From the Pastor – October 11, 2020

During the past week or so there has been a lot of discussion and reaction to the fact that President Trump and his wife tested positive for COVID-19. Reaction to his diagnosis has come from across the country and around the world. The president has underlying conditions that make him more susceptible to the virus, but he didn’t help himself by not wearing a mask, not social distancing from others, and gathering with large groups of people who also were not wearing masks. This only shows how serious this virus is, and it will become more so as we begin to move our activities indoors as the weather gets colder. It is important that we wear our masks, maintain social distancing, and wash our hands regularly. We have noticed that couples who are getting married during the pandemic are delaying their receptions because of the restrictions in the number of people allowed indoors. Most couples are having ceremonies now and holding receptions next year. This is all very different from what we are used to doing. In today’s Gospel, the king holds a wedding reception for his son, only all those invited make excuses as to why they can’t attend. So, he sends his servants to invite anyone they encounter on the way. Pretty soon, the banquet hall is filled with people looking for a good meal, except for one person who wasn’t dressed properly. Jesus invites us all to the Table of the Lord. Most of us accept his invitation, while some reject it for one reason or another. There are no restrictions to the invitation. Jesus reminds us to “come and see, come and hear, come and celebrate” the gift he is for us. Jesus doesn’t discriminate against anyone, so anyone and everyone is invited. We are welcomed at the Table to break bread together, to listen to the Word and to celebrate our fellowship with each other and the intimate relationship of Father and Son. This relationship is life-giving and nurtures us on our journey of life. This relationship then becomes reflected in the way we live our lives in relationship to our God and with each other. The invitation is always given, the response is always ours. Last Saturday, October 3, there was a Mass in Italian to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In honor of St. Francis, $75 was given to the church. Following the Mass, the traditional blessing of animals occurred in the front of the church. It was a good reminder for us of the entire gift of Francis, the first ecologist, to us! The archdiocese is reminding us to make a gift to the annual appeal, Sharing the Light of Christ. Since we cannot take up a collection, we are asked to make an online donation at rcan.org/sharing.  HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!!FR. JOE