Fr. Tom’s Letters

Each week Fr. Tom writes a letter to parishioners in our bulletin. Every letter is comprehensive, including current information about the Parish, an explanation of Scripture for that Sunday, and an invitation to become more engaged in the life of the parish.

July 5, 2026

(There are so many legitimate perspectives and so many genuine ways to reflect on the meaning of what our nation celebrates this weekend. I offer one primarily from the perspective of our faith.)

Dear Parishioners,

We continue our weekend celebration of Independence Day! As our nation observes 250 years, our celebration is filled with gratitude. We have been blessed in all sorts of ways as a nation. Our reading of the Declaration of Independence before each Mass today makes clear that our nation’s founders included many people of faith. Our nation continues to be one with many religious faiths, and more often than not, Americans have learned to abide peacefully with one another as we hold beliefs and worship in faith communities that proclaim different truths and pray in different ways and practice varied customs and traditions. How important in our Catholic faith that we always treasure the song of the angels when Jesus was born: “Peace on earth!”; and the first words of the Risen Lord to the distressed and fearful disciples: “Peace be with you.” How blessed we are that Pope Leo XIV from Chicago continues to be a voice that calls us all to be peacemakers. As the Declaration of Independence proclaimed those “self-evident” truths to be the foundation of our nation’s freedom, no less clearly did Jesus in his first lesson proclaim “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Some refer to out nation’s democracy and history as an “experiment.” For 250 years, it has often been a struggle to establish peace. We pray and hope that the next 250 years may see an even more successful pathway to peace.

As we give thanks for our history, we acknowledge those who sacrificed their lives for peace. Our nation’s pathway to peace has included war; these wars have been on our own soil and even divided states. Other wars have occurred in faraway places and required young men and women to leave their homes and fight in the defense of freedom and pursuit of peace. Although their sacrifices do not mute our celebrations this weekend, we honor their lives, not only by remembering their sacrifices, but also by soberly committing ourselves to do what we can to contribute to a more peaceful society, in our own communities, the cities, and in the world. How grateful I am that Pope Leo XIV in his most recent encyclical has proclaimed we can do better in promoting peace.

There is a great community spirit for this 250th anniversary celebration. Many of us feel great gratitude that we were born here. Many feel gratitude to the generation in our family that had the courage, wisdom, and sense of adventure to come to America and make it the family home for generations to come. Many Americans still work very hard to welcome, support, and assist those who come here from other places and look to make America their home.

As Americans, in a rapidly changing world, we face many challenges. There is a great diversity among us and many schools of thought as to how we meet the challenges of this time and the challenges of the future about which we have no awareness. The Declaration of Independence concludes with “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” This weekend we are so grateful for that “firm reliance.” We are encouraged on this 250th birthday of our nation to move forward in this 21st century with that same “firm reliance.”

“In God we trust!”

Happy Independence Day Weekend!

Fr. Tom

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