Greetings! Both churches continue to be open for personal prayer and the usual schedule of daily and weekend Masses. The churches are cleaned and sanitized between Masses. And with spatial distancing and masks, I believe it's a safe environment for you to come stay close to Jesus during this time.

​Angela Johnson put together family faith packets in the back of both churches for families to pick up anytime and use the next couple months. They include ideas for crafts, prayer, and other activities to bring faith into your home. Grab one today!

​For those wondering about the morality of proposed coronavirus vaccines, here are two good articles:

• ​The ethics of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine​
• ​Covid-19 vaccine myths​

​I've noticed more people being drawn into various conspiracy theories being promoted by internet personalities. For solid, intellectually serious Catholic news and commentary, I recommend the following sites:

• ​Catholic News Agency​
• ​Crux​
• ​New Advent​

​The season of Advent begins Sunday, November 29th. I invite you to join in Unshakeable Joy!, a digital Advent retreat led by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa and Chris Stefanick. It includes daily videos and reflections that fit into your busy day, and will lead you to have joy no matter the circumstances. Sign up today for free.

​Finally, yesterday was the feast of the dedication of St. Peter's basilica in Rome. St. Peter was put to death in Rome around A.D. 64 under the emperor Nero, who persecuted Christians for their 'superstitious practices.' Christians were put to death in the arenas, eaten by lions, tigers, and bears, and burned alive for the entertainment of the crowds. Peter himself was crucified in Nero's circus, adjacent to where St. Peter's basilica is now. Christians built a monument marking the site. Subsequent emperors built a temple to Apollo over his monument, until Constantine built the first Church over Peter's tomb. The current basillica dates to the 1600's and is the third church on the site, built one on top of the other.

​It's amazing to ponder God's designs in making a fisherman from Galilee the head of His church and true sucessor of the mighty Caesars. In the Bible, the book of Daniel (written in the 500's B.C.) foretold a small stone would break the empire of iron (Rome) and from that stone the Kingdom of God would grow into a mountain that would fill the whole world and endure forever (Daniel chap. 2). It's truly amazing how God has brought this to fulfillment. There are today no pilgrims that flock to Caesar's tomb, and no successor of Nero at the head of the Roman empire. But millions upon millions each year visit St. Peter's tomb, and his successor, the Pope, is still there, presiding over the worldwide Church of billions and billions of people. Peter, put to death by Roman power as Jesus was, is the rock on which Christ built up the mountain of his Church. Rome, the capital of the world and center of military might and violent, immoral culture, has become the capital of Christ's worldwide kingdom of righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Holy Spirit!

​Let's continue to contemplate the mighty works of God in the past in order to build up our faith in God for the future. After 2,000 years of history, God continues to be with us by the power of the Holy Spirit, as he guides and builds up his Church on the rock of Peter. We are part of His kingdom that will never be destroyed, that will last forever. We need not fear anything, for God is with us! Let us labor daily to extend His kingdom by living the Beatitudes, doing the works of mercy, and bearing the fruits of the Spirit.​

​Peace,

Father Ryan