A LETTER FROM FR. PAUL — JUNE 12, 2016

​As of June 6 our 2016 collection for our sister parish stands at $3,675. If you have not yet contributed, please do so in the next week or two.

If you have not yet received a mailing for the Combined Collection: the Church in the United States, you will be receiving it soon.

​This is NOT for the Archdiocese but rather for these worthwhile causes:

• Black and Indian Missions
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• Catholic Communication Campaign
• Catholic University of America
• Retirement Fund for Religious

In the past these were separate second collections, but it is done this way now to simplify our lives. Please be as generous as you can. I thank you in advance for your generosity to those in need.

The last skate night of the season was held last weekend. I would like to thank all who work the skating in the gym, the lobby with its concession stand, and the pizza pops! It is dangerous to attempt to list everyone, but I thank Matt Ballard in a special way, who is retiring as the coordinator after 11 years. Another Pius parishioner told me she was working skate nights for 18 years! Our skating is a Wauwatosa tradition! I cannot tell you how many people have said to me, upon hearing that I am the pastor at Pius: “Oh, I skated there when I was young!” Thank you to all of you for your dedication and service.

As part of our efforts to improve our digital communications, our webmaster, Chris Graham, suggested that we choose one name for our community to be used consistently in all communications. The Pastoral Council has chosen St. Pius X Parish Community. As we use up materials and order new ones, we will transition to that name. Please start using this name. Thank you.

Last week, with the raising of the widow’s son in Nain, we saw the compassion and mercy of Jesus for the widow. The Gospel was not about his power to raise people from the dead, but rather his compassionate heart for someone very vulnerable. The readings this weekend continue the theme, but focusing on Jesus’ compassion and mercy for sinners. 

The first reading is from the Book of Samuel. David, though he had many wives, had an affair with a woman, had her husband killed, and married her. The prophet Nathan is confronting David, telling him that he and his offspring will suffer because of his sins. David acknowledges his guilt and immediately Samuel says, “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin. You shall not die.” The mercy of the Lord to sinners knows no bounds!! The Gospel story of the sinful woman who washes Jesus’ feet reinforces this: Jesus says to her “Your sins are forgiven.”

I doubt any of us have committed sins as awful as David, yet sometimes we doubt that the Lord has forgiven us. The Lord is there with his merciful heart, always ready to forgive. Of course, it isn’t a pass to do what we want. Jesus also tells the woman to sin no more. True repentance means resolving to do our best not to repeat our actions.

As we go about our responsibilities this week, I invite us to reflect on the merciful love of Jesus that is always ready to forgive, asking for forgiveness and resolving to better our lives each day. And let us support each other in prayer.

​-- Paul James Portland, SDS