Moving Forward in Faith, as a Parish
Dear Parishioners,
The Gospel of the multiplication of the loaves and fish in Matthew 14 is one that many of us know well. Jesus has been teaching the crowds all day. Evening comes, and the disciples begin to worry. They look around and see thousands of people but very little food.
Their response is understandable: “Send the crowds away.”
In other words: “Lord, we do not have enough.”
But Jesus responds with words that must have seemed impossible: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”
The disciples look at what they have and say, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Jesus looks at those same five loaves and two fish and says, “Bring them here to me.”
I believe there is an important lesson for us in those words.
Over the past couple of weeks, our parish family has walked through a very difficult and painful time. I know there are many different feelings among us. Many have experienced sadness, confusion, disappointment, and concern.
I first want to thank you for your prayers, your patience, and the many words of encouragement you have offered to Father Grant, our parish staff, and me. Please know that we pray for you every day as well.
Father Grant and I are deeply thankful to be your priests and to be part of the St. Francis family. I thank God every day for my vocation and for sending me here.
At moments like this, it is easy to focus on what we have lost. The disciples did exactly that. They looked at what they lacked. Jesus invited them instead to consider what God could do with what remained.
Today, we find ourselves with two priests instead of three. It would be easy to focus only on what is missing. But I believe Jesus is asking us the same question He asked His disciples: “What do you have? Bring it to me.”
God has blessed St. Francis in so many ways. We have faithful parishioners, a dedicated staff, generous volunteers, wonderful families, and a parish that loves the Lord. Most importantly, we have Jesus Christ. He has not abandoned His Church. He remains the Good Shepherd, and He will continue to guide this parish just as He always has.
I also want to take a moment to thank Father Grant. While I was away, he carried the tremendous responsibility of helping lead this parish through an incredibly difficult time. He has served you faithfully and with great generosity, and I am very grateful for him.
As we move forward, Father Grant and I will continue to do everything we can to serve you well. Because we are now serving this parish with only two priests, some adjustments and decisions will need to be made so that we can continue serving you faithfully and sustainably.
Some decisions have already been made. I assure you that they were made with much prayer, careful discernment, communication with the Bishop and his leadership team, and always with the good of the parish in mind.
Regarding the immediate decisions that have already been made, beginning THIS weekend (August 8 and 9), confessions will no longer be heard during the 7:00 p.m. Saturday Mass or the 1:00 p.m. Sunday Mass. This change applies only to those two Masses.
Confessions will continue to be heard during the other weekend Masses, but they will end at the Sanctus—the “Holy, Holy, Holy” before the Eucharistic Prayer.
Additionally, starting August 10 we will no longer celebrate a Monday evening Mass.
It is worth remembering that the word “devil” comes from the Greek word diabolos, meaning “one who scatters” or “divider.” The evil one seeks to sow discord and separation.
We see the temptation toward division in the Gospel when the apostles tell Jesus to send the crowds away. They believe they do not have enough and cannot provide what is needed. But Jesus takes what seems so little to us—five loaves and two fish—and keeps the people together in communion.
Our communion also begins and remains in Christ, especially through the celebration of the Eucharist.
I want you to know this: We are here for you. If you are struggling, if you have concerns, or if you simply need someone to listen, please come and talk with us. We are your priests, and it is our privilege to walk with you.
The beautiful thing about this Gospel story is that Jesus never asked the disciples to produce the miracle. He simply asked them to bring Him what they had. He took the little they offered and made it superabundant. It was Jesus who performed the miracle.
That is our task now.
We bring Him our hurts.
We bring Him our disappointments.
We bring Him our questions.
We bring Him our parish.
And we trust that the same Lord who fed thousands with five loaves and two fish will continue to provide everything St. Francis needs.
May we move forward together in faith, hope, and communion with the Good Shepherd, knowing that the Lord who has cared for this parish for so many years will always continue to do so.
In Christ,
Father James Schibi, Pastor