Pastor’s Letter: November 30, 2025

Pastor’s Letter: November 30, 2025

28 Nov 2025 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

May the Lord’s blessing be upon you all today and all days! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving! I was very blessed to get a few days with my folks at the farm—it was a good mix of feasting, resting, and helping out with a couple projects around the farm. As this is a time where we often reflect back on what we are thankful for, I found myself thankful for many great gifts and blessings! I am thankful to be here with you at such a wonderful parish. I am thankful for our many wonderful children and how they are growing. I am thankful for your generosity and presence together as a family of faith. I am thankful to serve at a place where so many hearts can grow. Honestly, I think I could go on and on and fill this whole column!

When it comes to our life in Christ, being thankful is at the heart of our prayer together. The word Eucharist means “thanksgiving,” a true reminder that we are invited into thankful prayer every time we are at Mass. The Mass also teaches us to be attentive to how God is at work…the many ways God is gifting us with a sharing in His Divine Life.

As we reflected last week on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, I was reminded of how much the Holy Spirit is at work so that we can be united to God and to one another. Another way we can see the benefit of the Holy Spirit’s work is through the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. As our Catechism teaches, the Fruits of the Holy Spirit are “the perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the ‘first fruits’ of eternal glory.” In our Catholic Tradition, we have a list of 12 of these Fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. In some places you might see a “modern” list of nine: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Why the two different lists? It really has to do with the translation of a particular passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians (5:22-23).  In the New American Bible, for example, we read:  “In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” In another translation, the Douay-Rheims Bible, we would read: “But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continence, chastity.” Why the difference? Some would say that the translators might have thought a couple of the similar words could be combined when translated to an English word that carries both meanings.  Perhaps sometime in the future we could spend some time reflecting on the Scripture…and in particular how different translations are prepared. For now, maybe we could just say that whatever Bible you are reading, and whether there is a list of 9 or 12 wonderful things in this passage…we could simply be thankful and joyful for how the Holy Spirit is at work.

As we conclude our review of the Sacrament of Confirmation, as well as the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, perhaps this prayer would be helpful…especially if we have been thinking about needing to grow in a particular way. Let us continue to ask the Holy Spirit to be at work—may we all grow deeper in union with the Lord and with one another! Know of my prayers and blessing for you this week!

In Christ,
Father Luke

O Blessed Spirit of WISDOM, help me to seek God, make Him the center of my life and order my life to Him, so that love and harmony reign in my soul.

O Blessed Spirit of UNDERSTANDING enlighten my mind, that I may know and love the truths of faith and make them truly my own.

O Blessed Spirit of COUNSEL, enlighten and guide me in all my ways, that I may always know and do Your holy will. Make me prudent and courageous.

O Blessed Spirit of FORTITUDE, uphold my soul in every time of trouble and adversity.   Make me loyal and confident.

O Blessed Spirit of KNOWLEDGE, help me to know good from evil. Teach me to do what is right in the sight of God. Give me clear vision and firmness in decision.

O Blessed Spirit of PIETY, possess my heart, incline it to a true faith in You, to a holy love of You, my God, that with my whole soul I may seek You, who are my Father, and find You, my best, my truest joy.

O Blessed Spirit of HOLY FEAR, penetrate my inmost heart that I may ever be mindful of Your presence. Make me fly from sin and give me intense reverence for God and for other human beings, who are made in God’s image.