Category: Fr. Tom’s Weekly Message

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In an age when nearly every aspect of life has moved onto our phones, it was perhaps inevitable that prayer would follow. Today there are numerous digital platforms offering guided meditations, reflections, and prayer routines. While technology can certainly assist our spiritual lives, a serious concern arises when the sacred is shaped by the logic of the marketplace. Prayer, at its heart, is a relationship with God, and that relationship should never be reduced to a commercial product.

One widely known example in Christian circles today is the Hallow app. The app offers guided prayers, scripture reflections, and spiritual programs designed to help people deepen their relationship with God. Many individuals have found it helpful for establishing a habit of prayer. However, it is important to understand that Hallow operates as a for-profit company. Specifically, it is structured as a Public Benefit Corporation, meaning that while it promotes a social mission—helping people grow in prayer—it also raises venture capital and offers paid subscriptions as part of its business model.

Throughout the Gospel, the relationship between God and humanity is presented as a gift of grace. Prayer is not something that can be bought, sold, or placed behind a paywall. When worship in the Temple of Jerusalem became entangled with commerce, Jesus Christ responded dramatically. The Gospels recount how He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and drove merchants from the Temple, declaring that God’s house was meant to be a house of prayer, not a marketplace. His action was a powerful reminder that the worship of God must remain free from commercial exploitation.

History also teaches us the dangers that arise when spiritual life becomes tied to money. In the late Middle Ages, the selling of indulgences created scandal and confusion among the faithful. The perception that spiritual benefits could be purchased contributed significantly to the upheaval that followed, including the actions of Martin Luther and the events that ignited the Protestant Reformation. The Church learned from that painful moment that spiritual grace must never appear to be a commodity.

The challenge today is more subtle. Digital platforms do not claim to sell grace, but subscription models can send a troubling message. When certain spiritual resources are free (like IBreviary) while others are available only to paying members (like Hallow), prayer begins to look like a tiered service. The deeper programs, extended reflections, or more structured prayer experiences may become accessible only through payment. Even if the intention is simply to sustain the platform, the structure still frames prayer within the language of a product.

For two thousand years, the Church has approached spiritual life very differently. Scripture is proclaimed freely. The sacraments are not commercial transactions. Prayer cards, devotions, and pastoral guidance are given generously to the faithful. Even when books or materials are sold to cover costs, the prayer itself remains accessible to everyone. The Church has always understood something essential: God’s grace is a gift, not a product.

Prayer is the living encounter between the human heart and God. It is personal, sacred, and freely given.

As believers navigating a digital world, we should welcome tools that help us grow closer to God—but we must also guard against the temptation to turn the life of prayer into a marketplace. The relationship between the soul and God is too sacred to be commoditized. Grace is freely given, and prayer should always remain just that: free.

God bless,

 Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The mystery of the Shroud of Turin has fascinated Christians, scientists, and historians for centuries. This ancient linen cloth, preserved in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, bears the faint image of a man who appears to have suffered scourging, crucifixion, and burial. For many believers, it may be the very burial cloth of Jesus Christ, offering a powerful connection to the events of His Passion, death, and Resurrection.

Historically, the Shroud can be traced with certainty to the 14th century in France, though many scholars believe its history extends much further back. By the 1350s, it was publicly displayed in Lirey, France, and later transferred to the House of Savoy before eventually being moved to Turin in 1578, where it remains today. Over the centuries, the Shroud has survived fires, wars, and extensive scientific study, all while continuing to inspire devotion and curiosity.

The image on the Shroud is unlike any painting or artistic work ever discovered. It appears as a negative image—something that was not fully appreciated until the invention of photography in 1898, when photographer Secondo Pia first captured it on film. When the photographic negative was developed, a strikingly clear and detailed image of a crucified man emerged. Since then, scientists have examined the cloth using modern techniques and have confirmed that the image is not made with pigments, paint, or dyes. To this day, no one has been able to fully explain how the image was formed.

