Pastor’s Letter: September 20, 2026

Pastor’s Letter: September 20, 2026

18 Sep 2026 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

Blessed and joyful weekend to you all! It is hard to believe we are already at the start of fall this week…and already upon Beatification week for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. I am very much looking forward to the Mass and celebrations—Fr. Blake and I will be journeying to St. Louis with the folks on our parish buses. For those who aren’t able to join in St. Louis for the Mass, know that I will be praying for our parish family and asking Archbishop Sheen to help us all continue growing closer to Christ.

This week, we continue with Msgr. Gray’s Book Study…as I was looking through his notes I couldn’t help but think each of these chapters could be its own column. Hopefully some of the nuggets below will help us in better knowing Sheen…but perhaps also invite us to learn more through future reading.

Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen…Chapter 6

How did Sheen approach the “Catholic Hour” radio audience differently from the “Life is Worth Living” television audience? In the future, what is the third approach to a digital audience that will be necessary in the future? Do you think Sheen was correct about this future prediction? How did he prepare his sermons? If you haven’t visited Sheen’s tomb at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, Illinois, do so to see if the wish he expressed in this chapter was fulfilled.

Answers: The radio is like hearing the Word as in the Old Testament. Television is like seeing the Word incarnate as the Gospel is taught by the person of Jesus in the New Testament. He took a direct approach with a Christian audience on radio, speaking about God and his revelation. On radio, he was teaching in the name of the Bishop’s Conference. He took an indirect approach with the wider and more mixed television audience, in which he spoke about a common experience and lead the audience to God. The third approach in the digital age would be the anthropological approach, starting with man, his sufferings, and the disorder within himself in order to lead man to God. This will use the insights of our psychological age to discover our need for God.

He prepared his sermons in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He talked his sermon over with our Lord to discover its weaknesses and what he should say. He continued to feed his mind by reading which gave him material to draw from in his homilies. The letters “JMJ” are written on the tomb of Sheen in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Peoria, Illinois, as Sheen had asked. [Sheen had begun the practice of writing “JMJ” at the top of every piece of paper…he said he hoped it would be written on his tomb one day.]

Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen…Chapter 7

Sheen succinctly summarizes his opposition to Communism in the second paragraph of this chapter, after carefully studying Marx, Lenin, and Stalin. Summarize his objections to Communism. What prophesies did Sheen make about Communism in the years following World War II? According to Sheen, what were the noble religious convictions of the Russians and how were they corrupted by Communism?

Answers: Sheen summarized Communism succinctly: Marx believed that man has been alienated from his true nature by religion and private property. Hence, Communism can only restore man to his “true nature” by abolishing private property and religion. Communism is not about distributing the wealth to care of the common man. It necessarily must demand atheism as well.

Sheen predicted that Eastern Europe would fall to Communism under the Russians. Poland would be caught between the Nazis and the Communists.

Sheen noted that the Russians were passionate about 1) the call to universal brotherhood, 2) the need for sacrifice and pain, and 3) the need to seek God’s Will. Under Communism, 1) the brotherhood became the revolutionary proletariat, 2) sacrifice became violence, and 3) the Will of God became the will of a dictator.

 Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen…Chapter 8

Sheen said that becoming a bishop was more honorable in his time than in the early Church. Is the life of a bishop held in high honor in our world today? How did Sheen see the responsibilities of a bishop? What dangers must a bishop avoid? How can you relate these dangers to your own spiritual life?

Answers: The opinion of bishops today may vary. However, the reputation of bishops has suffered to the extent that they have mishandled the issue of clergy abuse. Bishops are to be fishers of men and shepherds of the sheep. Because of their higher rank, they are to be more the servants of their people. Bishops must avoid empty glamor. Bishops must not reflect themselves, but Christ. Bishops must remember that they are the Father’s gift to the Son, that the Son calls them to continue his mission, and that the Lord is not always pleased with his bishops. Bishops are strengthened by remaining connected to Peter who was called to strengthen his brothers, and by being united in charity to one another in mutual support like the washing of each other’s feet.

Perhaps this ending point this week is a great reminder to be praying for Bishops, especially our own Bishop Lou. May the Lord bless and strengthen him as he continues to lead our Diocese as faithful disciples of Christ. Know of my prayers and blessing this week!

In Christ,
Father Luke