Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I have tremendous respect and pastoral concern for those who have stepped forward to defend our country. Some carry the wounds of war for the rest of their lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They deserve our prayers, respect, and service.

Observing Memorial Day is recognizing the ultimate sacrifice men and women have offered to protect and defend our freedom. What we remember and honor on Memorial Day is heroic sacrifice, much like we honor martyrs in the Church. We acknowledge those who nobly gave of themselves, unto death, for a purpose that was greater than themselves.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

For as long as I can remember, the issue of appropriate attire for Holy Mass has been present in the lives of most conscientious Catholics. Recently, my brother priest, Fr. Richard shared with me that a distraught parishioner came to him for advice. Her issue was that, on the prior Sunday, someone next to her in the pew called her out because of her choice of clothing. Validation from Fr. Richard was what she was seeking regarding the correction she obviously resented. However, after a glance at her wardrobe choice, he was left with a clear understanding of the reason she may have had the unpleasant interaction.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Nearly 20 couples have decided to celebrate their marriage here at St. Bernadette in the coming months! This is a great blessing for our Church and our world! I am very excited for these couples. It really is an honor to get to know them, as they prepare for this sacrament. Hopefully you know that the Church takes marriage preparation very seriously. Statistics show that going through a process like it increases marital success.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Creating a pastor’s column for Mother’s Day has some challenges for sure. This is because as a pastor and priest, I rejoice with some moms, grieve with others and ache for those who long to be mothers but for whatever reason are not. The last thing one wants to do is exclude anyone on this day.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the Catholic Church, the month of May is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother. This is one of the beautiful ways that we can show our love and devotion to the Mother of Jesus. Perhaps you know someone who have had some confusion about Mary and the role She has in our life. The Church has always taught that Catholics believe our worship is due to God alone. So Catholics do not worship Mary. Catholic worship God alone.