For Christians, the Shroud is compelling because of how closely it corresponds with the Gospel accounts of Christ’s Passion. The Gospels tell us that Jesus was scourged, crowned with thorns, nailed through His wrists and feet, and pierced in the side. The figure on the Shroud shows marks consistent with Roman scourging, puncture wounds around the head suggesting a crown of thorns, wounds in the wrists and feet, and a large wound in the side—remarkably similar to the description found in Gospel of John (19:34). Scripture also tells us that after His death, Jesus’ body was wrapped in linen cloths and laid in the tomb, as described in Gospel of Matthew (27:59–60).

Theologically, the Shroud invites believers to reflect more deeply on the suffering and love of Christ. It is not an object of worship, nor does the Church require Catholics to believe it is authentic. However, many see it as a powerful sign that points toward the reality of the Passion. The wounds visible on the cloth remind us that Christ’s suffering was not symbolic—it was real, physical, and endured out of love for humanity. In this way, the Shroud can serve as a visual meditation on the mystery of redemption and the sacrifice that lies at the heart of the Christian faith.

In recent decades, renewed scientific study and historical analysis have only deepened the fascination surrounding the Shroud. Researchers continue to examine its fibers, pollen traces, blood patterns, and image characteristics. While debates continue, the Shroud remains one of the most studied religious artifacts in the world.

Our parish has a unique opportunity to explore this extraordinary mystery more deeply. On Saturday, March 28, immediately following the 5:00 PM Mass, we will host a special presentation by Fr. Andrew Dalton, an internationally respected scholar and one of the world’s leading experts on the Shroud of Turin. Father Dalton has lectured widely on the historical, biblical, and scientific dimensions of the Shroud and has helped countless people appreciate its significance for faith and reflection.

God bless,

Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Third Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On March 3, the Church celebrates St. Katherine Drexel, a woman whose life offers a clear and challenging vision for parish vitality, Catholic education, and service to the poor. Born in 1858 into a wealthy Philadelphia banking family, Katherine inherited immense financial resources. Yet she understood wealth not as personal security, but as stewardship under divine providence. Her vocation was not simply philanthropy; it was ecclesial and missionary.

From a young age, Katherine witnessed her parents open their home to the poor, distributing food, clothing, and financial assistance. Charity for her was never abstract. It was personal, concrete, and rooted in the Gospel. As she matured in faith, she became increasingly aware of the grave injustices faced by Native Americans and African Americans in the United States—especially their lack of access to quality education and stable sacramental life.

During a visit to Rome, she asked Pope Leo XIII to send more missionaries to serve these marginalized communities. His response was direct: “Why not become a missionary yourself?” That question altered the course of her life. In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, dedicating her fortune and her future to building schools, missions, and parish communities for those who had been excluded socially and economically.

St. Katherine Drexel went on to establish more than 60 schools and mission centers across the country. Most notably, she founded Xavier University of Louisiana in 1925, the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States. Her vision of education was comprehensive. She did not see schooling merely as academic instruction, but as integral formation—intellectual, spiritual, moral, and communal. For her, Catholic education was an instrument of evangelization and a work of justice.

Her work was not without opposition. She faced racism, threats, and even violent hostility. Yet she persevered with disciplined resolve. She understood that every human person bears the image of God and is entitled to dignity and opportunity. Her schools were places where faith and reason met, where students were taught both the truths of the Church and the skills necessary to flourish in society.

Later in life, St. Katherine suffered a severe heart attack that forced her into a hidden life of prayer for nearly twenty years. This period of contemplative withdrawal reveals another essential dimension of her spirituality: all effective ministry flows from union with Christ. Her activism was sustained by Eucharistic devotion and disciplined prayer. Without that interior foundation, her external works would have collapsed under pressure.

St. Katherine Drexel was canonized in 2000, but her relevance is immediate. She demonstrates that resources—whether financial, institutional, or personal—must be placed at the service of the Gospel. She shows that Catholic education is a powerful instrument of evangelization and justice. She proves that service to the marginalized strengthens, rather than weakens, parish life.

As we reflect on her witness, we might ask: How are we stewarding what has been entrusted to us? Are our parishes forming disciples with intellectual depth and charitable conviction? Are we attentive to those on the margins?

