Sacred Heart of Jesus Church - Serving the Communities of South Bend and Lakeville, Indiana

Recent Parish News...

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Deacon David Langford:  as Deacon David told the congregations on the weekend of the 23/24th, it was his last weekend here and Thursday was his last day here (of the week that followed).  We want to thank him for his time with us, though his time was busy with many other assignments away from the parish, and we wish him well in his final year ahead as he prepares for Holy Orders (again) in Priesthood.  Our prayers go with him as we continue to pray for vocations in the parish each weekend at Mass and often include prayers for the seminarians, sometimes by name, in our Universal Prayers at Mass. 
       
We continue too, to be very proud of Deacon Bobby Krisch, from our own parish of St. Jude, and in a special way, continue to support him with our prayers as he too moves towards holy Priesthood this coming June.  When it comes time for his first Mass to be celebrated in his home parish, I know the church will be filled and the prayerful support great!

If you wish to reach Deacon David or Deacon Bobby in the year ahead, you may direct mail to: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, 16300 Old Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.  If you lose the address, you may call the office too for the information at any time.
Charity vs Tolerance: in a recent article in Our Sunday Visitor, Msgr. Pope responded to a questions posed him about the difference between Christian charity and tolerance. The response was both interesting and helpful, and in layman’s understanding when many today are struggling with what they believe, stand by, feel is moral and acceptable, and being politically correct when among others who think differently. PC being something that culture has forced upon us, not always in a palatable way, and if you hold to being Catholic, Christian, believing, etc., you are almost ridiculed by many for being so. Not just my thoughts, but what I hear echoed by so many nowadays who are struggling with the way the world is, so divided, especially in matter of religion and politics, and morals.
“Charity, tolerance and kindness have become muddled.”  Kindness is an aspect of charity, but then too, charity also may call for rebuke.  Tolerance is a feature of love, but so is insisting on what is right.  “We cannot reduce love to mere kindness and mere tolerance.”  Love does not mean I approve everything you do and never offer any rebuke or correction—or even a solid and clear statement of where you stand and why. I’m sure parents struggle with this and how to do it well frequently, which likely has something to do with the contrast of being a parent or trying to be a best friend. Which really constitutes love?
You may want to go to the OSV website and read the entire response in their August 6 issue.  It is something to think over with seriousness. 

As Christians, we are still to be a leaven in the world, and not simply patronizing every whim or trend that comes along, or so-called progressive thinking. ~Fr. John

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Early this spring we applied for a grant and received funds for the renovation of the Keller, Marian and Music Room floors. In the application we stated that the Keller and Marian rooms are the two rooms used the most by the school and parishioners and these rooms would impact everyone’s life at St. Jude. Knights of Columbus volunteered their time to paint those rooms and our flooring contractor, Ray Chilcote, offered to donate time and labor to include the kitchen floor.

Our summertime custodial crew worked hard to freshen up our classrooms with a new coat of paint. How blessed we are that a new family to St. Jude school works at Sherwin Williams and helped with the cost of the paint. 
With funds raised from a successful auction (raised almost $17,000) and Race4Education (raised over $20,000) we were able to redo our Pre-K and 4th grade classrooms. Our contractor Steve Staszewski and HGR Group Inc. has also donated a couple other projects that were on our list. And decorator Geryl Miller, from Miller and Gray Design, generously donated her time and talent to come and help coordinate everything from paint colors to countertop design.

A parishioner donated funds to have the basketball court repaved and painted so our school children can play basketball, four square and hopscotch. 

During Covid, the Federal government released funds (EANS I) to schools to help lessen the impact on learning as a result of the pandemic. A second round was given to schools in the spring (EANS II). The teachers and I brainstormed ways we could use new Federal funding that was released this summer.  We have purchased $2,000 worth of new library books. We have ordered 90 new chrome books and traveling carts for grades 4-8. We also purchased 25 new iPads for grades K-2, new computers for the computer lab, new laptops for the teachers and desks, tables and chairs for small group instruction. 

We are still paying down the existing debt and did so again this year by a very large amount, thanks to one very large donor who has sent an annual check since we began the project 9 years ago, and some of the members who continue to give what they can, when they can, to the “debt reduction.” The renovation work this summer helps us to continue to educate the hearts and minds of our students. I am very grateful for these gifts and the love in and outside our community.

