In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul says: “Have no anxiety at all.” I wonder what was happening in the Christian community at Philippi for him to write this. Certainly, this admonition is valid even now. He encourages the people to remember what they have been taught and what they believe and hold fast to it: “Keep on doing what you have heard and seen… then the God of peace will be with you.”The challenges that society and the day-to-day life we face remind us to remember what we have been taught, what comes from the Gospel, what is the right thing to do. When we live with our Christian principles, “then the God of peace with be with you”… and the world.
I thank you for your generous response to the recent disasters. You gave generously in the donation boxes in church and through the mail. Over $8,000 was sent to Catholic Relief Services, which has a great reputation for “being there” for the people. We have also started a fund to help our Franciscan Friar, Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez, O.F.M., in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Any donation put into the donation boxes in church or sent here will be matched by Holy Name Province for Archbishop Gonzalez.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.