Dear St. Mary’s family,

I am very happy to announce that this week Fr. Wilson is coming back to St. Mary’s after spending a 30-day intensive retreat in Florida. Please join me in welcoming Fr. Wilson. We can’t wait to hear about his experience during this time of prayer and reflection.

This is the 22nd Sunday in ordinary time and on Friday, we celebrate the memory of St. Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church. Pope Saint Gregory I, also known as the Great, was the Pope of the Catholic Church between 590 and 604 AD. Gregory's family was very wealthy. Gregory was well educated and excelled in all his studies. He also became an expert in law.

Dear St. Mary’s family,

Fr. Wilson has been on retreat for about 3 weeks and the great news is that, in a just over a week he is returning home. We pray for his safe return and St. Mary’s family gladly welcomes him back.

We are on the 21st week in ordinary time and on Tuesday the church celebrates the feast of the apostle Saint Bartholomew.

Dear St. Mary’s family,

Fr. Wilson is still on his 30-day intensive Ignatian retreat in Florida. Please continue to keep Fr. Wilson in your prayers. He is greatly missed.

This week, on Sunday, we have a special celebration: The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption is the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. This belief is part of the treasury of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of Anglicanism. The Assumption is referred as the Dormition of the Theotokos (Greek word meaning “God bearer”). Catholic Teaching and the Sense of the Faithful The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” Pope Pius XII dogmatically defined this doctrine on November 1, 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, while exercising papal infallibility. The dogmatic declaration that the Assumption was part of the “deposit of faith” for all Catholics was just the formal declaration of what the faithful already believed and practiced.

Dear St. Mary’s family,

Let’s continue to keep Fr. Wilson in our prayers for a fruitful and meaningful retreat.

We are on the 19th week in ordinary time. On Tuesday, the church celebrates the feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr. St. Lawrence was a deacon in the early Church, not a priest. The word deacon comes from the Greek word "diakonia," which means service. Deacons of the early Church often helped widows, orphans, the poor and the elderly. We are all called to be servants, so if there is someone elderly in your family try to do something nice for them today. If not, make a donation to the poor box, pay a visit to a local nursing home and cheer someone up and don't forget to pray for those who live in less developed countries.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Monday, I depart for the 30-day Ignatian retreat that I have been writing about. Due to the nature of the retreat — silent and intense — I will not be taking calls or answering email or texts for the duration of the retreat – August 2 through September 3. But I will not leave you orphans! You will be in the very capable hands of Fr. Francisco graciously assisted by Msgr. Willie. I am thankful to them since without them I would not be able to do this retreat. I am also extremely grateful to you, dear parishioners, because it is your generosity and support also that allows me to be away.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We enjoyed having our summer seminarian, Pete O’Steen, with us. Please keep Pete and all of our seminarians in your prayers. Below my column, you will find a note to you from Pete.

Next Monday, August 2, I leave to begin the 30-day Ignatian retreat. It’s pretty intense. Our daily routine will consist of: Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, five prayer periods of at least one hour each, and a meeting with the retreat director for about thirty minutes. I might need a retreat after the retreat! Our retreat director is now not able to come to S.C., so, the four of us are going to him at a retreat center not too far from Tampa, Florida. I return the weekend of September 4/5.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This weekend, Pete O’Steen, our summer seminarian, finishes his time with us. It’s been a real pleasure to have Pete here at St. Mary’s. Please continue to pray for Pete as he enters his second year of major theology. Please also pray for all our seminarians and for more holy vocations to the priesthood.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We give a very warm “welcome back!” to Fr. Francisco, who has returned from his well-deserved vacation. Time away with faith, family, and friends is very important for everyone, priests included. As Fr. Francisco arrives home, our friend Msgr. Willie will be taking a few days away back in New York. We pray for safe travels for both!

This week, July 12-16, I will be away for a priests’ conference in West Virginia, sponsored by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. Participants will enjoy presentations from biblical greats such as Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. John Bergsma, and Dr. Ralph Martin.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Since Independence Day falls on Sunday this year, daily Mass for Monday, July 5, will be at its normal time of 5:30pm, preceded by confessions at 4:45pm.

Father Francisco continues his well-deserved vacation, visiting family and friends in Mexico. Please continue to pray that he has a relaxing time away. Father returns July 12.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have been rather amazed at the blatant irresponsibility of various news sources reporting on just one of many recent deliberations of our U.S. Catholic Bishops. The Conference voted to draft a teaching document with help from the Vatican on the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of all the Catholic faithful. It is indeed sad that some have chosen to read things through a political lens, and not through the eyes of faith. We absolutely must be a people driven by the Holy Spirit, and not by rumors, speculation, or our own agendas. If one is searching for a fight, he or she will always find it.

Below are some excerpts from a recent interview by Our Sunday Visitor with Bishop Kevin Rhoades, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, which explains things well:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Father Francisco continues to be away on a well-deserved vacation, visiting his family in Mexico. He will be away through July 11th. We pray that he has a relaxing and Holy Spirit-filled time. While he’s away, we welcome the help of our retired priest-in-residence, Msgr. Willie. Thank you for offering Msgr. Willie such a warm welcome to St. Mary’s.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Saying “Thank you” is far too little for all the amazing love and support so many of you showed last weekend. I am extraordinarily blessed to celebrate twenty years of priesthood. I’m doubly blessed to celebrate it here with the wonderful people of St. Mary’s parish. From the bottom of my heart, thank you and may God bless you!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Wednesday on June 9, by the grace of God I will give thanks for twenty years as a priest. It doesn’t escape my notice that half of my priesthood has been spent here with you, the wonderful people of St. Mary’s! Our parish staff has graciously arranged a little reception following the 5pm Mass on Saturday, June 5, in the rose garden and Mother Teresa Hall. (Rain location is St. Angela Hall.)