Category Archives: Friar Reflections

A regular reflection from one of our Franciscan Friars on the day’s readings, the happenings around the parish, or discussing parochial outreach initiatives.

Rooted & Rising | From the Desk of the Pastor | October 11, 2026

Friar Reflections, From the Desk of the Pastor, Parish News

Dear Parishioners,

As the oldest Catholic church on the west, central coast of Florida, Sacred Heart has seen a lot of change throughout the years. Founded in 1859 as St. Louis Parish, generations who came before us witnessed the Civil War, Yellow Fever epidemics, and the Spanish-American War. Under the leadership of the Jesuits, they eventually built the grand, historical structure you see and sit in today. But you may not know that the land immediately south of our church was once owned by Sacred Heart and was the original location of Jesuit High School.  

Historical View of Jesuit High School

Once Jesuit moved to its current location on Himes Ave., the Jesuits leased and eventually sold the land, and the Madison Building was developed. Over the next 60 years, Sacred Heart and the Madison Building would live side by side on this city block. But recently, the building went on the market, and over the course of the last year, Sacred Heart has taken the necessary steps to secure it.

Current View of 412 E. Madison Street

As you can imagine, this is extremely exciting news. I don’t have to tell you that Mass attendance has grown significantly in recent months, because you see it every time you and your family attend Mass. Our parish is growing and thriving, and securing this property allows our parish mission and vision to progress in ways we have long dreamed about. 

Guided by our Franciscan values, we want to create a multifaceted and intentional space.

  • A space where our parish family can gather, celebrate, and serve,
  • A space for ministries to reach and serve those in need,
  • A space that offers room for fellowship and community events
  • A space that elevates our welcoming environment for sacramental celebrations
  • And a space for quiet contemplation, green space, and reflection gardens in the heart of the city.
A New Space to Vision and Dream

But that’s just the beginning. It will take time for any vision to become a reality. The Madison Building is a working professional office building, with leased office spaces that run until August of 2031. That gives us five years to discern, to dream, and to create a vibrant space that strengthens our parish life and extends Christ’s welcome to everyone we meet. We know we want to build something that we can all be proud of – something that will serve our parish now, in the not-too-distant future, and for generations to come.

I have no doubt that many of you will have questions. It’s only natural that something as momentous as this will create excitement and maybe even a little apprehension. We will do our best to answer your questions with the information we have and continue to provide more details over time as our visioning progresses.

In the meantime, we need and want to hear from you. We can’t bring any vision to life without the input of our parishioners. Every voice matters and every suggestion brings us closer to ensuring we’re serving the needs of our parish family. We’d ask that you please consider joining one of our upcoming listening sessions to share your ideas, ask your questions, and give us your feedback. Available dates and times are included on the next page.

This is our moment to work together to imagine what Sacred Heart can become.

Peace and all good,
Fr. Mike

Living the Charism Today | From the Desk of the Pastor | Feast of St. Francis, 2026

Friar Reflections, From the Desk of the Pastor, Parish News
Reflecting on the Feast of St. Francis and the 800th Anniversary of His Passing…

Dear Parishioners,

As autumn opens before us and we gather as a faith community on this first Sunday of October, our hearts turn naturally to the great patriarch of our tradition: St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day we celebrate on October 4th. For our parish family, rooted deeply in Franciscan spirituality, this liturgical season is far more than a calendar remembrance. It is a moment of profound gratitude, self-reflection, and renewed dedication to the Gospel path laid out by the Poor Man of Assisi.

This year’s celebration carries a special historical and spiritual weight. We are currently marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s Transitus—his transition from earthly life to eternal life in 1226. Eight centuries have passed since Francis welcomed “Sister Death” on the bare ground at the Portiuncula, yet his voice, his witness, and his revolutionary spiritual vision remain as urgent and vibrant today as they were in medieval Umbria.

The Urgency of the Franciscan Charism: It is easy to romanticize St. Francis as a gentle figure who spoke to birds and calmed wild wolves. While his deep connection to all created things is a beautiful hallmark of his life, the heart of the Franciscan charism is radical, challenging, and profoundly practical. St. Francis did not set out to create a lofty theological system; he simply wanted to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ without compromise.