Join us on Sunday, August 14th after the 10:00 Mass for our Back to School event. You can walk through the school building and see our finished projects as well as meet our dedicated teachers and staff. ~Fr. John

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In follow-up to last week: while I received a number of favorable comments about last week’s too-short-for-the-issue article regarding the matter of abortion, I know too that there were likely those who would simply walk away from the topic, shaking their heads and unhappy.  I’m not naïve and always try, as in any matter, to be reasonably well-read on both sides of an issue (something I find most right or left rarely do in more political matters), rather only feeding on “news” from their chosen side of the fence. But that gets into another topic for another conversation.

I was reading in America Magazine (granted a more liberal publication), commentary on both sides of the matter of Roe v Wade, and what I agree with (not abortion as a final choice) is that as pro-life people, we must always be very conscious of the trauma, pain, and struggle of one who is pregnant and under the most difficult of circumstances, and while encouraging the care for the life of the unborn, BE there for them to help them through the pregnancy. It seems the well-healed will always have the care and help they need, but the poor may not. “Women’s Health Care” as some want to title it, should be properly seen as not in support of abortion, but in true care (emotionally, physically) of the woman with child. The life within is STILL a child and human, if allowed to be born, it will not come forth as a giraffe or Great Dane! At the same time, if rape or incest or some other traumatic experience brings about a pregnancy, that person is going to need support and medical (pre-natal) care, etc.  Yes, the Church and her many agencies have always made huge efforts to provide that, but still many others either do not find that agency, turn to it, or for whatever reason, do not take advantage.  Being sympathetic, understanding, caring, compassionate and not treating it all as if it is so simplistic, will always be part of the responsibility of the pro-life advocate, in the name of Jesus Christ.  I read and hear both sides as I try to do with political issues, and I seek to understand both sides and what is the truth that lies sometimes in-between. Hopefully, we all do so. 
       
As I did say last week, for many, there is a lack of understanding (medically and otherwise) of the issues involved, and that too may be a starting place for many.

Deacon David Langford:  This weekend’s reading of the bulletin will be the last weekend Deacon David will be with us.  From here, he goes on to what the Seminarians fondly refer to as “Lake Week”.  It is a week spent at the diocesan property (Noll Hall) on Lake Wawasee, together as a group, relaxing, and praying (eating and drinking), before their respective returns to the seminaries where they are studying.
       
We wish great success and good ongoing discernment to Deacon David, along with all our current seminarians, in this year ahead.  Our prayers—as we have prayed weekly and more—for vocations, go with David, Bobby, and all currently in seminary.  We continue to pray for more to look to this way of life and vocation, for the great good of our diocese and many parishes.
       
As many of you either read or are otherwise aware (apart from bulletin articles of the past), I will be going with others, to the Diaconate Ordination of Sam Anderson (who was with us two years ago) as well as Zane (another studying in Rome at North American College), who will be Ordained this September 29, Thursday, in St. Peter’s Basilica—along with many others from across the US, who are that same class.  As I told Sam, “not a bad venue either!”  What a joy it will be to be with Sam and Zane on that special day in their life, and also with my cousin, now a priest as well, who will also be back there for his final year of studies.  Both he and I will be able to concelebrate the Ordination. Another added joy and privilege! There will be about 5 days of celebration and visiting that will surround that Sacramental moment, but of course, having gotten that far (and at the cost nowadays of getting there), I will stay on (actually, go early-on) and take in some more of the experiences of being in EU.  Another tough assignment. LOL. With Fr. Mark Hellinger’s mother (my first-cousin) and her sister and a few others, (my suite-mate, Fr. Tony Steinacker), we will be doing a Rhine River Cruise, and additional three days in Prague. It hopefully will all go well, safely, with good health, and a great experience.  Fr. Mike Mathews will be at St. Jude for weekends during that time away and Fr. Greg here for weekdays and with the school children for Masses. Looking forward!~Fr. John

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Tuesday, July 26 at 6:00 p.m., Hacienda on Miami Road
$10 Gift Exchange (optional) | Cost of Meal $10
We need a count by Monday, July 25 so please call Julie Breen 574-656-4081 or Anne Orlowski 574-289-6038 to sign up for this event.

