First, I want to thank all of you for taking the time and making the effort to gather together to give thanks and praise to God our Father. It is a great joy to see so many people at Mass. When we gather together at Mass, we draw strength, hope, and joy from one another. Our presence together is a witness to our faith that, with God’s grace, helps us to go forth from Church and lets the Light of Christ shine through our words and deeds.

Today’s second collection is being taken up for our parish’ St. Vincent de Paul Society. The Vincentians serve our brothers and sisters in need in so very many ways. From helping to provide food, listening to their struggles, visiting someone in their home or helping in any other way, the Vincentians are always there to assist someone in need. Of course, helping to provide food, shelter, medicine, gas or something else does cost money. I ask for your generous response to today’s second collection. Remember the words of Our Lord-“as long as you did it for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.” May God bless you for your generous response.

Also, I wanted to point out that in today’s world, there are many topics that are hotly debated. Many of these issues are considered political issues. The Church has teachings on most of these issues. First and foremost, I want to state that the Church looks on these issues as moral issues. The Church looks at them through the prism of the Gospel. First and foremost in the Church’s consideration is the dignity of the human person. All of us are made in the image and likeness of Almighty God. Each of us carries within us a spark of the divine. The dignity of the person is always the Church’s main concern. Some of the hot button issues of today are: abortion, poverty, assisted suicide, euthanasia, the environment, immigration, racism, religious liberty, war and peace. These are all issues that deal with the dignity of each and every person.

Catholic social justice teachings have a long and rich history. As Catholics, we need to be aware of the teachings of the Church on these timely and important issues. If you want to learn what the Church teaches in these areas, just type in “usccb social justice” on the web, and a wide variety of options will be available to you. Be an informed disciple of the Lord. Read, study, and pray. Be aware that as the bishops’ website reminds us: “the Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society.” Catholic social teaching is one of the hidden treasures of the Church. Don’t let it be hidden from you.

A Special Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land

Queen of Peace, Chosen daughter of a land still devastated by wars, hatred, violence.

We confidently address our plea to you: Do not allow that Jesus’ cry at the sight of the Holy City, which did not under- stand the gift of peace may, once again, fall into indifference and political calculation.

Look at the afflictions of so many mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, victims of destructive energies that are blind and without a future. Inspire ways of dialogue, a vigorous will in solving problems and a collaboration of certain hope. Don’t let us ever get used to oppression, to consider the struggles as ‘inevitable’ and the victims they produce as ‘collateral’. Make sure that the logic of aggression does not prevail over good will and that the solution of many problems is not considered impossible.

Amen.

 Fernando Cardinal Filoni,
Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

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