June 28, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
This week our nation will celebrate, once again, the anniversary of its independence from England. This year the nation celebrates its 244th anniversary. It is good for all Americans to remember the fact that on that day, July 4, 1776, the people put forth the Declaration of Independence.
It would do us well to recall the first lines of that document. It went as follows: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”
In this 21st Century, in light of all that has been transpiring in our nation, we need to remember that we are created equal – that all peoples – no matter the color of our skin – are children of God and citizens of this nation – born with inalienable Rights. As Christians and as citizens, we need to support our sisters and brothers who are struggling to experience all that the Declaration promises. Through prayer, through giving of our finances, through non-violent protests, we can and should give solace and aid to our sisters and brothers.
May this year of 2020 mark for our nation and its people a turning away from racism, prejudice, inequality and hatred of every sort and a turning toward one another in openness, acceptance, respect, appreciation, peace, and love, so that our nation will truly be living out those words of our nation’s Declaration of Independence.
Peace!
Fr. Marty.
June 21, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
Our Sunday liturgies from now until the end of November will keep us in the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time. During this time of the year we will be hearing quite frequently from the Gospel of Matthew. In fact, we will have a passage from that Gospel almost every Sunday.
These passage will contain much of what Jesus preached and taught the people prior to his final journey to Jerusalem to die and rise from the dead. So, therefore, these passages are very good for us – his 21st century followers. Over these weeks listen to his words – ponder his parables – let these words of wisdom sink in and become part of our person.
In that way then we can be the faithful disciples that we are called to be in this 21st century.
Peace!
Fr. Marty.
June 14, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
Happy Feast Day to all of our Parishioners!!
Our parish is called Corpus Christi because Thomas and Louisa Jenkins, in whose memory the church was built, had a great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. So their five surviving children designed and named the church Corpus Christi in honor of Jesus in the Eucharist.
One of the beliefs that we, Roman Catholics, have, which many other Christian denominations do not possess, is the belief that when the bread and wine are consecrated during the Eucharist. – the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Yes, we believe in transubstantiation – that is – the appearance of the bread and wine remains – but its substance changes – into the Body and Blood of Christ.
How truly blessed we are – how wonderful it is that our Savior and Redeemer becomes one with us as we receive him in the Eucharist. Peace!
Fr. Marty.
June 7, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
This week the Church enters wholeheartedly into the Ordinary Time, once again. And the Church will find itself in Ordinary Time until the end of November.
This is the time of the year when the Church lays out for us what it means to follow the footsteps of Jesus. It gives us through the Sacred Scriptures Jesus’ many and varied teachings.
It certainly would be good for us to listen to our readings closely and to not just hear them with our ears but to listen to them with our heart. Why? So that they might become rooted in our lives and our lives might live them out today, tomorrow and always.
Peace!
Fr. Marty.