Sunday June 29th, 2025 – Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
“Unity in essentials,
Liberty in doubtful things,
Charity in everything.”
(St. Augustine)
Dear Friends,
As we celebrate the feast of Ss. Peter & Paul, patrons of one of our Family of Five, we acknowledge and even celebrate what we could call the tension between identity and mission.
The early church was a small band of brothers and sisters who found support and sustenance by the unity they felt in the Eucharistic assembly. But they also remembered Jesus’ command to go out and proclaim the Kingdom of God to all the world. It seems there was a struggle between the local identity and the natural affection rooted in community and the call to the universal mission. The call was to move beyond the comfortable to the unknown challenge of changing the world like Jesus tried to do.
We experience that even now in the Family of Five, unique as individual communities, but organized to work together to proclaim Christ to a world which needs Christ more than ever, especially in very challenging situations. We love the individual feel of our parishes, but also are called to move from the safe and comfortable and familiar to the unknown mission territory of a world increasingly divided and mean and disrespectful and isolated. Because we feel safe in our family, we can move in mission to expand the family and lead people to Jesus.
The original tension between identity and mission, so obvious in the tension and struggle between our ancestors Peter and Paul, dissolved for them and it will for us, by staying focused on Jesus. Unity, liberty, charity!
Lets stay focused on Jesus, and see where he leads us!
Sincerely, your pastor who prays daily to be like the Good Shepherd,
Fr. Tim
Sunday June 22nd, 2025 – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
“Bring Him all the praise you know,
He is more than you bestow.
Never can you reach His due.”
(Corpus Christi sequence Lauda Sion)
On this beautiful Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we are reminded of God’s everlasting and overabundant generosity. The Eucharist reminds us so simply, as small as a little host, that the Eternal is really present to feed us, to support us, to unite us, to strengthen us, to comfort us, to challenge us!
Eternity present in the Now! And all we can say is WOW! We are loved by God who just wants to be part of our Now, with all its ambiguity and inconsistency, to remind us that Love is here, and love is possible, and love will last till we reach the Eternal Now, Heaven!
Sincerely,
Fr. Tim
We are so blessed to welcome our two new priests, associate pastors with Fr. Brian Mason, for the Family of Five:
Fr. Silas Henderson, SDS and Fr. Ariel Orozco
The four of us are so blessed to be your parish priests as we all work to bring Christ’s presence to our parishes!
Sunday June 15th, 2025 – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
As I write my final bulletin column for the parishes, I want to take this opportunity to THANK YOU for three wonderful years of priestly ministry. These days have been bittersweet. The sorrow comes from saying goodbye to so many parishioners and friends. At the same time, there has been joy—especially in the recent visit from my parents, who came to Milwaukee for the first time. They felt warmly welcomed and left with full hearts, deeply grateful for the kindness and hospitality they experienced in such a short visit. (They even helped me clean my apartment!)
Next weekend, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, a beautiful occasion to honor the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist—His Body and Blood under the appearance of bread and wine. It is also a celebration of the Body of Christ that we are as a Church. Over these past three years, you have been a beautiful reflection of that Body to me. I hope that, despite my human limitations, I have been the same for you.
As I’ve mentioned in some of my homilies, the “politics” that sometimes surrounds priestly ministry is my least favorite part of this vocation. Yet I have always found deep consolation in the People of God—that is, in each of you. You are the reason I wanted to become a priest, along with Jesus Himself (whose Body you are!), and you continue to be the reason I carry out my sacred duties each day.
As I begin this new chapter in Rome, please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please, keep me in yours! I will miss you! If you’d like to stay in touch, here is my mailing address for the next year:
PNAC/Casa Santa Maria – Fr. Carlos Londoño
Via dell’Umiltà 30
00187 Rome – Italy
THANK YOU! And may God bless you!
Gratefully and with much love,
Fr. Carlos
Sunday June 8, 2025 – Pentecost Sunday
Dear Sisters & Brothers,
I came across this prayer to the Holy Spirit some time ago. As we celebrate the gift of the Spirit given to the disciples on Pentecost, I share it with you in the hope that it may help you to remember to pray to the Holy Spirit each day.
With my love,
Fr. Brian
A Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation from the Holy Spirit
Dear God, I come before you in humility and reverence, seeking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Your Word reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask, and you will generously provide it. Today, I earnestly seek that wisdom, knowing that it is a gift from your loving and gracious hand.
Holy Spirit, Divine Counselor, and Source of all wisdom, I invite your presence into my heart and mind. Enlighten my understanding, that I may discern your will in all things. Grant me clarity and insight as I navigate the challenges and decisions of life.
Help me to see the world through your eyes, to understand the hearts of others, and to discern the path of righteousness. Fill me with discernment to recognize truth from falsehood, wisdom to make sound choices, and the courage to act in accordance with your guidance.
Lord, grant me the wisdom to be patient in trials, to be understanding in conflicts, and to be a source of peace and love in all my interactions. May your wisdom flow through me to bless others and bring glory to your name.
I surrender my own understanding and lean not on my own understanding but on your infinite wisdom. I trust that you will direct my steps and order my life according to your perfect plan. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your promise to guide and teach me. I receive your wisdom with an open heart and a grateful spirit. I offer this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sunday June 1, 2025 – Seventh Sunday of Easter
Jesus answered them,
“It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”
(Acts of the Apostles, ch. 1)
Dear Friends,
Happy Feast of the Ascension! As I reflect on the story of Jesus’ return to the Father, I find myself relating to the disciples who must have been amazed at the glory of the situation, but if they were like me, they would be asking themselves, “What now?”
I am a planner and try to be two steps ahead of any situation so I can do my best job and get things done efficiently. The Ascension would have thrown me for a loop. Jesus was sure and certain in his proclamation of God’s Kingdom and what needed to be done to make that Kingdom come about. The stories of his healing ministry and the final triumph of the Resurrection over death and evil and injustice and division shows forth not the political, earthly victory, but the greater victory of Eternal Life.
But now he is giving the direction to his followers that the Holy Spirit will be leading the charge and using them to be the means to that victory being made real in people’s lives not only back then, but in every age and every time and place!
I believe he is telling us not to worry so much about how things will work out, but to live each moment in the care of the Holy Spirit, knowing that things have already been worked out. Trust, confidence, joy, and surrender should be the template, not control and power and worry!
As we continue to live in the Holy Spirit’s timeline and planning, let us be like our ancestors and live a moment at a time, knowing that in Jesus, the valley of our tears becomes the mountain of Glory!