May St. Katherine Drexel intercede for our parish community, that we may be bold in faith, disciplined in charity, and unwavering in our commitment to Catholic education and the poor.

God bless,

Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Second Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What Is Christian Spirituality?

In a culture that often equates spirituality with private feelings, personal wellness, or vague belief in “something greater,” the Christian tradition offers a far richer and more demanding vision. Christian spirituality is not primarily about techniques for inner peace, nor is it simply about moral behavior. At its core, it is about how we live our entire lives in relationship with God, others, and the world—day by day, in the ordinary and the extraordinary alike.

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., in his influential book The Holy Longing, explains that spirituality is not something optional for a select few. Every person has spirituality because every person has desires, commitments, habits, and ways of relating to life’s deepest questions. The real question is not whether we are spiritual, but what kind of spirituality we are living.

Rolheiser begins with a profound insight: we are born with a deep, restless longing. This longing expresses itself in our search for love, meaning, joy, belonging, and transcendence. We feel it in our hunger for connection, our dissatisfaction with superficial pleasures, and our intuition that life must hold something more. Christian spirituality understands this restlessness not as a problem to eliminate, but as a gift placed within us by God—a sign that we are made for communion with Him.

Saint Augustine captured this truth centuries ago: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Christian spirituality, therefore, is the journey of directing our deepest desires toward their true fulfillment in God.

But this journey does not remove us from the world; it roots us more deeply within it. The Incarnation—God becoming human in Jesus Christ—reveals that holiness is found not by escaping ordinary life but by sanctifying it. Parenting, working, serving, forgiving, enduring suffering, building community—these become the places where God is encountered.

Rolheiser emphasizes that genuine spirituality always involves embodiment. We do not love God in abstraction; we love Him through concrete actions: prayer, worship, moral choices, service to the poor, reconciliation with enemies, and fidelity to daily responsibilities. Spirituality is lived in the body, in relationships, and in time.

Another essential dimension of Christian spirituality is community. Modern culture often promotes a highly individualized faith: “my beliefs,” “my prayer life,” “my spiritual journey.” Christianity, however, is inherently communal. We belong to the Body of Christ. The Church, with all its human weaknesses, is not an obstacle to spirituality but its primary context. Through shared worship, sacraments, teaching, and mutual support, we learn to love as Christ loves.

Rolheiser also stresses the importance of balance. Human beings carry powerful energies—sexuality, ambition, anger, creativity, and compassion. Spiritual maturity does not mean suppressing these forces but integrating them so that they serve love rather than selfishness. When misdirected, these energies can lead to addiction, resentment, or emptiness; when ordered toward God, they become sources of vitality and generosity.

Suffering, too, plays a role. Christian spirituality does not glorify pain, but it recognizes that loss, limitation, and death are unavoidable parts of life. United with Christ, suffering can deepen compassion, purify attachments, and open us to grace. The Cross is not the end of the story, but it is the path to Resurrection.

Ultimately, Christian spirituality is about transformation into the likeness of Christ. It is learning to see as He sees, love as He loves, forgive as He forgives, and trust the Father as He trusts. This transformation rarely happens through dramatic experiences alone; more often, it unfolds slowly through fidelity to prayer, sacramental life, Scripture, and acts of love performed in hidden ways. .

God bless,

 Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

 

First Sunday of Lent

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We live in an age of remarkable technological progress. Smartphones connect us instantly, information is available at our fingertips, and social media allows us to communicate across the globe. The Catholic Church recognizes these tools as gifts of human creativity — but also warns that, like any powerful gift, they must be used wisely and responsibly.

The Church does not reject technology. On the contrary, she affirms that human intelligence, which makes technology possible, is itself a gift from God. Used well, modern tools can advance education, medicine, communication, and even evangelization. Technology can help families stay connected, allow the homebound to participate in the life of the Church, and spread the Gospel to places missionaries cannot physically reach.

However, the Church insists that technology must always serve the human person — never the other way around. Catholic social teaching places human dignity at the center of all ethical questions, including digital ones. When technology begins to isolate people, foster addiction, spread hatred, or replace authentic relationships, it ceases to serve its proper purpose.

