Saint Philip the Apostle Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners,

Peace to you from the Rectory and Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers everywhere, especially the mothers of St. Philip Parish!  On this day, we give thanks for our mothers, as we consider the sacrifices they make for their children.  We also give thanks for Our Blessed Mother!  Speaking of Our Blessed Mother, you may have noticed a new statue right by the entrance to the church. This is a gift from our plant manager, Sonia Cardona, who not only gave this beautiful image of Our Lady to the parish, but also installed the spotlight so that she is lit up at night for all to see.  Thank you so much for this magnificent gift Sonia!  I will bless this statue today, Sunday, May 13, right after the 12 noon Mass, so if you are around at that time, you are welcome to join me.

I also want to remind you that our “Corpus Christi School Information Night” is tomorrow evening, Monday, May 14 at 8 pm in the cafeteria.  Some teachers, staff members, school parents, our vice-principal Mrs. Ann Stich, and I will be present to share the good news about our inter-parish Catholic school.  As food for thought in preparation for this presentation, I would like to pass on some encouraging words from Pope Benedict XVI on Catholic schools, spoken just last week in Rome (May 5), as he addressed a group of visiting US Bishops:

Important efforts are also being made to preserve the great patrimony of America’s Catholic elementary and high schools, which have been deeply affected by changing demographics and increased costs, while at the same time ensuring that the education they provide remains within the reach of all families, whatever their financial status. As has often been mentioned in our meetings, these schools remain an essential resource for the new evangelization, and the significant contribution that they make to American society as a whole ought to be better appreciated and more generously supported…. It is no exaggeration to say that providing young people with a sound education in the faith represents the most urgent internal challenge facing the Catholic community in your country. [Underlining added by Fr DD]

In light of Pope Benedict’s prophetic words, I want to invite everybody – that is, all parishioners, but especially parents of school-aged children – to come and hear more about Corpus Christi School tomorrow night.  For those who are looking to register their children in our Catholic school, please know that staff members will be present and ready to assist you with the necessary paperwork, including filling out applications for financial aid.

There is one more things I want to add in this letter, and that is to remind you that this coming Thursday, May 17, at 8 pm in the cafeteria, there will be guest couple, Jim and Berta O’Mara, to speak on Natural Family Planning (NFP).  I invited them to come as a follow-up to my March bulletin letters on the Church’s teachings on contraception.  As noted in those letters, many today are not aware of the Church’s teachings in this area; many also are not aware of the ways in which contraception undermines the totality God intends for marital love.  To make matters more challenging, once couples learn the Church’s teaching, they may then find themselves in a discouraging quandary, since they have already chosen contraception as their method of family planning.  The Church has found that teaching NFP – which is essentially fertility awareness – in conjunction with Blessed John Paul II’s “theology of the body” to be an extraordinary help to couples in the midst of challenges and discouragement.  When a life of faithful prayer and frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are included with learning this new knowledge, couples have discovered that there is no limit to what God can do in them. In fact, it is not uncommon that as couples begin practicing NFP in the context of faithful prayer and regular Confession, they gradually notice a change of mind and heart on the issue, even if they previously had been committed to contraception.  The first step in this process is knowing something about NFP and JP II’s theology of the body, which Jim and Berta and I will provide this coming Thursday.  Because this subject is so important and timely, I encourage adults of all ages to come to our presentation.  I should also add that the priests here at St. Philip Parish – Fr. Dundon, Fr. Tarsicio, and I – are all available to meet with couples or individuals to discuss these matters in a more private setting if you wish.  Just give us a call.  St. Philip the Apostle – pray for us!

Your servant in Christ,