The Exaltation Of The Holy Cross, September 14, 2025

Dear friends, Pinch yourselves … YES, the long-awaited, yearlong celebration of our Silver Jubilee is here, as we begin the closing of 24 fruitful years and the beginning of this 25th year as the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community, a Journey of Grace, Faith, and Hope. To mark this great milestone on the weekend of 6/7 September, we will pray together the Jubilee Prayer composed for this occasion. We will also begin the Vocations Prayer Challenge during the 9 a.m. Mass. We all need to pray for more young men and women from our community to respond in service to the Lord as priests, brothers, deacons, and religious sisters. In addition, we will recognize our first ever “SJE St. Carlo Acutis Youth Service Award,” initiated by our own CCW. On 7 September in Rome, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Bl. Carlo Acutis and Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, two Italian laymen who will be the first saints proclaimed by our new pope elected on May 8, 2025. The canonization of Blessed Acutis, a teenager known for his devotion to the Eucharist and for creating an online exhibition of Eucharistic miracles, had originally been scheduled for 27 April during the Jubilee of Teenagers but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. Born in 1991 and raised in Milan, Blessed Acutis used his tech skills to evangelize and was noted for his joyful faith and compassion for others before dying of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Blessed Frassati, born in 1901 to a prominent family in Turin, Italy, was admired for his deep spirituality, love for the poor, and enthusiasm for life. A member of the Dominican Third Order, he served the sick through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He died at the age of 24 after contracting polio, possibly from one whom he assisted. I would like to draw your attention to next weekend when we will celebrate the Solemn Opening of the Silver Jubilee. On Sunday, 14 September, we will cancel the 7:15 and 9 a.m. Masses and will, instead, celebrate Mass at 8 a.m. to allow more time to get ready for the 11 a.m. Mass. Bishop John Noonan will preside at this Eucharistic Celebration, our grand opening Jubilee Mass. We are also privileged to have Fr. Emmanuel Kallarackal, C.S.C., Assistant Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, along with our Holy Cross confreres from the Cocoa Beach Community. During this liturgy, we will light the Jubilee Candle and the Eternal Flame from Bethlehem. After the Mass, we will celebrate with a parish picnic. If you plan to attend the picnic, please sign up using the QR code so we know how many will come for lunch. As an act of thanksgiving, we will begin 40 hours of Adoration shortly after the 4.30 p.m. Mass on Sunday. With genuine humility, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from the Lord. To Him be all the glory and honor! Please come anytime during these 40 hours to spend some time with our Lord. On this Twenty-Third Sunday in Year C, the Scripture readings focus on our need to make Jesus our priority. Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke (14: 25-33), “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” By saying this, Jesus is certainly not asking us to hate others or even to hate oneself. Rather, he is asking us to prefer Him over others and to prioritize him in all of our dealings. Jesus knows well enough that if HE becomes our priority, then our relationships with family members and others will thrive through the proper ordering of our actions and the choices we make. As we begin our Silver Jubilee year, let us pledge to keep Jesus at the center of all we will do. May our journey be filled with his grace. Have a blessed weekend! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, Unthinkable and incomprehensible and senseless act of violence was inflicted on innocent victims on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. This time it was a Catholic School. It was the first week of School at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. It was their first School Mass for the Academic Year when the 23-year-old assailant shot randomly at the children through a window. At least two children aged 8 and 10 were shot dead and 17 were injured. We are deeply saddened by this news and our hearts ache inconsolably at such mindless and cruel attacks on innocent helpless children. May their Souls Rest in the Peace of the Lord. Our prayers are with the families that have to deal with this horror. We are happy to announce that our religious education classes have begun for all grade levels, with over 400 students enrolled. As we continue to pass along our faith, many volunteers have responded to both teach and assist. Thank you! Our steady growth as a parish — while most certainly a blessing— is impacting availability of time and space throughout our campus. I will return to you soon with plans for future developments to address these concerns. Our Children’s Ministry during the 9 a.m. Mass has likewise grown into a vibrant and heart-warming avenue of participation. As an offshoot of this increased interest, we are