In our modern world—often marked by division, consumerism, loneliness, and environmental strain—the Franciscan spirit offers essential medicine for our culture:

  • Radical Fraternity and Reconciliation: In a culture that frequently categorizes people into “us” and “them,” Francis insisted on calling every human being—and indeed every created creature—brother and sister. He crossed social, economic, and religious barriers, famously meeting the Sultan in the midst of the Crusades to seek peace through encounter rather than force. As a parish, our calling is to be a sanctuary of true brotherhood where all are welcomed and reconciled.
  • Simplicity and Joyful Dependence: Francis recognized that an attachment to material wealth often builds walls between people and fosters fear. By embracing Lady Poverty, he discovered freedom—a joy that comes not from what we possess, but from recognizing everything as a gift from a loving God. Living Franciscan simplicity today invites us to simplify our lifestyle, practice generous stewardship, and find contentment in God’s grace.
  • Care for Our Common Home: Long before ecology became a science, Francis composed the Canticle of the Creatures, praising God through Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and Mother Earth. He saw creation as a primary revelation of God’s goodness. Today, as stewards of the Earth, the Franciscan charism urges us to treat creation not as a commodity to exploit, but as a sacred gift to protect and nurture for generations to come.

  • Serving Christ in the Poor and Marginalized: Francis’ total transformation began not when he gave away his money, but when he embraced the leper—the person most rejected by his society. For Francis, to love God meant to draw near to those onthe fringes. As a Franciscan parish, our mission remains tied to serving the vulnerable, advocating for justice, and recognizing the face of Christ in every suffering neighbor.

Embracing Our Mission as a Franciscan Parish: As we mark this 800th centenary milestone, we are reminded that Franciscanism is not an artifact of history to be preserved in glass; it is a living way of being in the world. St. Francis famously heard the Lord speak from the San Damiano Cross: “Francis, go and rebuild my Church.” That mandate was not given to Francis alone—it is handed directly to us today.

How do we build up the Church in our neighborhood this October? We do so whenever we reach out to someone who is lonely, whenever we practice forgiveness in our families, whenever we choose simplicity over excess, and whenever we gather at the table of the Eucharist as true brothers and sisters.

Let us celebrate this Feast of St. Francis with renewed fervor. May the spirit of Assisi ignite our parish community, filling us with peace, humility, and the joy of the Gospel.

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Mike

Thank God, that God Isn’t Fair | Friar Reflections | 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friar Reflections, Parish News

Saints of God…

the Lord be with you!

In the month of September where we here in the U.S. celebrate Labor Day, it’s interesting to me to have the Parable of the Vine Growers (Matthew 20:1-16) proclaimed.

We all know the story; day laborers hired at the start of the day for a certain wage. During the day, others are hired and some hired near the end of the working day. In the end the landowner pays them all the same wage, and those hired first grumble and complain. In a stunning comeback the landowner replies, “Are you envious because I am generous?”

And that’s the rub. Some say they want God to be fair. But if you think about it, fairness involves giving what is deserved. If we take even a cursory look at our lives, we really don’t want God to be fair. But thank God, that God isn’t fair.

I think today’s first reading from the Prophet Isaiah (55:6-9) holds the key to the dilemma. Isaiah reminds us, “let (us) turn to the Lord for mercy, to our God who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways, my ways, says the Lord.”

The mistake we make is to think the parable is about payment, or renumeration for work done. I think what Matthew is reminding us of is that God offers the gift of salvation to everyone; the parable is about God’s grace. God calls out to us on His timing, not ours. We respond at some point. Some of us as infants when baptized, others respond to God’s call as teens or adults and come into the “vineyard” through the OCIA. Rather than complaining or comparing ourselves, the correct response should be rejoicing that God has not given up on the human family but continues to call and enlarge the Church. Through our continued participation in the church, our gift of salvation is assured. Not because of our own efforts, but because God is faithful and generous with mercy and forgiveness.

So, Saints of God, let this month when we celebrate all those who work to make our lives easier, remember to thank our God who will make our eternal lives one of peace and joy.

– Fr. Steve

Dignity Overshadows Poverty | Friar Reflections | 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friar Reflections, Parish News

My Good Friends,

I’m a fan of the Audible platform for books. My very first listen was The Godfather and from there went on to revisit the classics, To Kill a Mockingbird, mostly all of Steinbeck, Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein among dozens of other genres. I am currently engaged in a 1959 novel from Walter M Miller, Jr., A Canticle for Leibowitz. It’s interesting how Miller came to write this post-apocalyptic novel. During World War II, he served as a radio operator and tail gunner aboard an American bomber and participated in the bombing of Monte Cassino, the ancient Benedictine abbey in Italy. Its destruction deeply affected him. After the war, Miller converted to Catholicism, and years later that experience helped inspire his novel about monks preserving faith and human knowledge after a nuclear catastrophe.

