Greetings from Fr. Dave

This weekend we are honoring the Assumption of Mary at all of our Masses. This teaching of our Catholic faith is one that has tons of implications for our how we live our lives in this world, and how to live our lives well in light of the promise of eternal life Jesus gives us. The Assumption of Mary is about our conviction that at her death, she entered body and soul into heaven.
 
Two biggies to keep in mind: first, for Mary and for each of us, salvation and eternal life in heaven are pure GIFT. We call that grace. Mary did not earn heaven and we cannot earn heaven. As Luke’s Gospel puts it when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary at the Annunciation, “Hail Mary, full of grace”. God chose her uniquely for the role she played in the salvation of all of us and to that offer she responded fully, “May it be done according to your will”. Because of that, Elizabeth, her cousin, proclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus”.
 
Second, the Christian vision of eternal life encompasses all of this created world transformed to perfection. We don’t escape the material world to “go to heaven”; the material world is not some kind of cosmic mistake that we finally overcome; the spiritual life is not about getting out of this world and “going to heaven”; and at death we don’t escape the body and live forever in a disincarnate state. Nope, the Resurrection is about all of creation being restored, transformed, and redeemed! Oh boy! May we live each day fully, keeping in mind we are destined for nothing less than Eternal Life!


And, I want to continue to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your continued support of our parish during these unsettling times. I am grateful that on top of everything else we are dealing with at the parish, the school, and our outreach, finances are not an urgent need. Your generosity is much appreciated. THANK YOU.


Blessings to Abigail Costa and Elijah Hertel, who were baptized this weekend!


Funeral services are scheduled for Wade Trine for September 12th at 11:00am. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace.