area’s parishes. So, please make your ticket purchases soon. Remember: the first 300 tickets are offered at a discounted price. I am truly looking forward to this amazing and transforming experience. Have a glorious week ahead! With love, Fr. John
Dear Friends, We celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter this weekend. The Gospel of John presents one of the beautiful conversation between Jesus and his disciples in which He speaks of His pending crucifixion and His ascension to His Father. He promises them that He will send the Holy Spirit. All of this must have been puzzling to them; however, through this intimate discourse, He reveals the unbreakable unity of the Trinity's three persons. Love is the bond that unites them. Jesus wants us to partake of this love. He invites his disciples to love Him and, through Him, to come to know His Father and the Spirit. When you get one, you get three. Wow, what a blessing it is to fall in love with Jesus! Let us keep mulling over this passage from John 14:23: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him.” Our parish is filled with so many people from various parts of the world. Their presence and integration into the life of our parish family are a true illustration of what it means to be Catholic. I plan to celebrate our community’s rich cultural diversity by gathering with our parishioners from different countries and discussing with them the possibility of creating a new ministry. I will start with our families from Brazil. Please come to Holy Cross Hall on Tuesday, 24 June at 7 p.m . Monica Gusman will coordinate this gathering. She can be reached at Ni98@yahoo.com.br . Next, I invite our families from the Filipino community to come to Holy Cross Hall on Thursday, 3 July 2025 , at 7 p.m. Chan Grason will coordinate this gathering. She can be reached at etienne1218@gmail.com . I have spoken to you about the Silver Jubilee of our parish and about our plan to make this year meaningful and memorable. As a gift to our community, I wish to offer to sacramentalize the marriages of those who, for various reasons, were not married in the Catholic Church. I know the pain experienced by our parishioners who cannot participate in the Eucharistic banquet because of this. The Eucharist is what makes us Catholics. We all know that it is the irreplaceable sustenance for our spiritual health. I say to you, wait no longer. Do not deprive yourself of the greatest gift the Lord created for us. Accept this gift. Please come forward and address this issue which you may have placed in the closet for however long and whatever reasons. We will at least give it a try. I want you to know I deeply care about you and your spiritual welfare. Take this as a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit. Let us begin. I have known couples who waited for many, many years before taking this step and who succeeded in their efforts. God longs for you to receive these same graces, and I long to help. To begin, we have set up a special meeting. If you and your spouse or partner were not married in the Catholic Church, please come to our informational meeting on Thursday, 24 July at 6:00 p.m. in Holy Cross Hall. Carolina Breton, Regional Advocate from the Orlando Diocese Tribunal, will make a short presentation on how you can have a sacramental marriage. Fr. Martin, Carolina, and I will be available to help you begin the process. Because we need to know how many are coming, please RSVP by calling the office (321-637-9650) and speaking to Kelli or by emailing her at ksalceda@stjohnviera.org . Have a magnificent week ahead! With love, Fr. John
Dear friends, What a relief ... finally!!! The time of anticipation, conjecture, speculation, prediction, and prayer is over. The whole world was glued to their televisions, computers, and mobile devices as they keenly followed the progress of the conclave. On Thursday, 8 May 2025, we were overjoyed to hear this proclamation from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti: Annuntio vobis gaudium: HABEMUS PAPAM (I announce to you a great joy: WE HAVE A POPE.). We have a new Holy Father to lead the Church, Pope Leo XIV. Thanks be to God for this good news! I am thrilled and grateful for many reasons, some of which are: He is the 267th successor of St. Peter. He is the first American pope in the Church’s history, born and raised in Chicago. He is a religious priest of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) and, as prior general, traveled to over 50 countries to visit their missions around the world. In this connection he even visited India, and there is much rejoicing at the parishs where the Augustinians serve in India. He was a missionary in Peru and thus knows what it is to bring hope beyond borders of every sort, the call of this Year of Mission in the Congregation of Holy Cross. "Peace be with all of you!" were the first words of Pope Leo XIV. That speaks volumes about his good intent to be a shepherd for the whole world. Robert Francis Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1981. This is a moment of historical significance and an opportunity for hope in the spiritual renewal for the Church in the United States as well as the universal Church. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community, along with the world, rejoices because of this gracious gift from God. I can’t even begin to imagine the weight of this cross on his shoulders. Therefore, let us not be like the rest of the world in judging him. Let us not try to fit him into our political categories of left or right. Let us, instead, transcend the narrow confines of seeing everything through a political lens. Let us commit to offering prayers for our new Shepherd, as he will need them far more than our judgment and criticism. We held the first Thanksgiving Mass for the gift of our new pope with our faith formation children and their parents on the same day of his election, Thursday, 8 May, at 6:00 p.m. A second Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, 13 May, at 7:00 p.m. at the Grotto. On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we are invited to focus on the first reading which, during the Easter season, is taken from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 14:21-27 speaks about the tremendous work of evangelization undertaken by Paul and Barnabas despite monumental opposition from their adversaries. The text tells us that they moved from one town to another, strengthening the spirits of the disciples and exhorting them to persevere in the faith. God’s grace was poured out on those who heeded the words of these two amazing men, thus increasing the number of fervent disciples ready to endure any hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. I wish that our faith might be so enflamed with zeal for God that we, likewise, are willing to persevere in living our faith, especially when it is inconvenient. Are you planning to get married or have your marriage convalidated? Then you need to know the following : It is of great importance that you give us at least six (6) months to a year to work with you before the desired date of your wedding. There are many logistics to work out and paperwork requirements that are often out of our hands. Whether time-consuming or not, these requirements must be met before we can proceed with your wedding. We will guide and help you meet all such requirements, but know that these things take time. Please help us to serve you well by following these basic requirements : Make an appointment to meet with me first before setting any dates. If you are planning to have your wedding ceremony in any other church, you will need to meet with me at least a year before you plan to marry. Marriage in a church other than your home parish involves, besides the usual preparation steps for the couple, the sending of all necessary paperwork from us to our diocese and from our diocese to the diocese where the wedding is to take place. You must be a registered and participating member of St. John’s for at least one year before we can begin to work with you on your wedding. Have an amazing week ahead! With love, Fr. John
