Pastor’s Column June 30, 2026 I want to begin my last Pastor Column by pointing out that all of my past writings, going back to 2004, and all my sermons since we've been taping them are on my own website, which is www.frgary.com and they will remain there, even though it won't be linked to the parish website anymore. In the same way, I won't be officially linked to the parish anymore as Pastor either, but I'll still be around and helping Fr. Jaspers out when he need

Pastor’s Column June 14, 2026 Given that I will be retiring in three weeks and then helping the new pastor out intermittently, I've been reflecting on the spirituality of thinking that we have an understanding of God's will and the sacrifice (or life) we may hope to offer God versus what He really wants from us. Often, they differ. This is a struggle that almost all of us face if we are journeying with the Lord. In fact, it's essential to our journey that our will o

Pastor’s Column Trinity Sunday, 2026 In the latest edition of the Roman Missal, there was an interesting little change in language in the Mass translations: instead of the priest saying, “Pray my brothers and sisters that our sacrifice will be acceptable to God the Almighty Father,” the priest now says, “Pray my brothers and sisters that MY SACRIFICE AND YOURS will be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.” My Sacrifice and Yours. The Mass is about the Lo

Pastor’s Column Pentecost Sunday May 24, 2026 Let’s suppose for a moment that we have placed a glass of water on our altar. What might your first reaction to this glass sitting there be? That it should not be there! The altar is a holy place. It is where the Holy Spirit comes down like a dove during the Eucharistic prayer and changes ordinary bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. This same Spirit flows out like water to you, the body of Christ, when you

Pastor’s Column Ascension Sunday, 2026 Seeing things in our lives beyond the three dimensions that are natural to us takes practice. When I was in the seminary we were periodically asked to lector in the abbey church on Sunday. No problem, I thought: I have done this for years. Perhaps I was overconfident, but who knew what disasters awaited? We seminarians sat a long way from the ambo, and in between our seats and that podium was a very long row of Monks on both si