Dear OLP Family,

Every day this week, we celebrate the feast of a saint – some better known than others. I thought it worthwhile to reflect briefly on each of them:

Tomorrow/Monday is the feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon (died 258). He was martyred four days after Pope Sixtus II and four deacons were killed. Deacon Lawrence cared for the temporal welfare of the Roman church. He gave a radical witness to service to the poor, joyful generosity and strong faith.

Dear OLP Family,

The feast of St. John Marie Vianney is on August 4. He is the patron of priests and parish clergy. Please pray for all the priests, especially the priests who serve us. I have included a brief sketch of his holy life in this bulletin. The feast of Transfiguration falls on August 6. “Listen to Him” was the instruction God gave to the three disciples who were privileged to witness this unique event on Mount Tabor. That is the instruction God gives us too: Listen to Him.

Dear OLP Family,

Today is World Day for Grandparents and Elderly. This is a day established by Pope Francis in 2021“to draw attention to a category all too often placed on the margins, remembering instead their value and encouraging actions in their favor.” Though the U.S. bishops decided to transfer this to the first weekend after Labor Day to coincide with National Grandparents and the Elderly Day in the United States, the rest of the world celebrates it today. Hence, it is good for us to reflect on the theme of this year’s celebration.

Dear OLP Family, Let me share with you two relevant reflections.

Disobedience to the Pope: Some parishioners asked me recently: what is the difference between regular Catholics and SSPX Catholics, and why are SSPX excommunicated by the Vatican?

Dear OLP Family,

There’s a nice story about a farmer who entered each year his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovering that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors, asked: "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?”

Dear OLP Family,

Happy July Fourth! This 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is an opportune time to reflect upon the great privilege and responsibility of living in this “land of the free and home of the brave.” Our Bishops’ Conference consecrated our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus last month. Here in our parish too, we prayed the Novena to the Sacred Heart, culminating in the prayer of consecration on June 11.