My Good Friends,

St. Francis of Assisi had a profound love for the Eucharist. He stood in awe that the Lord of heaven and earth would choose to humble Himself so completely and become truly present for us under the appearance of bread and wine. For Francis, the Eucharist was never something to be taken for granted; it was always a gift to be received with humility, gratitude, and wonder.

One of the great privileges of priesthood is standing before you at Holy Communion. In those sacred moments, I have the honor of placing our Eucharistic Lord into the hands of those who come seeking Him. It is a quiet, beautiful encounter with Christ that never becomes ordinary.

The Second Vatican Council reminded us that the liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian life. When we gather for Mass, we do not come simply as individuals; we come together as the Body of Christ, the People of God. Our words, gestures, and postures are not empty customs or external formalities. They are outward expressions of the faith we share and help us participate more fully, consciously, and reverently in the mystery we celebrate.

With that spirit, it is helpful from time to time to reflect on how we approach the moment of Holy Communion.

When the priest or Extraordinary Minister (EM) says, “The Body of Christ,” our response is “Amen.” This small word carries great meaning. It is our personal profession of faith: “Yes, Lord, I believe You are truly present.” Whether receiving in the hand or on the tongue, this response is an essential part of our encounter with Christ. It is not merely a response to the minister; it is the voice of our own faith.

If receiving Holy Communion in the hand, the Church asks that we receive rather than take the Host. Placing one hand upon the other forms a simple throne for our Lord and reminds us that the Eucharist is pure gift. We do not grasp for Christ; we humbly receive Him. This simple gesture reflects the truth that God’s grace is always something lovingly offered before it is something we receive.

Many parishioners reverently receive Holy Communion on the tongue, a beautiful and ancient practice in the Church. If this is your preference, please allow the sacred dialogue to take place first. After responding “Amen” to “The Body of Christ,” you may then extend your tongue to receive our Lord. Approaching—or kneeling—and immediately extending your tongue before the response can unintentionally bypass this beautiful profession of faith. Those few moments allow this venerable practice to be carried out with the reverence and dignity it deserves.

The same spirit applies when receiving from the Precious Blood. When the priest or EM says, “The Blood of Christ,” we again respond “Amen.” Since the Church’s norm is to receive from the chalice while standing, we kindly ask that everyone remain standing when approaching the Precious Blood. Our common posture expresses the unity of the Church and the reverence we share for the Eucharistic mystery.

Some who come forward are not receiving Communion but would like a blessing. You are always welcome to do so. Simply crossing your arms over your chest as you approach the priest or EM helps communicate your intention and allows the Communion procession to continue smoothly and prayerfully.

Please receive these reminders not as corrections, but as an invitation. We are all lifelong disciples, continually learning how to love the Lord more deeply. Like St. Francis, may we approach the Eucharist with wonder and humility, and may every reception of Holy Communion deepen our communion with Christ and with one another.

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Zack

Saints of God…

…the Lord be with you!

The Gospel for this Sunday is long (Matthew 13:24-43) and contains three parables describing the Kingdom of Heaven, plus an explanation of the first parable. I’m going to focus on the first parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field…his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat.” This raises the question for me as to how I view the world, my neighbors, and myself.

As Catholics, and Franciscans as well, we should see the world as fundamentally good. Original sin has damaged that goodness but has not destroyed that “original goodness” in the world, in our neighbors, and in ourselves. Yes, bad things, sinful things, wicked things, are done, thought, and said, BUT there is more good in the world, our neighbors, and ourselves than sin. Grace is always at work. In the words of 20th century Catholic theologian Karl Rahner, we live in a “world of grace”. While Grace may be thwarted, denied, rejected, in the end, Grace is Triumphant.

In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom (12:13, 16-19) the sage writes, “For you (God) show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved…but though you are a master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us.” Thank God we have a lenient God, who expects “those who are just must be kind…and that you would permit repentance” when we are not.

The growth of the “wheat of faith” is not reliant on our will alone. In the second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8: 26-27) he writes, “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness…and (he) intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.” As we yield more and more to the Holy Spirit, the weeds of sin and doubt will diminish, our faith will grow and put forth an abundance of charity.

We are more Saint than sinner. Not because of anything we have done, but because of all that God is doing in the field of our lives and our world.

– Fr. Steve

A Journey of Faith & Fraternity

My Good Friends,

This Sunday, Fr. Mike, Fr. Steve, and I will be joining nearly 300 (maybe more) of our Franciscan brothers in the newly reconfigured Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. as we gather for our Provincial Chapter in St Louis and return back to the parish sometime on Friday July 17th. These gatherings are one of the most important moments in the life of our fraternity. As we prepare to pack and make the journey, we find ourselves looking forward to much more than a week of meetings. We will be anticipating a time of prayer, reflection, discernment, and, above all, fraternity.

A Chapter is a unique opportunity in the life of a friar, as it affords us the opportunity for us to step away from the daily rhythm of ministry and come together as brothers. We serve in parishes, schools, retreat centers, hospitals, campus ministries, and many other places, separated by hundreds of miles since the forming of this new Province. For many of us, the Chapter is the one occasion when we can gather under one roof, reconnect with friends, meet friars we know only by name, and renew the bonds that unite us as sons of St. Francis.

While there will be important business before us, including election of new leadership on the Provincial level, various reports, discussions, decisions and possible reassignments that will help shape the future of our province, our hope is that we never lose sight of why we gather. Our Chapter is first and foremost a spiritual event. Together we will celebrate the Eucharist, pray the Liturgy of the Hours, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and listen carefully to one another. Every conversation, every vote, and every decision should be rooted in our shared desire to live the Gospel more faithfully. There is something deeply Franciscan about listening to one another with openness and respect, recognizing that God often speaks through the voices of our brothers.

A gathering of a Province is also a visible reminder that our fraternity is larger than any one local community or ministry. Together we represent generations of Franciscan life, from those celebrating decades of profession to friars who have only recently begun their journey. Together we all bring unique gifts that reflect the richness of our vocations.

As our Chapter begins this Sunday, we ask for your prayers for safe travel there and back home again. Pray that we will be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, courageous in our discernment, wise in our decisions, and generous in our service to one another. Pray that our time together will strengthen our fraternity, renew our commitment to follow Christ in the footsteps of St. Francis, and return refreshed back to our parish community of Sacred Heart.

We arrive with gratitude for the brothers who have gone before us, appreciation for those who serve alongside us today, and hope for the future that God continues to unfold. May this Chapter be a time of renewal, joy, and faithful discernment as we seek to embrace the mission entrusted to us with humility, simplicity, and peace.

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Zack