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