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Since the reversal of the law regarding abortion which put the matter back in the hands of the voter and respective States, there has been much joy among many and rage among others. Regardless of one’s beliefs on the matter, the Justices made it clear that the previous law (Roe v Wade) has no place in true Constitutional Law and therefore never should have  been a “law of the land.”  The freedoms protected by Constitutional Law do not provide for the murder of a child in the womb by a mother who ~ for whatever reason ~ should want to terminate their pregnancy.  Prayers have been answered of these many years as well as true justice served in this decision.  The matter returns to the States and the voters within, and please God, people will see the horrific murder of innocent and defenseless children within the wombs as the wrong that it is.
At the same time, we are all aware of many situations to where a woman with child may not want to be pregnant with her child—people cite rape, poverty, health, personal inconvenience, and a host of other reasons why they want to be able to “choose” (take license) over their situation—oftentimes a sad situation.  However, two wrongs have never made a right—nor do they give a person a right to take the life of one who cannot even defend themselves.  In so many situations of life, bad things happen to good people, and there will be some who feel to become pregnant under tragic circumstances makes that pregnancy a bad thing.  The reality of life is that we often have to live with the results of our mistakes or the misbehavior of others around us. It is part of life, but in no way does it provide for the murder of innocent life—which science (the god for some) tells us in no uncertain terms is a human life.  As a child within the womb continues to grow and is eventually born, it IS a child, and nothing less! That process of LIFE begins with conception.  To do away with that life, saying it should be the choice of the mother, is still the taking a human life and not a privilege that should be anyone’s. 
I would encourage all to read the statement from Bishop Rhoades that can be found on line, in Today’s Catholic (the issue that came out immediately after the Supreme Court decision).  Read too the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  To take the life of the unborn child is an intrinsic evil. 
     
We will likely never be free of those who feel abortion should be a “right” but we should also be joy-filled that the law of our land no longer supports this evil. 
      
Another point that should be raised is how many who support abortion are totally confused about what IS an abortion and are often feeding the protesters with misinformation.  For example, if one has a tubal pregnancy.  It has always been the case that such is dealt with (for the sake of the mother’s life) with a medical procedure, but that procedure is not an abortion.  And the medical procedure done to help that woman is one where intention and means are not to end the life of the child within, but to do a resection that would correct the condition—and yes, the child would die—but not by
intention of the procedure.  More can be learned about this by simply speaking with a competent medical person.
       
Another misunderstanding held by more than I was aware has to do with when a woman might have a miscarriage.  The D&C that must follow is not an abortion, but again, a necessary medical procedure.  It does not take the life of the child. 
     
This is a discussion that could and would go on for a long time, but clearly, more education on the part of people who have the ability to vote, to demonstrate, and even to “choose”, is greatly needed. Abortion is and always will be an intrinsic evil and an unacceptable choice as it takes the life of an innocent and completely vulnerable human being.  There are other options—which may not always be easy—but nonetheless morally acceptable. ~Fr. John

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As Most All Know. . . while Fr. Greg has been on vacation in his home of Nigeria, and having entertained for dinner two of his classmates/priests, when the two were returning home after dinner, they were kidnapped by the rebels (presumably) who have been responsible for other kidnappings, murders, and persecution of Catholics and especially clergy and religious.
       
Since our hearing of this very tragic news, I have included prayers (at the time of the Prayers of the Faithful/Universal Prayers) in our weekday Masses and coming Sundays, and will continue to do so until we receive word from            Fr. Greg as to the, please God, safe release of these two priests. I would ask that you too remember them in your prayers as well as Fr. Greg, who was certainly horrified by this news only seeming moments after he had them as guests in his family home while on vacation.  We also pray for the safety of Fr. Greg while in his home of Nigeria.     

As most of us are aware from international news, this kind of horrific thing has been frequent in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.  Please pray for their people who suffer this as well as continuing our prayers for the people of Ukraine.~Fr. John                                 

  1. From the Pastor- June 26, 2022
  2. Mass on the Grass
  3. The Home & Holiday Décor Sale
  4. The Craft Fair
  5. From the Pastor- May 22, 2022