Sunday August 02, 2026 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The God Who Cares
The readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us into a quiet but urgent conversation about hunger—both the physical hunger that presses on our bodies and the deeper, spiritual hunger that shapes our hearts. In the Gospel narration, we encounter a crowd that follows Jesus because they are drawn to his teaching and his compassion; they come with needs, and Jesus responds not with abstract words but with concrete care. This moment reminds us that God’s providence often arrives through ordinary means: a few loaves and fishes, a willing heart, a community ready to share. The miracle is not simply that food multiplies, but that scarcity is transformed by generosity and presence. That transformation calls us to examine where we hoard and where we give, to notice the small resources we possess that, when offered in faith, can become instruments of abundance for others.
The readings challenge us to discern what truly satisfies. Most often we are tempted to chase after temporary comforts, status, possessions, distractions that never fill the soul. The Gospel counters that temptation by showing a Lord who feeds and teaches, who invites us to receive and then to become feeders ourselves. Eucharistic imagery is never far from this scene: the breaking of bread, the blessing, the distribution; these gestures point forward to the table where Christ continues to nourish his people. For parish life, this means our ministries should be measured not only by the programs offered but also by how they attend to both material needs and the longing for meaning. Practical compassion, food pantries, shared meals, tutoring, and hospitality must be paired with opportunities for formation, prayer, and encounter so that bodies and spirits are tended together.
The passage also calls leaders and communities to stewardship and creativity. In small parishes or schools with limited resources, the lesson is hopeful: faithful sharing and imaginative collaboration can multiply impact. When families, volunteers, and staff bring what they have- time, skills, a few books, a simple recipe- the community can meet needs in ways that statistics alone cannot predict. Finally, the readings invite personal conversion: to trust that God can work through our insufficiency, to practice gratitude for daily bread, and to commit to acts of mercy that reflect the face of Christ to our neighbors. If we leave the assembly with anything, let it be a renewed resolve to notice hunger in its many forms and to respond with the same generous, practical love that fed the crowd, so that, in our small and ordinary ways, we become channels of God’s extraordinary care. What can you do this week for someone to feel the extraordinary care of God?
Fr. Francis Tandoh C.S.Sp
Sunday July 19, 2026 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
4/14/26 Meeting Summary – Pastoral Council, Finance Key Takeaways: Findings from BOL (Beacons of Light) CPV (Center of Parish Vitality) team was more detailed. Recommended that we state clear action items, identify low-hanging fruit. Pay attention to the financial sustainability concerns. Meeting attendees agreed on the following: The five identified concerns were consistent with our observations. Discussion from members that the five churches together were stronger and financially viable, together (i.e. we can’t continue as separate parishes). We discussed details within financial and maintenance documents from the Unity Discernment process (contributions and age of those contributing (70+, 146 of 363 people), our revenue as compared to entire archdiocese, only 38% of parishioners contributing, etc. Many reflected that merger was the optimal approach as it was an approach that we were familiar with (based on past mergers) and that we should move forward with a focus on Jesus and our vision to foster discipleship and make the Eucharist the center of our lives. Breakout Session Results: We engaged in a breakout session (where 5 groups with 7+ representatives from each parish) to address the question: Which of the parishes should be considered the canonical parish center. Everyone was encouraged to speak and offer an opinion and discuss the “why” of their opinion Consensus was St Benedict; Only 2 people out of 35+, suggested a site other than St. Benedict (1 suggested Q of M and 1 suggested OLG. Council & Leadership Team Attendees: Fr. Francis Tandoh, members of the Councils, Leadership Team and Unity Discernment team (members) of Finance Council responsible for providing financial and maintenance data about all parishes) to support the BOL Family Unity Discernment process 35 – 40 people were present Fr. Francis and Lynne Mosley walked through a discussion of Findings from the HSFOP Reflect Synod Day Workshop held 2/21/26 at St. Benedict. Shared the documents (the findings from the Reflect Synod and the Unity Discernment team