rolling out a beautiful project called SJE Seedlings of Hope. The children of St. John’s will celebrate our Jubilee Year with a service-inspired children's club. Elementary-aged students are welcome to join this exciting new group where they will grow in their faith through Catholic social teachings and acts of service. Examples include acts of kindness, community service projects, and learning and practicing the Fruits of the Spirit. The SJE Seedlings of Hope will meet the second Tuesday of each month beginning on 9 September from 4-5 p.m. I encourage you to bring your children so they can be part of this amazing and fun- filled group designed to develop their sense of community at SJE. Since we couldn’t all be here for the grandparents day celebrated in honor of Saints Joachim and Anne on 26 July, we will be joining the national Grandparents Day on 7 September to honor the important role they play in families and in passing on their faith to the younger generations. We ask all of our children to invite their grandparents to join them for the 9 a.m. Mass (followed by coffee and donuts) as a way to make this day meaningful for the whole family. Be prepared to begin the closing of 24 fruitful years and the beginning of this 25th year since the birth of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community. To commemorate this great milestone, we will begin with a soft opening of our Silver Jubilee on 7 September with the presentation of the Vocations Prayer Chalice during the 9 a.m. Mass, a beautiful way to begin the year. We all need to pray for more young men and women from our community to respond in service to the Lord as priests, brothers, deacons, and religious sisters. Next Sunday during the 9 a.m. Mass, we will begin with the presentation of the “Saint Carlo Acutis Youth Service Award.” This is an initiative begun by our SJE Council of Catholic Women (CCW) to encourage our youth to actively participate in parish life. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, will be canonized by Pope Leo XIVon 7 September. Thank you to those who generously responded to our request for “I pad/tablets,” for our music ministry. We will gladly put them to good use. Thank you for your generosity. Please do not forget that the Grand Opening of our Silver Jubilee will take place on Sunday, 14 September during the 11 a.m. Mass. Bishop John Noonanwill be with us. Following the Mass, we will host a picnic for which I request you to please signup so we can better prepare to serve you. Additionally, I request your assistance with donations of sodas, chips, and cookies. Chris Stefanick will visit us on Wednesday, 1 October for an evening of REBOOT. I most especially encourage our high school teens and young adults to join us, as this will be a life-changing experience for all in attendance. Tickets are now being sold for our amazing GALA event to be held on 18 October. This is a fundraising event, and seats are limited. It promises to be an exciting and relaxing evening under the shimmering moon. The Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to reflect on the virtue of humility. Jesus points this out when he says in Luke 14: 10, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Each of us has personally experienced this. In presenting the example of a wedding banquet and the number of guests that have been invited, Jesus points out our desire to be exalted by being seated at noticeable places of honor. What a disappointment it will be if we are asked to be moved! Humility is a foundational virtue exemplified by the wisdom of so many saints, emphasizing self-knowledge as God sees us, the rejection of pride, and an acceptance of God's will. St. Augustine noted, “The way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third through humility.” Additionally, the book of Sirach in the first reading says, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility.” Let us then look for ways to conduct our affairs with humility. Be blessed! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, I begin by extending a warm welcome to Fr. Cyril Imohiosen from the Archdiocese of Arusha, Nigeria! Fr. Cyril is with us this weekend as part of the Mission Co-Operative offered by the Diocese of Orlando. There will be a second collection at all Masses, so please be generous. As always, thank you in advance! If you are writing a check, please make it out to St. John the Evangelist with “Mission” in the memo. Response to our Children’s Ministry during the 9 a.m. Mass has been tremendous, with active participation from both our children and their parents. The leadership team that supports this ministry would like to commemorate our silver jubilee in a special way with a beautiful project named SJE Seedlings of Hope. The children of St. John’s will celebrate our jubilee year with a service-inspired children's club. Elementary-aged students are welcome to join this exciting new group where they will grow in their faith with Catholic social teachings and acts of service. Examples include acts of kindness, community service projects, and learning and practicing the Fruits of the Spirit. The SJE Seedlings of Hope will meet the second Tuesday of each month beginning on 9 September