A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, January 17th

Please note the information in the bulletin for a “virtual open house” for our school, Wauwatosa Catholic, on Thursday evening, January 28th, at 7:00 pm.  I ask parents to seriously consider sending your children to our school, which is both Catholic and International Baccalaureate (I.B.). The open house will help you understand what
International Baccalaureate means, but, in short, it helps the students become “world citizens,” opening them up to different cultures and ideas.  “Catholic” means “universal,” so Catholic and I.B. curriculums reinforce each other in an awesome way.  I highly recommend the school.  Check it out on the 28th!
 
This is our annual “Salvatorian Sunday,” when I ask you to support my religious community that started St. Pius X and has ministered here over its entire history. Information on how to contribute can be found in this bulletin and online.  Please be as generous as you can.  Thank you.
 
This is the first opportunity I have had to write since the attack on our capitol building on January 6th.  Among the signs I saw as people breeched the security to enter the building was “Jesus 2020.”  This, plus all the divisive behavior and rhetoric we have seen over the past months and years by those who say they are “Christian” and fighting for a “Christian” nation, is deeply disturbing to me: what are we saying it means to be a “Christian”?
 
Our first and Gospel readings this weekend are very relevant to what I want to say.  In the first reading, God is calling Samuel, but he needed Eli’s help in order to be able to hear God.  In the Gospel, John the Baptist points out Jesus to his followers and some of them, including Andrew, follow Jesus.  John the Baptist led them to Christ!  Then Andrew goes and brings his brother, Simon Peter, to Christ.
 
See the pattern?  God uses us to bring others to Him and to help others live His values of love of God as shown through love of neighbor, especially the most needy.  Our behavior, both in words and action, ARE important.  Our obligation is to promote justice, peace, unity, and equality, especially for the most vulnerable.  Angry words that denigrate others are NOT acceptable and make it less
likely that we will be able to move forward for the good of all.
 
As individuals and as “one nation under God,” we need to ask God for forgiveness for anything we do that does not bring peace, unity, and justice.  I invite us to spend some time this week reflecting on our words and actions: are we contributing to division or to unity?  Let us also pray for our country, that we can better live up to the ideals that have been given to us by God and our founders.  Like Eli, John the Baptist, and Andrew, may we lead others to Christ by who we are and what we say and do.