A Letter From Fr. Paul - February 9, 2020

I thank all those who have supported the Salvatorian Sunday collection so far. We will keep the collection open a couple more weeks and then I will find out the total and report it to you.

Congratulations to Randy Ferrell, a teacher at Wauwatosa Catholic, who has been selected as “Teacher of the Year” by the 4th VFW District. Randy led a research project with the 8th graders a couple years ago to develop a memorial for each soldier who died in the Vietnam War. This project allowed our students to learn about the war and, at the same time, begin to understand the tremendous toll it took on individuals and families.

Wauwatosa Catholic does a wonderful job instilling our Catholic faith and an inquiring, open mind in our children. Registration for next year is open: please consider sending your children to our school. If money is a factor, please talk to our principal, Lori Suarez, about the possibility of tuition assistance.

Our readings this weekend are very powerful. Jesus tells us that we are to be light for the world and salt for the earth. Isaiah gives us some hints on how to do it.

We don’t think about salt much because we have refrigeration and many prepared foods already have salt in them. But in Jesus’ day, salt was essential for preserving food, as well as giving flavor. It was so valuable that even the root word for “salary” is the Latin word for salt.

Isaiah tells us WHAT to do and what NOT to do, in order to be light and salt for the world. The “to do’s” are to be generous with the gifts that God has given us, especially to the hungry, naked, oppressed, and homeless.

Sometimes the “not to do’s” are more difficult: remove false accusation and malicious speech from your lives. We have a real problem with this in our culture. It is sad that our children are exposed to politicians and public figures being mean, bullying, and threatening to others. This sends the message that it is OK to behave this way. Gossiping, talking about others behind their back, bullying, calling names, denigrating others – all of these are contrary to Gospel values and sinful. Worst of all, the more these things are done, the more others do the same.

We CAN make a difference. We can make a concerted effort, first of all, not to do these things ourselves. Second, we can refuse to be part of a conversation where any of these things are happening. We can politely say that we do not find that kind of talk uplifting and productive; then, if the conversation doesn’t change, simply walk away.

​Reflection for the week: change in our culture begins with each one of us. How do I use the gift of speech? Am I light and salt to the world by what I say and listen to? How can I do better? And let us support each other’s efforts in prayer.