from 4-5 p.m. I encourage you to bring your children so they can be part of this amazing and fun-filled group designed to develop their sense of community. Since we couldn’t all be here for the Grandparents Day celebrated in honor of Saints Joachim and Anne on 26 July, we will be joining the national Grandparents Day on 7 September to honor the important role they play in families and in passing on their faith to the younger generations. We ask all of our children to invite their grandparents to join them for the 9 a.m. Mass (followed by coffee and donuts) as a way to make this day meaningful for the whole family. I want to thank Judy and Jim Fiandaca, recipients of the Family of the Month award for the month of August 2025. Unfortunately, Jim passed away before he could receive the award, so Judy and their daughter Terri received it on Sunday, 17 August before the 9 a.m. Mass. Judy and Jim were active and faithful members of our community. Apart from numerous ministry involvement, both were active in the Small Christian Community Bible Study on Tuesdays for many years. We will truly miss Jim. May his soul rest in peace! Grand Opening of our Silver Jubilee will take place on Sunday, 14 September during the 11 a.m. Mass. Bishop John Noonan will be with us. Following the Mass, we will host a picnic for which I request you to please sign up so we can better prepare to serve you. Additionally, I request your assistance with donations of sodas, chips, and cookies. Chris Stefanick will visit us on Wednesday, 1 October for an evening of REBOOT. Tickets are fast selling. I would very much like our high school teens and young adults to join us, as this will be a life-changing experience for all in attendance. Get ready for an outstanding GALA event which will be held on 18 October. Seats are limited. It promises to be an exciting and relaxing evening under the shining moon. This weekend, we celebrate the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, and we are offered some lovely images of how the message of the gospel should spread to all the nations of the world. The prophet Isaiah’s vision is spectacular in that he says the Lord will gather nations of every language, and they shall proclaim his glory among the nations. How true it is! The responsorial psalm proclaims the same truth: “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” In the gospel reading, we hear a question posed to Jesus: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus makes an astonishing assertion: When you stand knocking at the door do not be surprised to hear the answer, “I do not know where you are from.” How prepared are we, and are we willing to do what it takes to be ready?  Be blessed! With Love, Fr. John

Dear friends, It is so good to have our children and parents back in the rhythm of parish life and participating in the Church’s liturgical year. Faith formation programming for all students begins soon, with our children’s ministry returning to the 9 a.m. Mass this weekend. High school programs (FIAT and confirmation classes) kick off on Sunday, 17 August, and our middle school Anchored in Faith ministry will begin on Wednesday, 20 August. SJE Kids classes for kindergarten through 5th grade will start on Sunday, 24 August, on Wednesday, 27 August, or on Thursday, 28 August, as appropriate. Thanks to all who have signed up for the Vocations Prayer Challenge and photo directory, two highlights of our silver jubilee. Many additional events are slated for this year of grateful celebrations. What a blessing to share this important event in the life of our parish. On the weekend of 23/24 August, Fr. Cyril Imohiosen from the Archdiocese of Arusha will be with us as part of the Mission Co-Op offered by the Diocese of Orlando. Let us extend a warm welcome to him. There will be a second collection that weekend, so please come prepared. I would like to invite all of you to a presentation on “Building Sound Relationships” by Fr. Arul Raj Gali, C.S.C., on Friday, 29 August at 7 p.m. in the church. This is part of our ongoing efforts to enrich married couples. Daniel Goleman, a noted psychologist and author, states that “Communicating with emotional intelligence enhances bonding.” During this presentation, Fr. Arul will touch on topics such as managing your anger and expressing it safely, learning your primary love language, and applying it in your relationships (Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages). I invite all married couples and those preparing for marriage and convalidation to please come and attend this informative session. On this Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church gives us examples of what happens when we truly follow the commands of the Lord. In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we hear of Jeremiah being lowered into a cistern to die, falsely accused of demoralizing the people and the soldiers with his words. But God rescues Jeremiah from his predicament by sending Ebed-melech, a Cushite and foreigner, to advocate for him to the king, resulting in his release. The author of Hebrews asks us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we run the race that lies before us. