The Papacy & Upcoming Events
Dear Parishioners,
We are excited to get our parish schools up and running for the new school year! I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have Andrew and Norie, as they are both great to work with. Randi Hom, our Director of Evangelization, is also doing great work to build connections for students and families between the parishes and the schools.
I want to say a big thank you for the efforts of our parish councils this month, as they have gathered input and questions from all of you. They have diligently recorded everything that has been asked and suggested. I want to let you know that your input is all being read, and the questions will be answered. The Family Pastoral Council has discussed how best to address and answer all the feedback we are receiving; here’s the plan we came up with: You’ll get a summary of all the themes of people’s comments, so that you can read what folks have been saying and know what is on everyone’s mind. I’ll answer the questions, and we will publish those answers for you to read. They will be available at a later date for you to pick up at church.
I’m excited for the remaining parish feast days coming up! We have already celebrated the feast of St. Clare (August 11), Assumption (August 15), and St. Bernard (August 20). Next up, we have St. Bartholomew (August 24). Mark your calendars for later in the year for the celebration of Our Lady of Divine Providence (November 19), and St. Vivian (December 2).
Our Bible readings for this weekend are part of the biblical basis of the Papacy. The opening prayer at the Mass asks God to help us unify our vision. The Papacy helps to accomplish that by unifying the Church in the person of the Vicar of Christ. Remember that God’s love is universal, and even in changing times, the Church of Christ remains a solid rock. That’s something to be grateful for! The term “Catholic” means ‘universal’ and reminds us of the power of the Church to bring us all together as one.
Speaking of unity, come to the Family Game Day at St. Clare on August 30! Also stay tuned for additional upcoming fall faith formation programs, like Sanctuary, St. Joseph Boot Camp, and Family Holy Hours.
Lastly, remember to invite people with questions to Alpha! Interest in the Catholic Church is growing, and more and more people have questions about God and faith. Alpha is the place to send them! We’ll start meeting Monday, September 14. Let’s go and grow!
Yours in Christ, with Mary,
Fr. Henry Hoffmann
Reverence Over Preference
In the words of Pope Leo
I’d like to share these words from Pope Leo for your consideration. Pope Leo has recently been giving catechesis on the liturgy, drawn from Vatican II, and wrote these words to a conference of liturgical scholars. He emphasizes the need for both priests and faithful to celebrate the liturgy with reverence, not preference, paying humble attention to the rubrics, rather than changing things based on personal desire.
The first practical opportunities for liturgical formation occur in our regular practice of gathering every Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. These celebrations are anchored in the annual rhythm of the liturgical year, with the Paschal Mystery at its center. For this reason, it is essential that they also be profoundly formative, promoting an ever deeper understanding of the ars celebrandi, expressed not only by the celebrant of the liturgy, but also by the entire assembly (cf. Desiderio Desideravi, n. 54). In this way, through proper education and reverent worship, Catholics will be formed both for the liturgy and by the liturgy (cf. ibid., n. 34).
Moreover, in order to promote the dignified celebration of the sacred mysteries, we must emphasize the need for fidelity to the approved texts and instructions. In my recent catecheses on the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, I have called attention to the respect that all those called to prepare the celebration of the divine mysteries, and priests in particular, must show toward the rites promulgated by Pope Saint Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II. It is vital that this respect “springs from an inner attitude of openness and trust in God, manifesting humility before his greatness and sincere fidelity to ecclesial communion” (Catechesis, 27 May 2026).
In our Mass readings this week, we hear about the foundation of the Papacy. Let’s take to heart these words from our Pope, and dedicate ourselves to living them out more fully each time we attend the liturgy. Let’s allow ourselves and our lives to be formed by the liturgy and for the liturgy.