While listening during a walk this past weekend I came across a phrase of his from the book, “But dignity overshadows poverty”. The phrase appears when Brother Francis visits the Pope in New Rome. For a brief moment, Francis notices the Pope’s threadbare cassock, the worn carpet, and plaster missing from the ceiling. The papal surroundings are undeniably poor, yet poverty almost disappears beneath the dignity of the person and the meaning of the encounter. Miller is not denying the poverty. He is showing us that it is not the most important thing in the room.

Volumes can be written on poverty and Miller’s small phrase powerfully speaks to how we at times see the poor and homeless today. When we encounter someone sleeping beneath an overpass or carrying everything they own in a backpack, poverty is usually the first thing we notice. It can become the only thing we see. Yet behind those circumstances is a person with memories, disappointments, humor, faith, talents, and hopes for tomorrow

Homelessness can take away comfort, privacy, security, and opportunity, but it cannot erase human dignity. We see that dignity of those struggling on the streets of Tampa, in the person who carefully gathers their few belongings each morning, carrying all their worldly processions in a worn-out cart or well-worn backpack. We encounter them every day outside our church as well as inside participating at mass. They endure the uncomfortable heat of nights and days, all weather conditions, suspicious looks, harassment, rejection, and uncertainty, yet somehow get up and continue forward. And who’s to say that they themselves, in the reality of their situations and circumstance, don’t practice gratitude? Indeed, “Blessed are the Poor.”

We should never romanticize poverty. There is nothing noble about hunger, untreated illness, or sleeping on a sidewalk. Those conditions call for both compassion and practical action. But the perseverance of those who endure them can teach the more fortunate something important. We sometimes allow a delayed delivery, an inconvenient appointment, or a disappointing meal and other first world problems to ruin an otherwise good day. Meanwhile, people carrying far greater burdens, literally and figuratively, continue to laugh, help one another, and begin again.

Perhaps we should borrow a page from their playbook: practice gratitude, complain less, appreciate ordinary comforts, and stop confusing what we possess with who we are. Most importantly, we can look people experiencing homelessness in the eye, greet them, listen to them, and treat them as brothers and sisters rather than problems to be avoided.

Poverty may be plainly visible, but it never tells the whole story. If we learn to look more carefully, dignity can overshadow poverty—and compassion can overshadow indifference.

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Zack

Preserving a Beacon of Hope | From the Desk of the Pastor | September 2026

Friar Reflections, From the Desk of the Pastor, Parish News

Dear Parishioners,

As we gather each week to celebrate Mass, share in the Sacraments, and grow together in faith, it is easy to see the many ways God has blessed our parish community. Our church is far more than just a place where we meet on Sundays—it is a spiritual sanctuary, a beacon of hope in our local community, and a sacred home where generations of families have marked life’s most significant moments.

Like many of your own households, our parish family is navigating the realities of a changing economic landscape. The general rise in the cost of everyday living—from energy and utilities to basic operational supplies—affects our parish budget just as it does your homes. To continue providing the vibrant ministries, liturgical programs, and pastoral care that define our community, we must continuously adapt to these financial pressures while remaining faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to us.

Over the past year alone, significant investments have been made to maintain, preserve, and enhance our parish facilities and worship spaces:

▸ Major Structural Repairs: We invested approximately $290,000 to repair the church dome and repoint half of the exterior south wall.

▸ Worship & Liturgical Enhancements: We spent roughly $20,000 to upgrade our sound system for clearer audio during services, $6,500 for new chalices and patens for the altar, and $4,000 to replace the air conditioning compressor serving the choir loft to maintain a comfortable worship environment.