documents – finances and deferred maintenance about all parishes) to support informed discussion. The Findings document was prepared by the archdiocese BOL team members who facilitated the Reflect Synod Day. Mike Lippman was the leader. Primary Findings: Communications – continue improvement; “Plain Talk”, Transparency and Frequent Action items: Update parishioner contact info for better telecommunications, move to a single system for FOP. Update and improve church website – hire someone to assist (Comms function may be combined with Youth & Young. Adult Outreach); More frequent bulletin updates (share same information in multiple bulletins) Emotional & Spiritual Support of FOP – Change (move to 1 a canonical parish) is a grieving process. Acknowledge this and provide Holy Spirit-based support. Increase opportunities for storytelling and share experiences among parishioners. Action items: Use 33 Days of Eucharist Adoration, Pentecost Novena to start; Monthly event to build on unity; First unity event in July/August We discussed details within financial and maintenance documents from the Unity Discernment process (contributions and age of those contributing (70+, 146 of 363 people), our revenue as compared to entire archdiocese, only 38% of parishioners contributing, etc. Many reflected that merger was the optimal approach as it was an approach that we were familiar with (based on past mergers) and that we should move forward with a focus on Jesus and our vision to foster discipleship and make the Eucharist the center of our lives. Breakout Session Results: We engaged in a breakout session (where 5 groups with 7+ representatives from each parish) to address the question: Which of the parishes should be considered the canonical parish center. Everyone was encouraged to speak and offer an opinion and discuss the “why” of their opinion Consensus was St Benedict; Only 2 people out of 35+ suggested a site other than St. Benedict (1 suggested Q of M and 1 suggested OLG.
Sunday July 12, 2026 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:1-23
Sometimes I feel capable of absorbing almost anything except God’s Word. My mind soaks up song lyrics, sports trivia, and endless online content. But what was the reading at Mass this morning? I struggle to recall. That realization discourages me, and it leads to an uncomfortable question. What is my heart really for? Is it shaped for constant information and distraction, or is it truly designed for God? Am I capable of deeply receiving His Word?
Jesus speaks directly to this today with a simple image. “The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it.” By comparing the Word of the Kingdom to a seed, Jesus reveals something hopeful about us. The human heart is made for that seed. Soil and seed belong together. No matter how compacted, rocky, or overgrown the ground has become, the Sower never stops sowing.
God loves our hearts. He sees them as a farmer sees his fields, full of potential. Human hearts can indeed “understand the Word.” Understanding does not mean mastering information. It means letting the Word sink in, interacting with it, and giving it a home. It means trusting that, beneath the surface, God is at work in quiet and hidden ways.
When we allow the Holy Spirit to loosen the soil of our hearts through prayer, repentance, and simplicity, the same Word that created the universe begins to bear fruit in us, 30, 60, even a hundredfold.
Lord Jesus, Sower of life, soften the soil of my heart. Let Your Word take root in me again, and bring forth the fruit You desire. Amen.
Sunday July 5, 2026 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:1-23
This weekend, our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Unlike most nations, the United States was not founded primarily on a shared ethnicity, language, or culture. Instead, our founders built a political community out of diverse peoples united by a shared vision of liberty. That vision echoes something deep in the Christian mystery revealed in today’s Gospel.
Jesus returns to his hometown. The people see only what is familiar: the carpenter, the son of Mary, one of their own. As Mark tells us, “They took offense at him. Jesus said, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.’” Their narrow vision blinds them. Jesus has come to inaugurate a new communion that transcends geography, bloodlines, and culture. He has come to unite all people in himself./h4>
At its best, America’s national unity reflects this possibility, which fully subsists only in the Catholic Church. Our unity is not based on ancestry or tribe, but on a shared commitment to higher ideals. For this reason, we can love our country with gratitude while situating patriotism within the broader horizon of faith.
Rooted in Christ, we are less vulnerable to the unholy tribalism that threatens civic life and faith. This weekend, let us thank God for our nation and pray that we also live as citizens of Heaven in Jesus Christ.