Recent popes have spoken forcefully about this balance. Pope Francis repeatedly emphasized that technology should build communion, not division. In one message, he warned that something is wrong “if we spend more time on our cell phones than with people.” He urged that new technologies should not replace human relationships but instead respect the dignity of each person and help address the world’s crises.

The Church also addresses emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Papal teaching stresses that machines can process data but cannot replace the wisdom of the human heart. Technology becomes dangerous when it distorts our relationship with reality or with one another.

Our current Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has continued this teaching with particular urgency. He has warned that overreliance on digital tools can weaken creativity, critical thinking, and authentic communication. Algorithms designed to maximize engagement can trap people in “bubbles” of anger or false consensus, increasing polarization and diminishing the ability to listen to others.

Most importantly, the Pope reminds us that communication must remain truly human. Technology should amplify our voices, not silence them; foster encounter, not replace it; and deepen our humanity, not diminish it.

What does responsible use look like in everyday life?

It means practicing moderation — setting limits on screen time so that technology does not crowd out prayer, family life, or real friendships. It means using social media to encourage rather than to criticize or shame. It means verifying information before sharing it and refusing to participate in gossip, outrage, or dehumanizing speech online. And it means remembering that every person we encounter digitally is a child of God.

Technology can also be a powerful instrument for evangelization. The Church has always used the tools of each age — from Roman roads to the printing press to radio and television — to proclaim the Gospel. Today, digital platforms provide new opportunities to share faith, hope, and love.

For that reason, we invite you to stay connected with our parish online in ways that build community rather than replace it. Please consider joining the St. Matthias Facebook page and subscribing to our YouTube channel. There you will find livestreamed Masses, parish news, spiritual reflections, and resources to support your faith throughout the week. These platforms are meant not to substitute for gathering in person, but to keep us united when we cannot be together physically and to reach those who may be searching for hope. .

God bless,

Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Each year on February 14, the name Valentine fills our culture with images of hearts, flowers, and romantic gestures. Yet behind the cards and chocolates stands a saint whose life and witness call us to a deeper, more demanding understanding of love—one rooted not in sentimentality, but in sacrifice, fidelity, and faith in Christ.

Saint Valentine was a priest and martyr of the early Church, traditionally believed to have lived in the third century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. While the historical details of his life are sparse and interwoven with legend, the consistent testimony of the Church is clear: Valentine gave his life for Christ and for love rightly understood.

According to ancient tradition, Claudius II had prohibited marriages for young men, believing that unmarried soldiers made better warriors. Valentine, recognizing marriage as a sacred covenant and a gift from God, defied the emperor’s decree by secretly celebrating Christian marriages. In doing so, he upheld the dignity of the sacrament and affirmed that love—faithful, committed, and life-giving—was not subject to the whims of political power. For this act of pastoral courage, Valentine was imprisoned.

Another tradition tells us that while in prison, Valentine befriended the jailer’s blind daughter and, through prayer, restored her sight. Before his execution, he is said to have written her a note signed, “From your Valentine,” a detail that has endured as a symbol of love expressed through personal sacrifice and care for the other.

Whatever the precise historical details, the Church honors Saint Valentine not as a patron of fleeting romance, but as a witness to caritas—the self-giving love that flows from God. His martyrdom, traditionally dated to February 14 around the year 269, reminds us that authentic love often requires courage and, at times, suffering.

For Christians, love is never merely a feeling. It is a decision, an act of the will, and a way of life shaped by the Cross. Saint Valentine’s witness points us to Christ Himself, who loved us “to the end” (John 13:1). In a culture that often reduces love to emotion or convenience, Valentine’s life proclaims a more demanding truth: love is faithful, truthful, and willing to endure hardship for the good of the other.

This makes Saint Valentine a powerful intercessor not only for married couples and those preparing for marriage, but for all who seek to love more authentically—within families, friendships, and parish communities. He reminds spouses that their vows are not merely private promises but public witnesses to God’s enduring love. He challenges the unmarried to live chastely and generously, trusting that love finds its fulfillment in God’s time and plan. And he calls every Christian to resist cultural distortions of love that separate affection from commitment, and desire from responsibility.