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus longs to set the world on fire with the Holy Spirit. Oh, how I wish it were already blazing! Let us pray for perseverance. Let us pray for Christians persecuted everywhere for their faith. Have a blessed week! With Love, Fr. John The Holy Year of 2025 is itself in continuity with preceding celebrations of grace. In the last Ordinary Jubilee, we crossed the threshold of twomillennia fromthebirth of Jesus Christ. Then, on 13 March 2015, Iproclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee for the sake of making known and encouraging an encounter with the “merciful faceof God”,[3] the core messageof the Gospelfor every man and woman of everytime and place. Nowthe timehas comeforanew Jubilee, when oncemorethe Holy Door will beflung open to invite everyonetoan intense experience of the love of God that awakensin hearts the surehope of salvation in Christ. The Holy Year will also guide our steps towards yet anotherfundamental celebration for all Christians: 2033 will markthe twothousandth anniversary of the redemption won bythepassion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We are about to makea pilgrimage marked by great events, in which the grace of God precedes and accompanieshispeopleasthey press for- ward firm in faith, active in charity and 4 steadfast in hope (cf. 1 Thess 1:3) .

Dear friends, We are well into the second week of August, summer vacations have ended, and programming for our parish community is back in full swing. In addition, a new academic year begins for our children and their teachers, so we will offer a blessing for all who are returning to school. Meanwhile, our faith formation classes will resume in this order: The high school programs (FIAT and confirmation classes) kickoff on Sunday, 17 August. Our middle school Anchored in Faith ministry begins on Wednesday, 20 August. SJE Kids classes for kindergarten through 5th grade start on Sunday, 24 August, on Wednesday, 27 August, or on Thursday, 28 August, as appropriate. As you know, we need many volunteers to assist with teaching our children. I am deeply grateful to our catechists and assistants both for their time and passion in passing along our faith to the next generation. Sensory-friendly Mass: In our efforts to make worship of our God more meaningful for families with children who struggle with distractions, we will celebrate a sensory-friendly Masson Sunday, 10 August at 1 p.m. in the parish hall. Vocations Prayer Challenge: On 7 September, we will begin our Vocations Prayer Challenge. This will be an opportunity for our parish to pray for religious vocations in a special way which is vital toward ensuring future generations of Catholic priests, deacons, and religious to celebrate the sacraments and help guide us in our faith. Please sign up using our SignUpGenius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10C0D4AAFAA22AAF4C61-55726073-stjohns . Photo Directory: As part of our Silver Jubilee celebrations, we are creating a parish photo directory. I am grateful to Mike and Kathy Mos for coordinating this huge undertaking. Please sign up in advance for the day among those available that works best for your schedule. August 19th and 20th have been added. Call Mike & Kathy with any questions or if you need to change or cancel an appointment. We celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time when the Church, in her wisdom, invites us to place our trust in God, as did Abraham, our “father in faith” who, despite all odds, trusted in God and in his promise(Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-19). In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus uses a parable to present examples of both faithful and unfaithful stewards. Faithful servants receive greater responsibility for sharing the Father’s generosity. Jesus concludes saying “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Luke 12: 32-48). Speaking of faithful stewards, I want to recognize the SJE MOPSTERS ministry. Our church, as you know, is a large and beautiful place of worship, but it requires regular maintenance to keep it that way. The members of our Mopsters team area phenomenal group of passionate and dedicated men and women who faithfully dustmop the floors on Tuesdays and damp mop on Thursdays. Larry Wehner has led the way for so many years, followed by Bill Seck, but now the time has come for us to bolster the ministry with more support. Nearly half of our current crew are unable to continue for medical reasons or due to relocation, so I am now requesting more hands on deck to join this awesome ministry and help us keep our church clean. As a young boy, my mom and I were involved in the upkeep of the church for our parish. My responsibility was the sanctuary lamp, ensuring it had sufficient kerosene to keep it lit. This small act was one of many ways for us to foster a stronger sense of belonging to our parish community. St. John’s is our church, our faith family and home, and we need to come together to help keep it clean. Can I count on you to step up? Know that I am extremely grateful to the team dedicated to this ministry, and If you see the mopsters around our campus, please thank them. On Friday, 15 August, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since it is a holy day of obligation, we will have three Masses as follows: 8 a.m., 12.05 p.m., and 7 p.m. Have a blessed week! With love, Fr. John In a particular way, I would like to invite the faithful of the Eastern Churches, particularly those already in full communion with the Successor of Peter, to take part in this pilgrimage. They have suffered greatly, often even unto death, for their fidelity to Christ and the Church, and so they should feel themselves especially welcome in this City of Rome that is also their Mother and cherishes so many memories of their presence. The Catholic Church, enriched by their ancient liturgies and the theology and spirituality of their Fathers, monks and theologians, wants to give symbolic expression to its embrace of them and their Orthodox brothers and sisters in these times when they endure their own Way of the Cross, often forced by violence and instability to leave their home- lands, their holy lands, for safer places. For them, the hope born of the knowledge that they are loved by the Church, which does not abandon them but follows them wherever they go, will make the symbolism of the Jubilee all the more powerful.

Dear friends, This weekend, we take time to pray in thanksgiving for Deacon Steven Lumbert and his 25 years of service to the diaconate. He was ordained in the Diocese of Pueblo on August 4, 2000 by Bishop Arthur Tafoya and served his first five years at his home parish of Holy Family. He was then assigned as Pastoral Associate for St. Paul the Apostle in Pueblo West for three years, followed by a two-year stint as Associate Director of Deacon Formation. In 2010, he was assigned as Administrator of St. Anne’s Parish and served there for nine years. During his active ministry, he assisted at most of the parishes in Pueblo, celebrating quinceañeras, weddings, funerals, committals, Word Communion services, and other ministries as needed. In 2019, he retired from the Diocese of Pueblo and moved with his ailing wife Socorro to Florida to be closer to their daughter Karina and son-in-law Rob and their children, becoming members of our parish. In 2023, he asked to serve in retirement through his diaconate ministry at St. John’s. It has been lovely knowing him and his family, and we thank him for his ministry, praying that he will continue to serve the Lord with joy. Congratulations, Deacon Steven Lumbert, on completing 25 years of service to the Lord and His people. I also take this occasion to thank George and Cis Franzen for their commitment to the Christ Renews His Parish ministry. George has served us faithfully for 15 years, beginning in 2010. Having stumbled into CRHP by chance, he has given his heart and soul toward promoting this life-changing ministry at St. John’s. George now passes the baton to Joe Flora with the hope that he will run with it for another 15+ years. Thank you, George and Cis, for your great passion. You will always be the “father figure” of CRHP at St. John’s. I offer a hearty welcome to Chris McLaughlin who will lead the music ministry during Sunday 4:30 p.m. Masses beginning this weekend. He comes to us with vast experience in leading LIFETEEN camps through amazing worship experiences. Please welcome Chris and plan to join us as a parish community in ever more vibrant praise and thanksgiving during our Eucharistic celebrations. On this Eighteenth Sunday, the Church calls us to reflect on building our treasures in what matters most to God and not be fooled into indulging worldly attractions and desires that will surely perish. In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul invites us to seek what is above and put to death the parts of us that cling to this Earth. We look forward to the return of our children to full Mass participation and continued religious education. Have a blessed week! With Love, Fr. John Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, titled “Pilgrims of Hope.” We pick up where we left off last weekend: Pilgrimage is of course a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life. In the coming year, pilgrims of hope will surely travel the ancient and more modern routes in order to experience the Jubilee to the full. In Rome itself, along with the usual visits to the catacombs and the Seven Churches, other itineraries of faith will be proposed. Journeying from one country to another as if borders no longer mattered, and passing from one city to another in contemplating the beauty of creation and masterpieces of art, we learn to treasure the richness of different experiences and cultures, and are inspired to lift up that beauty, in prayer, to God, in thanksgiving for his wondrous works. The Jubilee Churches along the pilgrimage routes and in the city of Rome can serve as oases of spirituality and places of rest on the pilgrimage of faith, where we can drink from the wellsprings of hope, above all by approaching the sacrament of Reconciliation, the essential starting-point of any true journey of conversion. In the particular Churches, special care should be taken to prepare priests and the faithful to celebrate the sacrament of Confession and to make it readily available in its individual form. To be continued ...

