As many already know, Bishop Nickless has reinstated the Sign of Peace as part of our liturgy. With that, he is asking that we priests communicate his thoughts on this ritual; 3 October 2022

Last Sunday on the bike trail I came upon an elderly gentleman who was standing alongside the trail, his bike parked next to him. No special riding gear; comfortably dressed in blue jeans, t- shirt and sneakers.

We step into Respect Life Month, a reminder of the dignity of all life from conception to natural death—and those who have been forgotten, alienated, ignored, or simply ‘written off.’ Pope Francis offers us words of hope, re-affirming our Christian awareness and protection of God’s gift of life: “Every child who, rather than being born, is condemned unjustly to being aborted, bears the face of Jesus Christ, bears the face of the Lord, who even before he was born, and then just after birth, experienced the world’s rejection. And every elderly person...even if he is ill or at the end of his days, bears the face of Christ.

USCCB, (United States Catholic Conference of Bishops) just released the summary of the Synod gatherings that has been sent to Rome. I include a few general highlights of the report (though you may read its entirety on our parish website). “In the Fall of 2021, the local churches in the United States of America joined the worldwide Catholic Church in entering the diocesan phase of the 2021-2023 Synod - For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission. The Church in the United States is made up of an estimated 66.8 million Catholics spread across one hundred and seventy-eight (178) Latin Church (arch) dioceses, including the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

Each household received a letter from Bishop Nickless this past week, asking for your support of the 2022/23 “Together as One,” our Diocesan Annual Appeal. Please prayerfully consider making a gift and know that your offering will help fund ministries that benefit the more than 25,000 Catholic households and especially our own parish. As St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans: “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."(2 Corinthians 9:7)

Sr. Josephine arrived safely back in Houston after sharing the mission and ministry of The Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel and receiving our rural hospitality. We received this letter from Sr. Balogun, their Mission Coordinator. On behalf of the Superior General and the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the parishioners for your love and kindness towards Sr. Josephine during her visit to Sacred Heart and St. Malachy, for mission appeal.

He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” (Saint Francis of Assisi) We shared similar tastes in music (ie. Blues, classic rock, jazz) though she was stuck on Boz Skaggs in her later years.

Some twenty five years ago when the diocese sponsored an annual priests’ retreat on Briar Cliff campus, I still recall one ‘retreat master’ who guided us with his reflections/conferences throughout the two days. A priest from outside our diocese who talks centered on our mission as “priest servants” of the people.

Tuesday is the beginning of the new school year for families whose sons and daughters will attend Sacred Heart Catholic School, Ogden Community School, Madrid Community School, Boone Community School, Ballard-Huxley and Boone United School. As the norm, summer vacation went by all too quickly, but the routine, activities, classmates, studies and responsibilities bring about a renewed energy and positive challenges for students, teachers and families.

I was never a Dodger fan or for that matter, interested in the National League. My Orioles preoccupied any interest in baseball from the greatest manager (Earl Weaver) to the last team with four twenty game winners (Palmer, Queller, McNally, Dobson) to the recent years of dismal play. But the Dodgers had Vin Scully who stayed with the team in the emotional move from Brooklyn through the many years of their history in Los Angeles.

There has been questions asked pertaining to Bishop Nickless’ retirement, and when a new bishop will be appointed. As Canon Law mandates, a Bishop must send in his letter of resignation when he reaches the age of 75. Whether or not the Pope acts on immediately is another case.

Avarice. Rapacity. Acquisitiveness. Cupidity. Avidity. “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.” (Mahatma Gandhi). As our gospel passage from Luke details, “greed” by any definition causes us to venture far from the Christian faith we hold, the presence of Christ in our daily lives and endeavors.

Our bulletin will cover the next two weeks of July, within this season of midsummer. Looking ahead, as the days of summer so quickly go by, I invite those who desire to join the Catholic faith, those who have questions about the RCIA journey to be received into the Sacramental life of our Church, and those who simply desire more information about our traditions, Sacraments and Rituals to please contact me at the parish office.