Parish Blog

The Holy Family: A Model for Christian Discipleship

12-29-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, we are asked to contemplate, as a continuation of the Mystery of Incarnation, God's Son's insertion into the human community: the family, and Jesus' progressive education by Joseph and Mary. As the Gospel says, “And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” (Lk 2:52)

READ MORE

Living with Dynamic Faith

12-22-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the last Sunday before the arrival—the Advent—of God in Bethlehem. So as to be the same as us in everything, He wanted to be conceived—as any other person—in the womb of a woman, the Virgin Mary. And He was conceived by the action and grace of the Holy Spirit, as He was God. Very soon, on Christmas Day, we will celebrate His birth with great joy.

The Gospel today presents us with two people, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, who show us with their example the spiritual attitude we should have towards this event. It should be an attitude of faith, of dynamic faith.

READ MORE

John the Baptist Prepares the Way!

12-15-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today in the middle of Advent, the Word of God presents to us the Holy Precursor of Jesus Christ: Saint John the Baptist. God the Father prepared the coming, that is, the Advent, of his Son in our flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, in many ways and in many forms, as the beginning of the Letter to the Hebrews says (1:1). The patriarchs, the prophets and the kings prepared the coming of Jesus.

READ MORE

Finding God on the Path of Life

12-08-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, almost half of the Gospel passage consists of historical-biographical data. Not even in the liturgy of the Mass was this historical text changed by the frequent “at that time.” This introduction, so “insignificant” for contemporary man, has prevailed: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee...” (Lk 3:1). Why? To demystify! God entered the history of mankind in a very “concrete” way, as well as in the history of every man. He did so, for example, in the life of John - Zechariah's son - who was in the desert. He called him to cry out on the banks of the Jordan... (Lk 3:6).

READ MORE

A Time to Wait and Hope!

12-01-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Advent can be called an “ardent” time, a time of contrasts. Advent begins the liturgical year, yet it is already speaking to us of the end of time. We prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ, His first arrival, yet we also listen to the announcement that prophesies His Second Coming as our Judge. We should live this time with our eyes wide open, expecting our final liberation. Jesus' preaching to His disciples puts us on guard that we should not be impressed by the violent upheavals that will come; instead, He invites us to anticipate the arrival of the Son of God in prayer and vigilance.

READ MORE

Christ the King!

11-24-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Jesus Christ is Our Lord! “To Him was given all power, honor and the Kingdom.” We believe that He is the incarnate Son of God in Jesus of Nazareth; He is a brother that has been glorified; He is the Word of God who has saved us; He is the One who died and rose from the dead. Christ has come to this world to be the “Witness of the Truth.” The Feast of Christ King is the golden clasp of the liturgical year, for it binds every Christian to fight to establish His Kingdom in our own heart, in society, and in the entire world.

READ MORE

Father Orlando: 30 Years a Priest of Jesus Christ

11-17-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

This weekend we celebrate a huge milestone in the life of a priest, the Thirtieth Anniversary of the ordination of Father Orlando!

Father Orlando was ordained to share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ on November 24, 1994, at the Chapel of the Major Seminary of the Yarumal Missionaries in Medellin, Colombia by Archbishop Ignacio Gomez Aristizabal. Father Orlando was ordained with four other priests, but only two of them have persevered in the priesthood to the present day.

READ MORE

Healthy Detachment

11-10-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today, the Gospel presents Jesus Christ as the Master, who speaks to us about the detachment which we must live by. In the first place, a detachment of our honor and recognition which, every so often, we are looking for: “Beware of (...) accepting greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets” (Mk 12:38-39). In this sense, Jesus prevents us from following the bad example of the scribes.

READ MORE

October Surprise!

11-03-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

“And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:6)

St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians was written in prison where he was in danger of death. In his letter, he rejoices in their continued progress in the Gospel. And he wants them to know that if they continue to be faithful, God will certainly be faithful to them and bring His work to completion at the end of their lives (or the day of Jesus Christ).

READ MORE

We Must Vote...No Option On That!

10-27-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Yes, this is a challenging and contentious election season. And seems, at least from my perspective, that each succeeding election is even more challenging. Some people are so dismayed by the electoral process, the campaigning, the name calling, and TV commercials that they throw their hands in the air, bury their heads in the sand, and decide to skip the ballot box.

READ MORE

A Cross to Bear

10-20-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Well, for me, it has been quite a week. As I write this it’s Thursday, October 10th. Tomorrow I will drive to Augusta for my bypass surgery.

READ MORE

Darkness and Light

10-13-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

So, on Friday, October 6th, I was at the rectory eating my lunch. Still, without power, I had warmed some meatloaf, carrots, and potatoes in a pan (from a very generous and giving parishioner) along with some homemade bread and a tomato. Normally I do not eat meat on Fridays, but this was what I had, so I enjoyed it and did my penance later for eating meat on a Friday.

READ MORE

A Time for Healing

10-06-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

As I write this letter, we are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. On Friday morning after the hurricane winds/mini tornadoes came through, I met a man who had spent all of his seventy-some years living in Aiken. He said that this was the worst he had seen in his lifetime. It certainly is the worst devastation that I have seen in my entire life. It is like the aftermath of a horrific battle but without the huge loss of life.

READ MORE