Looking ahead, caring for our historic physical infrastructure and expanding our community facilities require ongoing attention and continued investment:

  • Preserving Our 121-Year-Old Church: Our main church building has stood as a testament of faith for over a century. While we have made great progress on the exterior, we still need to repoint more than half of the outside masonry before we can safely begin much-needed interior repairs. Additionally, critical restoration is still needed for the two large rose windows on the sides of the church.
  • North Campus Renovations ($2.3M Project): Managing and maintaining our North Campus property remains an ongoing commitment. We are currently preparing for a comprehensive $2.3 million renovation of the auditorium kitchen and bathrooms, which we are hoping to start in about a month. This extensive project requires installing completely new plumbing and electrical systems, adding a building-wide sprinkler system, new equipment for the kitchen, and completing essential upgrades to make the entire facility and restrooms fully handicap accessible and up to code.
  • Enhanced Campus Security: Ensuring the safety and peace of mind of everyone who enters our grounds is a top priority. We are looking at installing new security doors at St. Francis Hall, adding additional security cameras across all of our parish properties, and increasing our security presence during weekend Masses.

With these growing operational, structural, and safety needs in mind, we gently and prayerfully ask each family to consider whether a modest increase in your weekly offertory giving might be possible.

We fully recognize that financial circumstances differ for every household, and we ask only that you reflect on what works best for your budget. Whether through weekly envelope contributions, online giving, or the gift of your time and prayers, every contribution plays a vital role in sustaining our parish home.

Thank you for your steady generosity, your devotion, and your continued commitment to our shared mission. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones richly.

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Mike

Minister to All | Friar Reflections | 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friar Reflections, Parish News

Saints of God,

...the Lord be with you!

All the readings this Sunday answer the questions “Whom does God not love?” and “What does it mean to be a Catholic Christian?”

In today’s Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 15:21-28), Jesus gets a request from a non-Jewish mother to heal her daughter who is tormented by a demon. The disciples asked Jesus to send her away, and His reply seems to indicate that His understanding of His mission at that time was “only to the lost sheep of Israel.” But being persistent, even after having been called a dog, her reply, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters”, seems to awaken a deeper understanding of His mission: He is called to all lost sheep, no matter the tribe! Her daughter is healed. This must have been scandalous at the time it happened, and the Church Matthew was writing for was struggling with what to do with non-Jews who wanted to be disciples of Jesus. So, the lesson to be learned is that followers of Christ are called to minister to all in need. God loves everyone and to be a Catholic we are called to love everyone, particularly those in need.

One of the beautiful facts of being in downtown Tampa is that Sacred Heart’s parishioners encounter a multitude of people: residents, visitors, college students, those just passing through, the homeless. We come in contact with people of all ages, races, colors, religions and those with no religion; we meet the wealthy, the comfortable, and the poor. Yet what we all have in common is that we are all loved by the God who loves everyone. And as Christians we are commanded to show love and respect to all. As Jesus said, “Love God with your whole heart, soul, and strength…and love your neighbor as yourself.” We cannot say we love God if we do not show love (respect and care) for our neighbor.

None of this is easy and sometimes showing love for others is downright difficult, particularly in this time of so much polarization. That is why coming to Sunday Eucharist is so important. Here we see that we are not alone in striving to love. We are reminded through our reading of Scripture what God demands, and how Jesus acted. Jesus should be the one we imitate and follow: He is our only influencer. In Communion, we eat His Body and drink His Blood as that His very life courses through us. He gives us His own life to live in our own way in our own times.

Today, we read from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (11:13-15; 29-32). The reading ends with these words, “For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.” God loves everyone, and has mercy upon everyone, even us. Let’s pay God’s mercy forward by being loving and merciful to all this week.

– Fr. Steve

Profound love for the Eucharist | Friar Reflections | 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friar Reflections, Parish News

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

St. Clare and the Light of Poverty | From the Desk of the Pastor | August 2026

Friar Reflections, From the Desk of the Pastor, Parish News

Dear Parishioners,

As we approach the Solemnity of St. Clare of Assisi on August 11, I realized that many people do not know much about her beyond her name. Because she lived and worked so closely with St. Francis, her own incredible story can be overshadowed. This month, I wanted to use my article to change that and share some deeply inspiring information about this remarkable woman.

Saint Clare of Assisi: The Indomitable Light of Franciscan Poverty | For the Franciscan family, St. Clare is not just a secondary figure or a holy companion to St. Francis; she is a co-founder of the Franciscan movement and the spiritual mother of the Second Order (the Poor Clares). In the Franciscan liturgical calendar, her day is elevated to the highest possible rank—a Solemnity—to honor her foundational role, her radical witness, and her enduring rule of life.

