Catholic Schools Week

01-29-2020Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Wall Street Journal published an article in June of 2018 named, "The Catholic School Difference." It included the findings of a study by scholars at the University of California-Santa Barbara regarding the success of Catholic schools. Students in Catholic schools, "are more likely to control their temper, respect others' property, accept their fellow students' ideas, and handle peer pressure." In other words, Catholic School students exhibit more self-discipline and have a more productive environment in which to learn and academically and spiritually excel.

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Fundamental Right to Abortion? (Part 2 of 2)

01-26-2020Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Sadly, the unwillingness to offer real sacrifices and the lack of true love has led many people to believe that life is disposable. This tragic way of thinking has impacted our world in many negative ways i.e., marriages, families, workplaces, government, the economy, communities and even the Church.

It is so easy to become puffed up with pride and a false sense of self-reliance; many selfishly choose their own path; many seek to maximize personal pleasure and avoid giving of themselves in sacrificial love to others and therefore miss the beauty of God's creation all together.

Our Lord is the answer. His response to all the selfishness and hatred in our world can be found on the cross. He showed us how to love and how to see others as God sees them. Love always involves sacrifice. For example:

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Fundamental Right to Abortion? (Part 1 of 2)

01-19-2020Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last year, the New York state legislature voted to allow the so called "fundamental right" to abortion in their state law and eliminate protections for preborn babies until birth. The bill asserts that "Every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry the pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion." The bill also erases the state's recognition of preborn babies older than 24 weeks as potential homicide victims, removes abortion from the penal code entirely, and allows licensed health practitioners other than full doctors to commit abortions.

As Catholics we celebrate the Right to Life. We are Pro Life. Our Lord reminds us of the sacredness of every human life… born and unborn. Catholics have always held, and will always preach, the value of human life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:

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Baptism of the Lord

01-12-2020Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In today's Gospel, we hear a strange conversation between Our Lord and John the Baptist. It is strange because John called people to repentance, to turn away from sin and turn to God. Jesus had no sins. Jesus is the Savior. Jesus doesn't need to repent, and therefore He has no need to be baptized. And yet, Our Lord shows up by the river and gets in line anyway. John sees him and objects, but Jesus insists on taking His place right beside those who need Him most.

This is exactly what Our Lord does for us at every Mass. Whenever we receive Holy Communion, we are receiving God himself as our nourishment. Our Lord could not be any closer to us than He is in Holy Communion. He desires to take His place right with us!

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