To say I am honored to be writing a column for the bulletin this weekend would be an understatement! This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary! She has brought so much to the faith in terms of bringing people to her Son’s peace, it is beyond miraculous! It will be one year on August 31st that myself and 14 other men were ordained to the Permanent Diaconate and wow, what a year it has been! I can honestly say if it wasn’t for the Blessed Mother, I am not sure where I would be today with all the strife that 2020 has brought us. I can also say that she has given me the peace of her Son to help guide me and my family through these crazy times, and I honestly feel we will all be better in the end.

I just started reading a book written by a Franciscan priest by the name of Father Murray Bodo and the title is “Mystics, Twelve Who Reveal God’s Love.” In this book Father Murray writes a section for Mary, and how she truly was the first Mystic of the Christian Faith and how she is the Queen of Mystics. He writes the following: “All mystics wonder what is happening to them when the Holy Spirit asks them to believe the seemingly impossible, that God wants to enter their lives. They can, of course, out of fear or doubt refuse, and it is the glory of Mary that she does not refuse but says yes.” Let us remember that she did not say yes for her or even us, but her yes was solely focused on God. She wanted nothing more than to be obedient to His will and love. She is our inspiration and the ultimate guide to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Mary needed the salvation of the cross just as much as everyone else, and she was also the very first person to understand this for all humanity. On September 8th, the Church recognizes this day as the birthday of Mary; I would like to issue a challenge that we all say a rosary everyday, starting this weekend, with the last one being said on September 8th in honor of our Mother’s birth. Let us, as a parish community, pray for peace in our own hearts so that we can truly accept the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ! I pray that you join me in this rosary, and I also pray you have a peace-filled week!