Pastor’s Letter: September 27, 2026

Pastor’s Letter: September 27, 2026

25 Sep 2026 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

I hope you are all enjoying a great weekend!  What a week it has been! Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us! As I am reflecting on this week, no doubt, this will be one that many will remember for years to come.  It truly is remarkable to think that someone who grew up in our area, attended school here, served the local as well as the Universal Church, is now one step away from being declared an official saint! This weekend at our Masses, we are celebrating special Masses of Thanksgiving for Blessed Fulton Sheen. We have hosted special talks recalling Sheen’s life and his powerful intercession. Many of us were able to make the journey to St. Louis to be present for the special Mass of Beatification. It certainly has been an amazing week of special graces!

Do you know what else struck me this week? All the amazing “normal” things that happened here in our parish. We celebrated Masses and baptisms. Our school taught students and helped them grow. We hosted different ministry groups and taught evening classes. People prayed in our Adoration Chapel and couples came by for marriage preparations. We truly are blessed with such a wonderful parish that is so full of vigor and life!

As we continue Msgr. Gray’s book study on Treasure in Clay, this week we are challenged to think about social justice and how we live Christ’s love…as well as a reflection on how Sheen’s travel to special places helped inspire his ministry.

Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen…Chapter 9

In this chapter, Sheen talks about having a “universal mission” and how the world was his “parish.” Certainly through his work with the Propagation of the Faith he concentrated on spreading the Gospel throughout the world, as well as providing for the material needs of people. As Mgr. Gray notes, “Sheen did not want to hoard his wealth, but to spend himself. How might God be asking you to spend yourself according to your gifts and your state in life? Sheen contrasts the West with the Third World. In what ways is the West rich, and in what ways is the West poor? Reflect on Sheen’s anecdotes and how you can serve the needs of the Church in the missions and in the lives of the poor.”

 Answers: Personal answers will vary. [Perhaps we could each take this as a challenge to take to prayer Msgr. Gray’s question.  How might God be asking us to give of ourselves?  Our gifts?  Our material means?] The West suffers from hunger of the spirit, while the rest of the world suffers from hunger for bread. The West must keep in mind both social justice and individual justice, saving society and saving souls. It is not enough only to look after the poor and the love of neighbor. We must also remember the love of God and the call to holiness.

Treasure in Clay: The Autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen…Chapter 10

In this next chapter, Sheen discusses his travels, both for his work on behalf of the Church and for his own spiritual growth. Msgr. Gray asks, “What insights did Sheen gain from traveling in the footsteps of St. Paul? How was Sheen’s understanding of the Gospel enriched by traveling in the Holy Land? What other lessons did Sheen learn from his travels? Have you visited any of the sites that Sheen mentioned in this chapter? What lessons did you learn from your visit?”

Answers: Sheen learned from St. Paul who was called to evangelize the world. He learned that he must mention the name of Christ and his crucifixion, and that preaching the Word will provoke antagonism. Sheen learned various lessons from the Holy Land, bringing to life aspects of the stories contained in Scripture. Answers will vary. Answers regarding other lessons learned or places visited will also vary.

Many of you know that back in 2011, Fr. David and I traveled with a group on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Even though many years have gone by, I still remember vividly praying the Mass in the Garden of Gethsemane, making the very steep journey to the top of Mt. Tabor where the Transfiguration took place, and walking on the dry dusty ground that just felt so vastly different from our life here in Central Illinois. There were some adventures, including a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and wading in the heavy waters of the Dead Sea. Of course, I’ll never forget my first camel ride around the town square in Bethany! In the midst of these adventures, the Gospels truly came to life in a new way. Some of our classic devotions like the Rosary were filled with concrete details which made the meditations feel deeper. The Third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary (Proclamation of the Kingdom) was at that time my least favorite…I had noticed that all the other mysteries seem to indicate a specific moment, whereas the “Proclamation of the Kingdom” seemed like a general summary. However, praying Mass at the Mount of Beatitudes really made that mystery concrete and come to life in a fresh way.  It went from being my least favorite to my most favorite mystery of the Rosary! What a true gift!

As we continue to celebrate Blessed Fulton Sheen, know of my ongoing prayers for you all! Next week, we’ll take a mini-break from our review of Msgr. Gray’s book study for our annual pastor’s update. I’m joyful to share so many good things happening here in our parish!

In Christ,
Father Luke