Letters from a Pastor to His People- December 27, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

My close group of priest friends and I over the past 33 days have done "The Consecration to Joseph."  This is a somewhat new exercise, and it is from the 2019 book by Father Donald Calloway.  Like the Consecration to Mary that we've done here at the parish at the past, this is a practice that goes on for over a month.  There is a set of short readings and prayers to do each day, and the whole things concludes on the 33rd day with an act of consecration.  We arranged it so our consecration to Saint Joseph would be today, Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family.

Christmas Wishes from a Pastor to His People - December 24, 2020

Letters from a Pastor to His People- December 20, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

I am going to call 2020 the "Year of the House."  All of us have probably spent more time in our houses this year than any previous year.  We've worked from home, attended school from home, exercised at home, prayed at home, watched movies at home, and celebrated holidays at home. 

“Here I am living in a house of cedar," says King David, "while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” (2 Samuel 7:1).  (It must have been nice to be King of Israel and live in a walk-in humidor.)

David recognized something very significant.  The year 1010 BC was a "Year of the House" for man, but not for God.  Yahweh did not have a home in which to dwell.  The king set about remedying this.

Letters from a Pastor to His People- December 13, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

I've noticed since being here at Saint Juliana that there are certain times of the year when the Saint Vincent de Paul clothing bins in the alley by the parish center become full.  Right now is one of those times.  In fact, the bins are overflowing.  Perhaps people are clearing out their closets and drawers to make space for new clothes they will receive from Santa.  Perhaps people respond specifically to our own SVDP's annual coat drive.  Perhaps after Thanksgiving and the stress-eating during Bears games we give away those pants that don't quite fit anymore. 

Letters from a Pastor to His People- December 6, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

Well, this was an interesting past fourteen days.  God-willing by the time you are reading this letter this weekend, we are out of quarantine.  Our first Masses back at the parish will be this Sunday, December 6th: 7:30am, 9:30am, and 11am.  There will be no Saturday 5pm Mass on December 5th.  We will resume our regular daily Mass schedule at 8:30am Monday through Saturday.  We will also resume tomorrow, Monday, December 7th, our Monday Evening of Prayer, with Eucharistic Adoration from 6-8pm, Confessions from 6:30-7:30pm, and a talk on The Spiritual Exercises at 7:30pm.