Praised be Jesus Christ! My classmate, Father Mark Vander Steeg, recently wrote a great bulletin column and he’s agreed to let me use parts of it for your reading pleasure. Though you don’t know Father Vander Steeg, you might think he’s a wonderful guy by the time you get done reading this . . . . please remember what they say about judging a priest by his column! Okay, here are his thoughts: “We are so blessed here at (St. John’s and Christ the King) to have so many people who appreciate and understand the supernatural value, assistance, and grace of having a Mass offered for a particular intention. It may be for a loved one who has passed on to God, offering the graces of the Mass to assist them on their journey into the full- ness of God. It may be offered for a current world concern or for a local or family need. It all shows love for others. We entrust our intentions and prayers to God, particularly through the Mass, asking that His will be done in all things. With this shared knowledge of the value of the Mass also comes the reality that our parish is not always able to fit in every Mass intention (this is more the case at Saint John’s than Christ the King). Sometimes people are saddened when they find out that a particular day is ‘already taken’. We are limited to accepting four Mass intentions a year (two on weekends and two on week- days) for each person. We also cannot double up intentions without the consent of the original person. However, there are other options for you to remember your deceased loved ones through a Mass intention or have one offered for some other special concern. We have retired priests as well as priests in mission areas that would be very happy to pray for your intention at the Masses they celebrate. All altars are God’s altar. You may contact the parish office to make this arrangement. The suggested offering/stipend for a Mass is $10.00. In conclusion, the Mass is the most powerful prayer on earth because it is the living passion, death, and resurrection of Christ made present to us. It is to the Father, through the Son, by the pow- er of the Holy Spirit. We are privileged to participate and receive. How beautiful when the blessing can be shared with our deceased loved ones, friends, and to advance the Lord’s will on earth. Thank you for your reverence and faith in the gift of the Holy Mass.” Lots of good insights, especially about the power of the Mass . . . . and in a surprisingly short amount of space! My homilies may be shorter than the league average, but the length of my columns is probably near the top! As we bask in the glow of Thanksgiving, we pause to remember that the very word Eucharist means thanksgiving and reminds us that love is sacrificial and generous, even to the point of death. And while we offer the Mass for our deceased loved ones so that they might be found worthy of eternal life, we need the Mass too so that we do not grow cold in love, stale in faith or despondent in hope. The greatest reason for sadness in the world is a lack of intimacy with Jesus and His Father. As you know, people are falling away from their faith because of the scandals and we might feel helpless as we watch family and friends leave. Thank God for the Eucharist – we can offer our Communions for this intention and many others. That will bring grace to others while protecting us from becoming judgmental or cynical. God revealed that the Church would endure until the end and that we’re so much better off in the Church than outside of her. Let’s pray for perseverance in these tumultuous times – we’re in this together and with God we cannot fail.
May the graces we receive from the Mass bring healing and hope to us and to the world! Your friend in Christ, Father Martin
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MASS SCHEDULE
Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM Saturday: 4:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 3:15 - 3:45 PM OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Stay Connected with Our ParishWelcome from Our PastorWelcome to Christ the King Catholic Church! Ever since 1938 this parish has been assisting souls in their quest for deeper union with God. Our mission statement is essentially found in the stained glass window above the main altar: “For Christ our King.” Insofar as God made us and we belong to Him, we have come to... Read More
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