As we honor Saint Valentine, we are invited to examine our own understanding of love. Do we see love as self-gift or self-gratification? As covenant or convenience? As something we receive, or something we give—even when it costs us?

Saint Valentine’s life and death proclaim that love rooted in Christ is stronger than fear, more powerful than empire, and ultimately victorious over death itself. May his witness inspire us to love more deeply, more faithfully, and more courageously, and may he intercede for all who seek to reflect the love of Christ in the world today.

God bless,

Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Each year in early February, the Church places before us the figure of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, whose witness continues to shape our faith and devotional life. Though separated from us by more than seventeen centuries, St. Blaise remains a vivid reminder of the Church’s belief that holiness is not confined to history books, but is alive and active in the communion of saints.

St. Blaise lived in the early fourth century and served as bishop of Sebaste, in what is today eastern Turkey. Tradition tells us that he was a physician before becoming a bishop, combining care for the body with care for the soul. During a time of persecution under the Roman emperor Licinius, Blaise was forced to live in hiding. Even in isolation, people sought him out for prayer and healing. Eventually, he was arrested, tortured, and martyred around the year 316. His steadfast faith unto death earned him a place among the early martyrs whose blood, as the Church Fathers often said, became the seed of Christianity.

Over time, devotion to St. Blaise spread widely, especially because of one particular miracle attributed to him. While Blaise was imprisoned, a mother brought him her young son who was choking on a fish bone. Through Blaise’s prayer, the child was healed. From this event arose the Church’s enduring practice of the Blessing of Throats on or near his feast day, February 3rd. During this blessing, two candles—often crossed and held at the throat—are used as a sacramental sign of the Church’s prayer for protection from illnesses of the throat and from all harm.

These candles are among the primary symbols associated with St. Blaise. They remind us that Christ is the light who shines in the darkness, even in times of suffering and persecution. The crossed candles also subtly echo the Cross itself, pointing to the truth that healing, salvation, and eternal life ultimately flow from Christ’s sacrifice. St. Blaise is also sometimes depicted with a bishop’s crozier, signifying his pastoral authority, and with instruments of martyrdom, underscoring the cost of faithful discipleship.

Beyond the historical details and devotional practices, St. Blaise invites us to reflect more deeply on the theological importance of saints in the life of the Church. Saints are not distant heroes meant only to be admired; they are witnesses to what God’s grace can accomplish in a human life. They show us that holiness is possible in every age, culture, and vocation. As the Catechism teaches, the saints “contemplate God, praise him, and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth” (CCC 2683). This is the heart of the communion of saints—a living bond of prayer and love that unites heaven and earth.

When we ask for the intercession of St. Blaise, especially for health and healing, we are not placing our trust in superstition or magic. Rather, we are affirming a deeply Christian truth: that God works through His people, and that those who have gone before us in faith continue to pray with us and for us. The blessing we receive is ultimately God’s gift, mediated through the prayer of the Church and the example of a faithful servant.

As we honor St. Blaise, may we be reminded that our own lives are meant to be signs of Christ’s healing presence in the world. Like him, we are called to care for one another—body and soul—and to remain faithful, even when faith demands courage and sacrifice. May St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, pray for us, that our voices may always proclaim Christ, and that our lives may bear witness to His saving love. .

God bless,

Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Pope Leo has called the Church throughout the world to observe this year as a Jubilee in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, inviting us to renew our faith through repentance, simplicity, peace, and joyful trust in God. Jubilee years have long held a special place in the life of the Church. Rooted in the biblical tradition of restoration and mercy, a Jubilee is a sacred time to step back from the noise of daily life, to return to the essentials of the Gospel, and to allow God to heal what is broken within us and among us.

In choosing St. Francis as the spiritual guide for this Jubilee year, Pope Leo points us toward one of the most beloved and transformative figures in Christian history. Born into wealth in 12th-century Assisi, Francis was the son of a prosperous merchant and seemed destined for comfort and success. Yet through a profound conversion—marked by illness, prayer, and an encounter with Christ crucified—Francis renounced riches, ambition, and status in order to live the Gospel sine glossa, “without gloss,” or compromise.

