Upcoming Events

Pastor’s Letter: July 5, 2026

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

A blessed July to you all! As our country celebrates 250 years this weekend, I am thinking a lot about my grandpa on my dad’s side—a tremendous man of faith who was also one of the most patriotic people I’ve known. Some have heard me share about him before—he was a WWII Navy veteran who always had the flag flying in the yard. He had a strong Catholic faith that heavily influenced me growing up—daily Mass and daily Rosary prayed for our family, as well as serving as a lector, cantor, and trustee for our parish during my growing up years. He always was a living example for me of how Catholics can live in the world, both as faithful followers of Christ and good citizens who serve our community and our country. Let us all be joined in prayer this weekend for our country, and especially in thanksgiving for all those who have gone before us who have contributed the daily life we enjoy here.

As we continue looking through the Sacrament of Marriage, the Catechism actually goes into some depth about the challenges to marriage we encounter in our fallen world. Certainly, we understand that threats to marriage like “discord, a spirit of domination, infidelity, jealousy, and conflicts” are a result of sin. No doubt, “man and woman need the help of the grace that God in his infinite mercy never refuses them” (CCC, 1606-1608). We see through the Old Testament that the gift of marriage continues, although certainly in an imperfect way. Situations like polygamy are still present, although the gradual revelation of the marriage God will call His people to live begins to ask for the protection of the dignity of the spouses and the indissolubility of marriage. “The books of Ruth and Tobit bear moving witness to an elevated sense of marriage and to the fidelity and tenderness of spouses. Tradition as always..