American Martyrs

From the Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Over the years, our local communities have been a hive of activity with houses being remodeled, demolished, and rebuilt. We have done the same with many of our parish facilities — constructing new school buildings, a gymnasium and field, parking structure, and our beautiful welcome center. God has blessed these endeavors because we are a tithing parish, embracing the needs of our sister parish and caring for the poor.

Some of you may feel as if our hard work is finished. But after they fished all night, Jesus did not tell the Apostles to rest. He told them to go out and “cast into the deep” for He had new challenges to present to them. We, too, are being called to cast into the deep. It is our time to share the Good News and bring people to Christ.

Our Archbishop has asked us to join in solidarity with him and every parish in the Archdiocese for Called to Renew. This campaign will support the needs of our parish as well as of poorer parishes, and fund outreach ministries essential to the life and growth of our Catholic community. We will be a part of something greater than ourselves and, by God’s grace, see this as an opportunity to bless and be blessed.

Our commitment is to renew our own magnificent church, which is in need of loving attention. I remember Marie Kelly, who lived on 18th Street, sharing how in the early 1950s, while nine months pregnant, she walked door to door collecting dimes and dollars to build our church. “Now it is yours to honor and care for,” she said. While we will not walk up and down streets like our predecessors, we will enter the doors of your hearts.

I continue to be honored and grateful to be your pastor. You, as a priestly people, have ministered to me and motivated me to never be fearful of casting out into the deep as we work together as co-ministers building up the Kingdom of God.

Peace in Christ,

Rev. Msgr. John F. Barry, P.A.