Francis’ life was radical not because it was extreme, but because it was evangelical. He embraced poverty not as deprivation, but as freedom. He preached peace not as an idea, but as a way of life. He loved creation not sentimentally, but as a reflection of the Creator. His joyful simplicity, deep humility, and fearless love for the poor revealed a Church stripped of excess and centered wholly on Christ.

The legacy of St. Francis endures precisely because it speaks to every age. In a world marked by division, anxiety, consumerism, and environmental neglect, Francis reminds us that holiness is possible when we place God first and trust Him completely. His greeting—“The Lord give you peace”—was not a polite farewell, but a proclamation of the Kingdom of God breaking into the world. Peace, for Francis, flowed from reconciliation with God, with one another, and with all creation.

Pope Leo’s call for a Franciscan Jubilee invites each of us to examine our own lives. Where have we allowed comfort to replace compassion? Where have we become distracted from prayer, generosity, or gratitude? Where is God inviting us to simplify, to forgive, or to begin again? Jubilee years are moments of grace, offering us the chance to reset our spiritual priorities and to rediscover the joy of discipleship.

As a parish community, we are invited to walk together in this spirit throughout the year. This Jubilee is not merely an observance, but a call to action: to serve the poor with greater intention, to speak words of peace rather than division, to care for God’s creation responsibly, and to deepen our prayer lives both personally and communally.

As one concrete expression of this Jubilee year, we will conclude the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass by praying the Prayer of St. Francis together. This beloved prayer captures the heart of Franciscan spirituality—asking God to make us instruments of peace, love, forgiveness, and hope in a wounded world. By praying these words each week, we ask not only to admire St. Francis, but to imitate him.

May this Jubilee year renew our parish, strengthen our faith, and help us rediscover the joy of living the Gospel with simplicity and trust. Through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, may we become a people of peace, mercy, and joyful witness.

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.

God bless,

Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

This week’s bulletin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Catholic Church has always regarded education as a sacred and essential mission, rooted in the belief that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Education, therefore, is never merely about acquiring information or developing skills for employment; it is about the integral formation of the human person—mind, heart, soul, and character—so that each individual may live in truth, freedom, and love.

The Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children, entrusted by God with the responsibility to nurture both faith and reason. Catholic schools exist not to replace this role, but to partner with families in forming young people intellectually, morally, and spiritually. As the Second Vatican Council taught in Gravissimum Educationis, education should aim at “the formation of the human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end and of the good of the societies of which, as man, he is a member.”

At the heart of Catholic education is the conviction that faith and reason are not in competition, but are complementary. Truth is one, and all truth ultimately leads to God. Catholic schools encourage rigorous academic excellence while also cultivating a moral compass grounded in the Gospel. Students are invited to ask deep questions, to think critically, and to engage the world thoughtfully—always with a sense of responsibility for the common good.

Saint John Paul II captured this vision beautifully when he wrote, “Education cannot be limited to the mere transmission of knowledge. It must aim at forming people who are capable of living lives of meaning.” Catholic education seeks precisely this: to form men and women who know not only how to succeed, but why they live, whom they serve, and what gives life its deepest meaning.

This week, as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we give thanks for the extraordinary gift of our Catholic schools, teachers, administrators, and staff. Their work is not simply a profession; it is a vocation. Day after day, they witness to Christ through patience, dedication, and love, often in quiet and unseen ways. They teach math and science, literature and history—but they also teach compassion, integrity, perseverance, and faith by the example of their lives.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, a pioneer of Catholic education in the United States, once said, “Faith lifts the soul above the trials of life.” Her words remind us that Catholic schools do more than prepare students for tests or careers; they prepare them to face life’s joys and struggles with hope rooted in Christ.

Catholic education is also deeply missionary. It forms young people not to withdraw from the world, but to engage it courageously and lovingly. Graduates of Catholic schools are called to be leaven in society—men and women, who stand for justice, defend human dignity, care for the poor, and build peace. In this sense, Catholic schools are not only places of learning; they are seeds of renewal for the Church and the world.

