Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Every three years, according to the Sunday Lectionary cycle, we hear readings on the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time that take place either on a mountain or on the sea. Both are places where humans encountered God. The prophet Elijah encountered God on Mount Horeb and the disciples, particularly Peter, encountered Jesus on the wave-tossed Sea of Galilee.
These encounters make me think of those times in my life when I felt the presence of God in the majesty of mountain and sea. In 2016, when I traveled in Switzerland, I went to Interlaken and rode an inclined train up the side of a mountain which presented this incredible view of the town nestled between the Brienzersee and the Thunersee with the Alps in the distance:
To my surprise, I came upon this plaque imbedded into the side of the mountain. A translation of the German text is: “Come and see the works of God, who is so wonderful! To you, God, be praise and glory, for you have accomplished a work of creation, full of glory and beauty.”
As I spend a couple of weeks at the Jersey shore, I am reminded of the ways God reveals himself to us here on earth. Nature often provides powerful opportunities to experience the Creator’s wonders. The never-ending waves of the ocean remind me of God’s eternity; the vastness of the ocean reminds me of God omnipresence; storms with wind and lightning remind me of God’s power and omnipotence. The height of mountains remind me God’s majesty and glory. Of course, the Bible contains numerous encounters of humans with God on mountaintops.
Today’s first reading about Elijah on Mount Horeb shows us that God is revealed both in fire, wind and earthquake as well as in a soft, quiet whisper. All of these can be just as dramatic and pow-erful as the other; we just need the eyes and ears of faith to sense God’s presence. My daily walks on the beach are just as prayerful as saying the Liturgy of the Hours or any other form of prayer. How do you encounter God in your own life? You might be surprised at the answer!
Now that our “Christmas in July” fundraiser for our Sister Parish in Haiti has concluded, I wish to thank everyone who participated in it. There is still an opportunity to give online at spsact.org! I am grateful to all the members of our Sister Parish Committee who set up and decorated the tree, and who were present after Mass to answer questions.
I would also like to thank our parishioners who have participated in the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. So far, 249 gifts have totaled $97,738, a remarkable achievement! I believe this is the highest total we have reached in my time as pastor. Perhaps we could reach $100,000. If you haven’t already, please consider participating – and there is still time to do so at archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal.
As the summer passes and we look forward to autumn, I hope you will have time to get away or simply find time to kick back and en-joy a good book. By the time you see this letter, I will have started the second volume of Rick Atkinson’s trilogy on the Revolutionary War. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor
It is important that when you give to any charitable organization, you are confident that the funds received are being used wisely. Be assured that your gift to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal sup-ports the ministries and programs indicated in the 2026 Appeal literature! Organizations such as St. Anthony’s Bread for the Poor right here in our own parish received funding from the Appeal’s Vicariate Outreach Program that makes a difference in the lives of our local neighbors.
Join us, your parish community, and We Are One, by sharing your blessings with the less fortunate.
Please take a moment to watch the launch video here:
We hope you can help us meet our parish goal of $115,000. If you would like to make a gift, please mail in your pledge card. You may also visit the Archdiocesan website at www.archdioceseofhartford.org or call the Appeal Office at (800) 781-2550. Keep in mind that an early pledge will allow you to best use the monthly payment plan.
All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found at https:// archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal/. No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.