Dear friends, We celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time this weekend, and we are treated to an amazing passage where Jesus entrusts to his disciples, to his Church, and to us the fundamental Christian prayer: the “Our Father.” Jesus wants us to keep asking, to continue knocking at the door, and to never give up. Persistence in prayer will ultimately align our hearts to that of God’s. I extend my warmest, heartfelt welcome to Dr. Erikson Wikstrom, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Orlando. We will hear about her dedication to Catholic school education this weekend, with a primary focus on St. Mary’s School in Rockledge and its dire need of our assistance. I humbly ask you to open your hearts to her message and be generous in helping St. Mary’s School. Thank you, Dr. Erikson, for all that you do for the spread of Catholic school education. I am extremely grateful to Jennifer Hera who has served our community as bulletin editor and, recently, as our Communications Coordinator. She was on staff from Sept 2023 to July 18, 2025 and is now leaving us to pursue higher studies and to attend to her ailing father. Jen has served St. John’s with love and dedication. Please join me in thanking her and wishing her all the best, as we will certainly miss her. Brian Kelly has now joined our staff, making the transition with Jen and taking over her responsibilities. Brian is a recent college graduate and delighted to be part of our team. I extend my warmest welcome to Brian and hope that his contributions to our parish community will bring joy not only to him but to all of us. A hearty welcome to you, Brian. Congratulations to Susan Answay, recipient of the Family of the Month Award for July 2025. Susan is one of our original parishioners and has done amazing works through her involvement with so many of our ministries. I thank her most especially for coordinating the EMHC ministry. Thank you, Susan, for your presence with us. With Love, Fr. John Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, titled “Pilgrims of Hope.” We pick up where we left off last weekend: 5. This interplay of hope and patience makes us see clearly that the Christian life is a journey calling for moments of greater intensity to encourage and sustain hope as the constant companion that guides our steps towards the goal of our encounter with the Lord Jesus. I like to think that the proclamation of the first Jubilee, in the year 1300, was preceded by a journey of grace inspired by popular spirituality. How can we fail to recall the various ways by which the grace of forgiveness had been poured out upon God’s holy and faithful People? We are reminded, for example, of the great “Pardon” that Saint Celestine V granted to all those who visited the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in Aquila on the 28th and 29th days of August 1294, six years before Pope Boniface VIII instituted the Holy Year. The Church was already experiencing the grace of the Jubilee as an out pouring of divine mercy. Even earlier, in 1216, Pope Honorius III granted the plea of Saint Francis for an indulgence for all those visiting the Porziuncola on the first two days of August. The same can be said of the pilgrimage to Santiagode Compostela: in 1222, Pope Callistus II allowed the Jubilee to be celebrated there whenever the Feast of the Apostle James fell on a Sunday. It is good that such “dispersed” celebrations of the Jubilee continue, so that the power of God’s 3 forgiveness can support and accompany communities and individuals on their pilgrim way. To be continued …

Dear friends, This weekend, we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and our readings are all about the virtue of hospitality. Our first reading, from the Book of Genesis presents the story of how Abraham graciously hosts three unknown visitors who were passing by his home. In the Gospel of Luke (10: 38-42), we see the hospitality extended by Martha and Mary to Jesus and his disciples. Whenever I read these passages, I remember my mom who, despite the economic hardships of our life, would generously receive people at our home and serve them graciously, even if all she could offer was a cup of coffee or tea. I often see a similar graciousness shining in the lives of members of our parish. I am enormously grateful to the many of you who have been so gracious to both Father Martin, and me going out of your way to show your love and blessing us with your generosity. Let us pray for this virtue of hospitality in all that we say and do. Let us always remember the famous line, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it”. (Hebrews 13:2) It is good to be back from our astonishing pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Thank you for your prayers for our safety. We prayed daily for each and everyone of our St. John’s families. Please be sure to ask our pilgrims about their experiences. We have a few more weeks to take advantage of the summer break. If you are preparing to travel before the end of summer, don’t forget— you still need to pack lots of patience, as you will surely need it. And one more thing: Summer travel doesn’t mean pressing “pause” on your Catholic faith! You still need to profess your faith in word and deed and participate in the celebration of Mass at one of the Catholic churches that may be found anywhere in the world. As I mentioned last week, the Brother André Golf Tournament will be one of the kick-off events for the parish’s Silver Jubilee Year. The tournament will be held on Saturday, 13 September at the Duran Golf Course. This is the first 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 staff and assist with the tournament and related activities, so please contact Paco if you can help out—his contact information is on page three, along with a QR code through which you can register to play, attend the picnic lunch, sponsor a hole, or be involved in one of the many aspects of hosting this event. Thank you in advance for all your help! As described in last week’s bulletin, sign-up for the yearlong Vocations Prayer Challenge will begin in August, and the first week of prayers will begin on 7 September 2025. This is a program in which individual parishioners and parish families are invited to commit a week to praying for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially within the Congregation of Holy Cross. See page eight for a snapshot of how the program works. We will provide more detailed information at the beginning of August. Let us now continue reading Spes Non Confundit, “Hope Does Not Disappoint.” This papal document was written by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025 titled “Pilgrims of Hope.” We pick up now where we left off last weekend: With Love, Fr. John 4. Saint Paul is a realist. He knows that life has its joys and sorrows, that love is tested amid trials, and that hope can falter in the face of suffering. Even so, he can write: “We boast in our sufferings, 2 knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Rom 5:3-4). For the Apostle, trials and tribulations mark the lives of those who preach the Gospel amid incomprehension and persecution (cf. 2 Cor 6:3-10). Yet in those very contexts, beyond the darkness we glimpse a light: we come to realize that evangelization is sustained by the power flowing from Christ’s cross and resurrection. In this way, we learn to practice a virtue closely linked to hope, namely patience. In our fast-paced world, we are used to wanting everything now. We no longer have time simply to be with others; even families find it hard to get together and enjoy one another’s company. Patience has been put to flight by frenetic haste, and this has proved detrimental, since it leads to impatience, anxiety and even gratuitous violence, resulting in more unhappiness and self- centredness. Nor is there much place for patience in this age of the Internet, as space and time yield to an ever-present “now”. Were we still able to contemplate creation with a sense of awe, we might better understand the importance of patience. We could appreciate the changes of the seasons and their harvests, observe the life of animals and their cycles of growth, and enjoy the clarity of vision of Saint Francis. In his Canticle of the Creatures, written exactly eight hundred years ago, Francis saw all creation as a great family and could call the sun his “brother” and the moon his “sister”. [2] A renewed appreciation of the value of patience could only prove beneficial for ourselves and for others. Saint Paul often speaks of patience in the context of our need for perseverance and confident trust in God’s promises. Yet, before all else, he testifies to God’s own patience, as “the God of all patience and encouragement” ( Rom 15:5). Patience, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, sustains our hope and strengthens it as a virtue and a way of life. May we learn to pray frequently for the grace of patience, which is both the daughter of hope and at the same time its firm foundation. To be continued… [2] Cf. Fonti Francescane, No. 263, 6.10.

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