As a parish community, Catholic Schools Week invites us to renew our commitment to this vital ministry. Through prayer, encouragement, and sacrificial support, we help ensure that Catholic education remains accessible, faithful, and strong for generations to come.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You for the gift of St. Matthias Catholic School and for all who serve within.
Bless our students with curiosity, wisdom, and courage.
Strengthen our teachers and staff with patience, joy, and perseverance.
Guide parents as the first teachers of their children in faith and love.
May our schools always be places where truth is sought, faith is nurtured,
and Christ is known and loved.
We entrust our Catholic schools to the care of Mary, Seat of Wisdom,
and ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless,

Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School

 

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Debbie Schurko

 

Faithful Parishioners of St. Matthias,

As we begin this new year together, I want to offer an update regarding our parish donation envelopes and share a brief summary of recent statements from Pope Leo XIV on peace—words that speak to both our spiritual mission and the realities facing our world today.

Donation Envelopes: Current Status and Next Steps

You may have noticed a delay in receiving our 2026 parish donation envelopes. Our order was placed well in advance with our usual supplier, who originally assured us that delivery would take approximately two weeks. Unfortunately, the company has notified us that the production and shipment schedule has slipped beyond that timeline due to issues with their printers.

We recognize that donation envelopes are a practical means for many parishioners to manage their weekly stewardship and support the ministries of our parish. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this delay has caused. Rest assured, we are actively monitoring the situation and maintaining regular communication with the supplier to expedite delivery.  Please consider migrating to Parish Giving in the meantime, or permanently.  Or, feel free to place your donation loose or in an envelope in the collection basket.

Concurrently, the parish finance council and administrative team are assessing alternative vendors who can meet our needs more reliably and with prompt service.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued generosity. Your faithful stewardship enables the ongoing work of worship, service, and outreach in our community.

A Synopsis of Pope Leo XIV’s Recent Statements on Peace

In these weeks and months, Pope Leo XIV has made a series of statements and appeals on the theme of peace that are both timely and spiritually grounded. His Holiness’s voice is a call to the global Church and the wider world to renew commitments to dialogue, justice, and the protection of human life.

Pope Leo’s reflections have been shaped by the contemporary landscape of international conflict and humanitarian crisis. In his Message for the 2026 World Day of Peace, released at the start of this year, the Pope emphasized that peace is not merely the absence of war but a proactive, “unarmed and disarming” pursuit that transforms hearts and societies. He insists that peace requires dialogue, the conversion of hearts, and moral clarity, and that it cannot be rooted in a reliance on arms or the logic of military dominance. Rather, peace must be nurtured through mutual trust and respect for human dignity.

This theme was reinforced in Pope Leo’s address to the diplomatic corps at the Vatican, where he warned that “war is back in vogue” and that the world is witnessing an alarming shift toward the use of force over peaceful negotiation.

In that address, he urged nations to embrace diplomacy and international law and lamented the erosion of institutions dedicated to peaceful conflict resolution.

Numerous appeals from the Holy See under Pope Leo’s leadership have focused on specific conflicts. He has called for:

  • Immediate ceasefires and humanitarian respect in Gaza, emphasizing the need for relief and adherence to international humanitarian law;
  • Just and lasting peace in Ukraine, urging negotiations that honor the dignity of all peoples affected by war;
  • Global prioritization of negotiation and reconciliation over escalation, reminding both leaders and the faithful that the Gospel calls Christians to be “peacemakers” in all aspects of life.

Pope Leo XIV’s message is consistent: peace is not passive. It is a call to active justice, compassionate dialogue, and the pursuit of what is right for every human being. He repeatedly underscores that war harms the innocent, erodes human dignity, and contradicts the Gospel’s vision of reconciliation and hope.

As members of our parish—and as citizens of the broader human family—may we take these teachings to heart. Let us pray for peace in our world and reflect the peace of Christ in our homes, our community, and our hearts.

God bless,

 Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School