The Noblewoman Who Chose Nothing | Born Chiara Offreduccio in 1194, Clare was the eldest daughter of Favorino Scifi, the Count of Sasso-Rosso, and his deeply pious wife, Ortolana. Her family was one of the most powerful aristocratic clans in Assisi, owning a grand palace in the city and a castle on the slopes of Mount Subasio. Clare grew up destined for a life of high-society luxury, political marriages, and material security.

But as a teenager, Clare began hearing stories of a radical young man named Francis, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, who had stripped himself of his clothes and his inheritance to live in literal poverty among the lepers. Intrigued and deeply stirred by the Holy Spirit, Clare arranged secret meetings with Francis. In him, she saw a path to living the Gospel purely, stripped of feudal expectations.

On Palm Sunday in 1212, the 18-year-old Clare snuck out of her family’s palace through the “door of the dead”—a secondary door used only to carry out corpses, symbolizing her death to her old life. She ran through the woods to the Portiuncula, the tiny chapel restored by Francis and his early brothers. There, Francis cut off her long, beautiful hair, and she traded her fine silk gown for a rough woolen habit and a thick rope belt.

When her furious father and uncles tracked her down to a nearby Benedictine convent, aiming to drag her home by force, she clung to the altar linens and bared her cropped head, declaring that she had no spouse but Jesus Christ. Her conviction was so absolute that her family ultimately retreated.

A Relationship of Equals: Clare and Francis | The bond between Saint Francis and Saint Clare is one of the most beautiful and misunderstood spiritual friendships in history. They were not romantic partners, nor was Clare a passive student blindly following a male mentor. They were spiritual soulmates and partners in a radical Gospel revolution.

While Francis was the charismatic herald traveling and preaching across Europe, Clare was the steady, silent anchor of the Franciscan movement. From her cloister at San Damiano, she prayed continuously for Francis and his friars. When Francis faced intense doubt about whether he should live as a hermit or a preacher, it was Clare who discerned his true calling, sending word that God wanted him out in the world preaching.

Later in his life, when Francis was blind, dying, and suffering from the stigmata (the wounds of Christ), he sought refuge at San Damiano. It was under Clare’s maternal care, in a small hut in her convent garden, that Francis composed his famous Canticle of the Creatures.

The Radical Power of the “Privilege of Poverty” | The true measure of Clare’s strength was her lifelong chess match with the highest authorities of the Catholic Church.

In the 13th century, women’s religious communities were strictly expected to hold property, lands, and investments to ensure their safety and survival. The Church hierarchy viewed a group of cloistered women with zero steady income as a dangerous liability.

But Clare insisted on something entirely unprecedented: The Privilege of Poverty (Privilegium Paupertatis). She did not want her sisters to own land, receive rents, or hold property. They would live entirely on daily alms, trusting completely in God’s providence.

The Papal Position:

  • Pope Gregory IX offered to grant her convent lands and exempt her from her vow of absolute poverty to ensure the community’s survival.
  • Pope Innocent IV sought to impose a generic, milder monastic rule upon her community to keep them aligned with standard medieval practices.

Saint Clare’s Position:

  • Clare refused, famously telling the Pope: “Holy Father, absolve me from my sins, but do not absolve me from following Jesus Christ.”
  • Clare wrote her own Rule of Life—the first monastic rule ever written by a woman for women—ensuring absolute Gospel poverty.

For decades, popes tried to “protect” Clare by diluting her radical vision. Clare never backed down. She used the weapons available to her—uncompromising letters, respectful defiance, and an ironclad will wrapped in deep humility.

Her ultimate victory came on her deathbed. On August 9, 1253, Pope Innocent IV finally relented and issued a papal bull officially approving Clare’s strict, propertyless Rule of Life. Two days later, on August 11, Clare passed away, clutching the signed papal document in her hands.

Why Saint Clare Matters Today | St. Clare’s legacy teaches us that gentleness is not weakness, and humility is not submission. In an age when women had virtually no agency outside of marriage or aristocratic duty, Clare carved out a space of absolute spiritual freedom. She did not gain power by accumulating wealth, but by radically giving it away, leaving the world completely empty-handed but entirely filled with God.

As we celebrate her Solemnity, let us pray for her fierce courage to protect our own spiritual values against the pressures of the world, and for the grace to depend entirely on God’s providence.

Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us!

Peace and All Good,
Fr. Mike

Growing the Wheat | Friar Reflections | 16th SIOT

Friar Reflections, Parish News

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

Preparing for Chapter | Friar Reflections | 15 SIOT

Friar Reflections, Parish News
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