Dear Parishioners, It’s rare that June 29th falls on a Sunday. It’s even more rare that this feast (or any feast) of Sts. Peter & Paul, which is commemorated on June 29, is permitted to trump the ordinary celebration of a Sunday. Given the antiquity of this commemoration as well as the enormous significance of these two pillars of the church, we are privileged to honor them on the Lord’s Day. The great esteem in which all the apostles were held in the early church is evident in the New Testament letter to the Ephesians (2: 19-20) that proclaims, the community of the saints and members of the household of God is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

Dear Parishioners,

As time rushes by as it seems to do the older one gets, last Friday, June 20, marked the official beginning of summer with the occurrence of the Summer Solstice at 10:42 PM. The solstice occurs twice a year, at winter around Dec. 21, and at summer around June 21. According to NASA, a solstice happens when one of the earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt toward the sun. The word itself is derived from the Latin solstitium, meaning “sun stands still,” referring to the moment when the sun’s apparent path pauses before reversing its direction.

Dear Parishioners, On June 1, 2025, I blessed the Time Capsule (and its contents) that was one of the closing moments of our parish centennial celebration. Our time capsule was designed and organized by the committee that has overseen all the components of our year-long celebration.

The purpose of a t ime capsule is to preserve a snapshot of a specific period in history so that future generations will be able to better understand and appreciate its roots. Within capsules are objects, documents and other items that represent the accomplishments of those people.

Dear Parishioners,

On this great festival of Pentecost the Church brings the Easter Season to its solemn close. This day is sometimes referred to as the Birthday of the Church. I recently read an article that offered a creative way for us Americans to understand Pentecost. If July 4th commemorates the day when the 13 American states were liberated from England’s rule, then September 17th commemorates the day when this collection of states became the one United States, for it was on this day that the Constitution, our charter document, was signed allowing us to take our place among the other nations of the world.