St. Pius X Pastor's Pastoral Page

Good Morning World. It is January 21st, Thursday of the second week in ordinary time. January 21st is the memorial of Saint Agnes. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Mark 3:7-12... Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, You are the Son of God. He warned them sternly not to make him known. A large group of people followed Jesus from Galilee and from Judea. Large numbers of people also came to Him from Jerusalem, Idumea, Tyre and Sidon. How many is a large group? 100? 500? 1000? 2000? What were their ailments? Blind? Deaf? Mute? Frail arms or legs? Paralyzed? Hemorrhaging? Leprosy? Who were these people? Someone’s Mother? Father? Wife? Husband? Daughter? Son? Sister? Brother? There were so many that were pressing in upon Jesus just to be able to touch Him. He had the disciples get a boat ready so that the crowd would not crush Him. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God was accompanied by signs and wonders, many being miracles of healing. The proclamation of the kingdom continues today. And the signs and wonders continue today. People proclaiming the kingdom are instruments of God’s mercy, compassion and love. Some have been gifted with the ministry of healing: physical healing, emotional healing, spiritual healing. I can point out two books (among many) that show the miracles of healing happening today: Miracles Do Happen by Sister Briege McKenna Miracles by Craig Keener The Kingdom of God is indeed at hand. We can spiritual press in on Jesus through prayer, seeking the miracles of healing we desire. Mothers, fathers, daughters, son, sisters, brothers - any of us, all of us - can reach out in faith and ask Jesus to heal us. Don’t give up, World. Keep praying, keep pressing in on Jesus, asking Him to heal.

Good Morning World. It is January 20th, Wednesday of the second week in ordinary time. January 20th is the memorial of Saint Sebastian and Saint Fabian. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Mark 3:1-6 Jesus entered the synagogue....Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is Monday, January 4th, Monday after Epiphany. January 4th is the memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. Traditionally, the Feast of the Epiphany is January 6th. The celebration of the Epiphany is on the first Sunday after January 1st. Before the 1969 liturgical calendar revisions, Christmas was an octave that went from December 25-January 1 (the Solemnity of Mary, t...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is Sunday, January 3rd, the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Matthew 2:1-12 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is January 19th, Tuesday of the second week in ordinary time. The readings for today’s pass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Mark 2:23-28 As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,...Continue reading

Continuing in the Season of Christmas.

Good Morning World. It is January 18th, Monday of the second week in ordinary time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Mark 2:18-22 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast....Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is January 17th, the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from John 1:35-42 John was standing with two of his disciples,...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is January 2nd, Saturday before the Epiphany. January 2nd is also the memorial of Saints Gregory of Nazianzen and Basil the Great. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The first reading is from 1 John 2:22-28 Beloved:...Continue reading

Oh my.....how beautiful!!!

Good Morning World. It is October 27th, Tuesday of the 30th week in ordinary time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Luke 13:18-21 Jesus said, What is the Kingdom of God like?...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 26th, Monday of the 30th week in ordinary time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org The first reading is from Ephesians 4:32-5:8 Brothers and sisters:...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 25th, the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The first reading is from Exodus 22:20-26 Thus says the LORD:...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 24th, Saturday of the 29th week in ordinary time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Luke 13:1-9 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans... whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! And he told them this parable: There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’ Why is God punishing me? This is a phrase that is sometimes cried out when something difficult, painful, horrific happens in a person’s life. What have I done wrong that God is punishing me this way? Sometimes it is cried out this way. Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! That is Jesus’ response when some people talk to Jesus about the incident. The Jewish people had the concept that if you’re healthy, wealthy and have family it is because you are living a righteous life. They believe God is rewarding you. If you’re poor, sick, or without family it is because you must have sinned and God is punishing you in this way. And Jesus responds, By no means! God doesn’t work this way. But then Jesus uses these incidents to remind the people to repent (change their lives, change the way they think) and then uses a fig tree to challenge them to bear fruit (Saint Paul enumerates the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) in their lives. We are challenged to turn away from sin. We are challenged to use the gifts and graces we’ve been given and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Is God an accountant that keeps track of all the good things we have done and all the sins we’ve committed and then decides what to dish out to us in this life - punishing our sins with bad things and rewarding good behavior with good things? You heard what Jesus said, World. By no means!

Good Morning World. It is October 23rd, Friday of the 29th week in ordinary time. October 23rd is the memorial of Saint John of Capistrano. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face....Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 22nd, Thursday of the 29th week in ordinary time. October 22nd is the memorial of Pope Saint John Paul II. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Luke 12:49-53 Jesus said to his disciples:...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 21st, Wednesday of the 29th week in ordinary time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Luke 12:39-48 Jesus said to his disciples: ...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 20th, Tuesday of the 29th week in ordinary time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Luke 12:35-38 Jesus said to his disciples: ...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 19th, Monday of the 29th week in ordinary time. October 19th is the memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions’ Story Isaac Jogues and his companions were the first martyrs of the North American continent officially recognized by the Church. As a young Jesuit, Is...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 18th, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The gospel is from Matthew 22:15-21 The Pharisees went offand plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful manand that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.And you are not concerned with anyone'...Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 17th, Saturday of the 28th week in ordinary time. October 17th is the memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 8:2-3AB, 4-5, 6-7 R. You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands....Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 16th, Friday of the 28th week in ordinary time. October 16th is the memorials of Saint Hedwig and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s Story Margaret Mary was chosen by Christ to arouse the Church to a realization of the love of God symbolized by the heart of Jesus. Her early years were marked by sickness and a painful home situation....Continue reading

Good Morning World. It is October 15th, Thursday of the 28th week in ordinary time. October 15th is the memorial of Saint Teresa of Avila, also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus. The readings for today’s mass (including an audio version) may be found at usccb.org. Saint Teresa of Avila Facts...Continue reading