Father Tom's Blog &  Video Message

Today’s Gospel is the familiar story of Lazarus and the rich man. The story begins with the image of Lazarus lying at the door of the rich man but not being cared for in his need. The lack of awareness by the rich man has consequences in the afterlife. While Lazarus is carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham, the rich man seeks pity and says: send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames. The rich man has sealed his own fate by the way he treated Lazarus in this world. Indifference to the needs of others is still a big problem in our world today. We are fortunate to have the example of the saints and other people in our lives, but especially the example of Jesus, to remind of us of our responsibility to care for others. Who are the Lazarus’ in our lives? Who do we need to notice and care for? How can we respond to them as brothers and sisters? There is no time like the present to notice and respond. 

 

We welcome the Little Sisters of the Poor to Presentation this weekend. They will be making an appeal at the end of each Mass asking for your support of their important work. The Little Sisters came to the United States 150 years ago from France and have been in the Kansas City area since 1882. They have 26 homes in the US serving the elderly. We are blessed by their ministry in our area. Please make checks payable to the Little Sisters and please be generous.

 

Next weekend begins the month of October. In the Catholic Church, October is traditionally dedicated to our Blessed Mother. We will be praying the Rosary before each weekend Mass during October in honor of our Blessed Mother. Please try to arrive earlier to Mass so you can join in the prayer. The Rosary is also a great prayer to say each day individually, with others, or as a family. 

 

October is also designated Respect Life Month in the Catholic Church and next weekend, the first Sunday of the month, is Respect Life Sunday. This is an opportunity for us to focus on our call to recognize the sacredness and dignity of all human life. As we pray for an end to all the destructive ways life is threatened, please keep in your prayers the unborn, poor, elderly, sick, imprisoned, immigrants, persecuted Christians and other religious or ethnic groups, and those affected by war and violence. Respecting life begins with each of us recognizing the gift of life God has shared with us. 

 

In celebration of St. Francis, we invite you and your pets to join us for our annual Pet Blessing next Saturday, October 4, at 3:00pm. We will gather in the field next to the Gym entrance. You are welcome to invite family and friends to bring their pets.

 

At first glance in today’s Gospel, it seems as if Jesus is praising the efforts of a dishonest steward. But Jesus is not using him as an example because of his dishonesty, but rather for the creativity he uses in dealing with his situation. The Gospel ends with the words: You cannot serve both God and mammon, which is a warning to those whose sole focus is to secure gain for themselves. Jesus speaks about the children of this world using the wealth entrusted to them in more prudent ways than the children of light who have been entrusted with eternal wealth. Our focus should not be on the passing things of this world, but on the things that last forever. Are we creative and prudent and trustworthy in the ways we use our gifts? As Jesus reminds us, we cannot serve two masters. Through our faith in Jesus, we are invited to always live in the light. May we always know the source of our light and allow it to shine brightly.

 

This weekend is our second collection for our sister community in El Salvador. All contributions help us provide scholarships for young people in the community to attend high school and university. Education is a major way for these young people to move out of poverty, find meaningful jobs, and provide for their families. Please support this collection. If you were unable to contribute today, please do so in the coming weeks by clearly marking your donation for El Salvador. You can also give Online through our website by choosing the appropriate drop-down contribution tab. Thank you for your generous support.

I also encourage you to consider joining our next delegation to our sister community in El Salvador from July 23-29, 2026. An information session will be happening later in the fall, but feel free to contact Michael Nations in our Youth and Young Adult Office if interested or with any questions.

 

This weekend is also Catechetical Sunday, a time to celebrate all those who give of their time and talent to share the faith with others. We are blessed with many people who help in our various education ministries, faith formation programs, sacrament preparation programs, scripture studies, small groups, and sports programs. We are grateful for your commitment to our parish.

 

We continue to offer our prayers for the community of Annunciation Parish and School in Minneapolis and healing from the violence that too often surrounds us. In his remarks after the shooting, expressing his heartbreak and prayers for the victims, Archbishop Hebda of Minneapolis also included these words which are good for all of us to reflect on: We need an end to gun violence. Our community is rightfully outraged at such horrific acts of violence perpetrated against the vulnerable and innocent. They are far too commonplace. While we need to commit to working to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies, we also remind ourselves that we have a God of peace and love.