Dear friends, On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the gospel focuses our attention on our Lord, the Good Shepherd (John 10:27-30). The Good Shepherd longs for us to hear His voice, to know Him and follow Him. He wants us to be united with him forever, and so He promises eternal life to us that we might not perish. In the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:9, 14b-17), John has a vision of the Lamb in the center of the throne, shepherding those who have survived times of great distress. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. (Rev 7:17) This image of our Lord as our Shepherd is so powerful and the reason this Sunday is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Thus, it makes perfect sense that today is observed as the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations,” the 61st annual commemoration. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations was created so that the Church and its people might publicly fulfill Jesus’ instruction: "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As the climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, the World Day of Prayer affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. While it appreciates all vocations, including those of a secular nature (marriage and the single life), the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), the consecrated life in all its forms (male and female religious congregations, societies, and institutions; societies of apostolic life; consecrated virgins; and secular institutes) and the missionary life. One of my many dreams for us is to make our parish a seedbed for vocations. This parish has reached a level of maturity where it is ready to support the vocations of those in our parish who feel called to be priests, deacons, brothers, and sisters. Let us, therefore, pray fervently to the Lord of the Vineyard for more vocations here. In light of this, I invite each of you keep the following prayer intention in your heart and mind this week: We pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, to the diaconate, and to the consecrated life. And, in a special way, we pray for the Congregation of Holy Cross: that more men might respond with open and generous hearts to be priests after the Heart of Christ and brothers seeking to imitate the virtues of Saint Joseph, model of fidelity. Lord, hear our prayer! May 11, 2025 is also Mother’s Day. What a blessing we have in our moms! As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I wish to thank all of our mothers for all that they do. I especially want to express my gratitude for their dedicated commitment to the faith. St. Pius X said something so sweet about mothers: “Every vocation to the priesthood comes from the heart of God, but it passes through the heart of a mother.” In my case and Fr. Martin’s, this is absolutely true. Because of my mom and Fr. Martin’s grandma, we have had three vocations from my family alone: Fr. Martin, my sister, Sr. Nirmala Mary, a Franciscan nun, and me. A lot of what we do every day here at St. John’s is largely accomplished through the consistent and tireless efforts of the mothers in our parish. They are the primary ones making sure that the children in their families get baptized, attend religious education and sacramental preparation classes, celebrate the sacraments, and regularly worship the Lord our God in church. No doubt, they do this along with our dads, but we need to accept that the push basically comes from the mothers. We are blessed to know that, thanks to some amazing men in our parish, this initiative comes from both our moms and dads. I bow my head to all our amazing mothers: Thank You, Mothers, for all you are and all you do that affirms and shares the fire of your love for the Lord. Happy Mother’s Day! Fr. Martin is enjoying a much-deserved vacation for the next three weeks. He is in India visiting our families. He has been on the go right from the day he arrived at St. John’s, and I am grateful to God for his presence here with us. Let us pray each day for safe travels for him and that he might bring joy and comfort to all with whom he visits and will encounter. As I write this column, the world’s eyes are on the conclave in Rome. Now that the days of mourning for Pope Francis are over, we turn our gaze to the College of Cardinal-electors gathered in conclave to elect our next Holy Father, the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Catholic Church. It could be that by the time you read this, we have a new pope. However, our responsibility to pray for the pope never ceases. Therefore, let us pray throughout the conclave and beyond: O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Prayer for the Election of a New Pope, from The Roman Missal) I have been wanting to tell you how much we love preparing couples to get married or to have their marriages convalidated in the Catholic Church. What a blessing it is to witness a wedding in our beautiful church. I am very grateful to our wedding and FOCCUS coordinators for their enormous help with this preparation and with the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony. For those who intend to marry or have their marriage convalidated at St. John’s or elsewhere, it is of great importance that you give us at least six (6) months to a year to work with you. There are many logistics to work out and often paperwork requirements that are out of our hands but that you must, nevertheless, obtain before we can proceed with your wedding. We will guide and help you meet any and all requirements, but these things take time. Please help us to serve you well and follow these basic requirements: Make an appointment to meet with me first before setting any dates. If you are planning to have your wedding ceremony in any other church, you will need to meet with me at least a year before you plan to marry. Marriage in a church other than your home parish involves, besides the usual preparation steps for the couple, the sending of all necessary paperwork from us to our diocese and from our diocese to the diocese where the wedding is to take place. You must be a registered and participating member of St. John’s for at least one year before we can work with you on your wedding. As you know, the St. John’s Silver Jubilee will be starting in September 2025. Our Jubilee theme is “Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope.” Please, mark the following important Jubilee dates on your calendars: · 14 September 2025: Opening Ceremony · 18 January 2026: Dedication of the New Rectory · 24 May, 2026: Mass of Thanksgiving to be held at the USSSA Stadium Have a splendid week! With Love, Fr. John