Jennifer and I went to a neighboring parish for Saturday evening Mass. There is a new Marianist priest there, and he has met with me, and has expressed great interest in helping out at my high school. I have made a goal to visit that parish at least once every few months. It is small, growing, and in a highly rural setting, three things that I find very positive. This parish has needed a new priest for some time. The former priest was known for his 25 minute Masses, and leaving the service before the final hymn to get out to the golf course.
I especially enjoyed Fr. John’s homily. You can tell he is a former Catholic High School teacher, because he emphasizes catechesis in his homilies. He asked the congregation questions during the homily, about Matthew’s gospel, about information that he had covered in previous homilies. As a teacher I can relate to his methods…and the blank stares he got from the congregation, despite having covered it only a few weeks ago. At one point he said, “come on now, you should know this…this is why Protestants always say we don’t know the Bible!” He also mentioned in his homily about the value of fraternal Christian correction (mentioned in the gospel reading), and that it is sometimes difficult for parents to say “living with a person and having a baby out of wedlock is a sin” but it needs to be mentioned (I think this is the first time I have ever heard co-habitation addressed from the pulpit). I am excited to work with him.
I am also going to be working with a new associate priest and a new youth leader. Both seem to be very dynamic, orthodox, and seem supportive of what we are doing at my Catholic high school. Right now, we are struggling with enrollment, and it is nice to see a lot of support from local clergy and leaders.
David Bennett
Jennifer
asimplesinner
Fr. J.
Chad Toney
Jorge Flores
Jonathan B
carmelbennett
nicenehobbit
Jason S
jaybird68
papaz
Dave Hartline