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. When this feast falls on a Sunday it takes the place of the Sunday in Ordinary Time. The origin of this feast is linked to the discovery of the true Cross attributed to St. Helena on September 14, 320. Helena was the mother of Emperor Constantine, who legalized Christianity in the Roman empire. Over time, it became customary on this day for churches to “lift up” their crosses in a ceremony called the Exaltation. The Cross stands as a reminder of the depth of God’s love for us. As we hear in the Gospel, For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. The Cross is our hope that good wins out over evil, that life wins out over death, and that sin and death have been conquered forever. May we lift high the Cross in our lives and follow the life it symbolizes.

 

This week our Wednesday Children’s Faith Formation (CFF) program officially begins and activities for our Middle School and High School Youth Ministry programs begin for the year. We also have a number of 2^nd graders who will begin their preparation for First Reconciliation & First Eucharist and a number of 6^th graders who will begin their preparation for Confirmation. Please be sure any children or youth in your life are participating in these offerings. We ae blessed by their presence. 

 

Next weekend we are having a second collection for our sister community in San Rafael Cedros, El Salvador. Your financial contributions will support the youth of the community through scholarships to high school and college. This is an important outreach ministry of our parish and a way we unite with our brothers and sisters in El Salvador. We support the scholarship students throughout the year, so your generosity with the second collection will help with this effort. Please use the envelope provided in your monthly contribution packet, use your own envelope designated for El Salvador, or contribute through OnLine Giving on our website. You may have read about the violence and government suppression happening in El Salvador, so our efforts to educate young people in the country is all important. Thanks for your continued support of this ministry.

 

Next weekend is a Celebrating Stewardship weekend and Nametag Sunday! Come a little early to get your nametag and plan to stay after Mass to learn about some of our ministries and enjoy some refreshments and fellowship with other parishioners. These are great ways to build community, so take time to join us.

 

Next weekend we also celebrate Catechetical Sunday. We give thanks for all those in our parish community who use their gifts to pass on the faith to others. This includes teachers in our various education programs, volunteers in our many ministries, coaches, and especially parents. We will offer a special blessing of all catechists at our Masses next weekend. 

 

Jesus speaks about the cost of discipleship in today’s Gospel. He reminds the great crowds who are following him that the path will not be easy. What are we to make of these words from Jesus that seem harsh and direct? Jesus is clear that he is not looking to be a popular attraction who people can follow casually. To follow the way of Jesus, one must be willing to give up relationships, possessions, and life itself. There is a depth of commitment required of those who choose to follow. We are called to turn away from our former ways and invest ourselves fully in the new life Christ promises us. With the parables Jesus uses in the Gospel, he encourages those who wish to follow him to calculate the cost and reflect on whether they are up for the challenge. But while the road may be demanding, the journey leads to eternal life with Christ.

 

Thank you for your outpouring of support for our recent Red Bag Food Drive for our service partner, Bishop Sullivan Center and the Baby Bottle Campaign sponsored by our Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus to assist life causes in our area. Your generosity goes a long way in helping those in need. The parish service projects we have throughout the year are a way for us to put our faith into action and make a difference in the lives of others. We are grateful for your on-going response. 

 

The annual Parish Fiesta is being held next Saturday, September 13. Hispanic members of our community prepare a variety of delicious food from different countries and provide some fun entertainment for everyone to enjoy. This event gets bigger every year, so you won’t want to miss it. We are grateful for all the ways our Hispanic members share their culture and contribute to the life of our parish. If you haven’t already done so, get your tickets after Mass this weekend. 

 

If you have children needing to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation/First Communion or the Sacrament of Confirmation, the formation classes and parent information sessions begin soon. Please make sure they are registered to receive these sacraments. There is information and QR codes in the bulletin or you can call our Children’s Faith Formation office or our Youth Ministry office. Those with middle school or high school aged youth are also encouraged to make sure they are signed up for our Youth Ministry programs. We have been building up our youth offerings and have a variety of ways they can grow in their faith and share in some fun and fellowship.

 

This Sunday is the official canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati in Rome. If you haven’t had a chance to learn about these new saints in our Church, I encourage you to do so. In their short lives, they lived powerful stories of faith. You can find information in our bulletin and on our website.

Many Blessings!