Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we celebrate Respect Life throughout the month of October, Our Lord reminds us of the sacredness of every life. Catholics have always held and will always preach the value of human life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:

"Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being” (CCC 2258). And “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life” (CCC 2270).

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Archbishop Thomas Murphy was a groundbreaking leader on the subject of Christian stewardship in the United States.

One of the concepts that the Archbishop promoted was that the Lord isn’t only interested in the 10% that we might be inspired to give to the Church and other charities. He said that Our Lord is also interested in the remaining 90% of our lives and resources as well--the whole of our lives for the good of His Kingdom.

This idea came to mind on Sunday, September 10th, when the Church beatified an entire family, a first in the history of the Church. The Ulma family serves as an ultimate example of stewardship as they gave all of their lives and resources to do God’s work.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I have had the great blessing to get to know Father Robert Seraph Aliunzi as a brother priest for many years. He is truly a man of God who has been called to serve in Our Lord powerful and lifegiving ways. I invited him to speak at our parish on the weekend of September 23/24 and to share with you the incredible work God has called him to do.

Fr. Aliunzi was born and raised in Uganda in conditions that few people could imagine or even survive. Our Lord and His incredible mercy protected Fr. Aliunzi’s vocation to the priesthood which eventually led him to serve in our diocese. Fr. Aliunzi has ministered to the people of God in the Diocese of Phoenix for over 18 years in different capacities. He served as the pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle in Chandler as well as the pastor of St. James for ten years.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On December 7, 1941, the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor. This attack eventually led to World War II. I have met veterans who had once been young and patriotically idealistic and had responded to Japanese aggression, altering their whole life for the good of our country. After what they had been through and what they had lost, including many of their peers, one can understand how they would not want us to forget the pain of their past and the military heroes of World War II.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

If you have had to wait for weeks or even months for a particular item you purchased or work you needed done around the house, you know first-hand the impact of not having enough people in the work force. I speak to business owners all the time who are having to reevaluate how they can meet public demand. Many businesses are having to cut hours of operation simply because they lack adequate staff. “Help Wanted” signs can be seen in many stores and restaurant windows.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 16:13-20, we are given a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus and His disciples. This passage is important to Catholics since it speaks to the very foundation upon which Christ has built the Catholic Church. It’s a passage that invites us to reflect on our faith, our understanding of Jesus, and our role within the Body of Christ.

Jesus posed a critical question to His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Of course, Our Lord knew who He was but Jesus leading His disciples to a much deeper place in their faith. They responded, recounting the various opinions circulating, likening Him to John the Baptist, Elijah, or other prophets. But Jesus was not really interested in public opinion; He was seeking a confession of their faith.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

If you have ever had questioned your faith or wondered if the Lord hears your prayers, then today’s Gospel is for you. Our Lord offers us a powerful lesson in faith, humility, and perseverance. The Canaanite woman (who would not usually speak to a rabbi) approaches Jesus asking him to help her daughter who is suffering. She calls out to Jesus: "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon."

Obviously this woman has a great need. Her daughter is being tormented by a demon. Most people believe that Jesus would respond with great compassion. But Jesus initially seems to ignore this woman’s dire request. Jesus seems to be testing the woman’s faith. But instead of being discouraged, she persists, kneeling before Jesus and pleading for His help.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Tuesday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The Catholic Church teaches that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, while exercising papal infallibility. But this feast has long been a belief in the Church.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We at St. Bernadette are so blessed to have St. John XXIII Catholic grade school as part of our history. For over 20 years, dedicated teachers and staff have educated thousands of young people in our beautiful Catholic faith. As we begin our 2023/2024 school year, we are blessed to welcome our students and their families.