But on Friday, in the midst of all the goings-on, did you consider why the 4th of July is a national holi-day, why the 4th of July must be a day for celebration? The Catechism of the Catholic Church instructs us that “after the unity of the human race was shattered by sin, God at once sought to save humanity part by part. The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the “nations,” in other words, toward men and women grouped in their lands, each with its own language, by their families, in the nations.” [56]
Nations, and the cultures bound together in the nations, are part of the plan of God, to serve as an instrument of healing and redemption for the whole human race. Our nation, these United States of America, was founded to serve as a beacon of true freedom; and freedom is always a “good”. Let us rejoice in the freedom we share and are called to protect… freedom to live as we desire to live… as disciples of the Lord Jesus, within the community of a world-wide Catholic Church, manifest here and now as the family of St. John Neumann.
***
As creatures of habit, all of us have difficulty in adjusting to changes in our lives, especially when we did not choose the changes that are experienced as stressful. The new Mass schedule that is set to begin on the 2nd of August might be stressful for some in our parish. Most of the singles and families of SJN have a certain Mass that they claim as their own. Before my days in seminary and ordained ministry, I was just the same as you. I identified with “MY” Mass, and it was always the early AM Mass, at Sacred Heart downtown or at the Cathedral.
Please know that the decision to change our Mass schedule was not made lightly, nor was it made without much reflection and discussion. With two priests serving the spiritual needs of 2300 members & families, we had to make this change. The Masses offered in Donnellan Hall had to be canceled, granting that in the event of a sudden illness, one priest might need to preside at each and every Sunday Mass for the parish family of SJN. I think that the schedule we have come up with… a 5 PM Saturday Vigil, plus Masses at 8, 9:30, 11, 12:30 and 5 PM in English, plus Masses at 2 PM and 7 PM in Spanish… will work well as our transitional Mass schedule. We will all look forward to another change, once we move into our new worship space! Please work with me as we continue in building a legacy of faith. Please pray with me, as we seek the spiritual renewal of our parish, in holiness, in service and in the joy of being loved by God!
AMDG
Msgr. David Talley
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