We can receive great consolation from the readings this Second Sunday of Advent. The Lord gives comfort to His people, speaking tenderly to them, being patient with them as they prepare the way of the Lord.

Happy Advent! We enter into this new liturgical season with Jesus telling us to "Be watchful! Be alert!" Advent is a time of active waiting, staying attentive not only to the movements of God's grace at work in our midst, but also remaining watchful and on guard from the snares of the enemy.

This weekend we begin the last week of Ordinary Time with the celebration of Christ the King of the Universe. To name Christ as King means that He is Lord of all and, consequently, we are not.

Happy Thanksgiving! We are in the season of gratitude where we become thankful for all the blessings God has given us, even the challenging ones that cause us to grow spiritually in our relationship with Christ and others. In a special way, I am grateful for your generosity and the stewardship of so many parishioners who call our parish home.

We celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at Mass this weekend. Along with the Sacrament of Confession (also called Penance or Reconciliation), the Sacrament of Anointing is one of the two Sacraments of Healing of the Church.

You can't beat God when it comes to humility! When Jesus teaches, "The greatest among you must be your servant" we must ask the follow-up question: "Who, then, is greater than God?" If God is greatest, then He is calling Himself our servant.

Today we celebrate Priesthood Sunday and reflect on the blessing of the priesthood in our lives. I know I would not be a priest today if it weren't for the incredible witness of pastoral charity shown by priests who have been good shepherds and fathers to me in my life. Father Bednar's Parents Matter: Part 3 is also included.

This weekend, we continue with Father Bednar's 'Parents Matter' series.

Starting this weekend, we will be publishing Fr. Jerry Bednar's four-part series on "Parents Matter" which reflects on crucial elements of Issue 1 on the November 7 ballot.

We are pleased to offer our July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 financial report in this weekend's bulletin. We ended the year in a strong financial position, thanks largely to a successful "Faithfully United" parish stewardship campaign last Fall.

I am eager to speak this weekend about the Angel Scholarship Fund (ASF) and the opportunity to turn tax dollars into tuition assistance. Simply put, ASF turns tax dollars into tuition assistance by taking advantage of a tax credit scholarship program established by the State of Ohio.

In Jesus' parable of the wages, the landowner lets those who bore the full day's load of labor receive the same as those who worked only one hour. Economically, this seems unfair. Yet the Master reminds the grumbling servants that they agreed to work for the usual daily wage, and that He is free to do what He wants with His money.

Jesus' lesson in forgiveness shows us that we are to forgive from the heart, not simply because "it's the right thing to do" but rather because God has forgiven us fully and immediately. The words of Jesus in the parable, "Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant as I had pity on you?" strike me to the heart every time I read them!

Today we hear a reprisal of Jesus' words said to Simon Peter from the Gospel two weeks ago, "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

I want to wish you all a very Happy Labor Day. As disciples of Christ, we are entrusted with the indispensable work of leading our families into a deeper relationship with Christ and His Church. May this Labor Day refresh us and help us to recommit to this privilege of co-laboring with Christ and His Church.

I am so thankful for the gift of Christ and the Church in my life! We know that by trusting God and the Church He gave us, we always have truthful, merciful, and secure guidance for our daily decisions.

I had a great time at our parish picnic last weekend! Although weather didn't cooperate and we had to setup inside, we had a great turnout! My parents and their friends attended and loved being with our loving and welcoming community.

Our readings this weekend remind us that God is always present to us amidst the storms and noise of this life. Elijah hears the Lord in a tiny whispering sound after the winds, earthquakes, and fires have passed. Peter sees Jesus and walks on water in the storm when he is totally focused on Christ.

I am excited to share with you the extensive expansion of the EdChoice state scholarship program. All K-12 students now qualify to receive a state-funded EdChoice scholarship that could cover a portion of, in some cases, the full cost of their Catholic school tuition. Catholic education just became more affordable than ever for families!

In last weekend's bulletin, I shared some fundamental principles of the Church's participation in political life, and shared that we cannot bypass political conversations because they may be difficult or uncomfortable. Our Catholic Christian faith offers an invaluable contribution to our society in the social-political arena.