by Dan Fuerst | Oct 23, 2025 | Pastor's Thoughts
This weekend the diocese asks us to pray for vocations to the priesthood. It’s called, Priesthood Sunday. As you are all well aware, we are approaching a crisis in staffing parishes. In the years since World War II there has been a substantial reduction in the number...
by Dan Fuerst | Oct 16, 2025 | Pastor's Thoughts
A woman in my parish has an adult son who has rejected his faith. She prays for him every day. She lights candles, says rosaries, and asks God again and again to bring him back. But nothing changes. Is God listening? Is He delaying? She told me once that she feels...
by Dan Fuerst | Oct 13, 2025 | Pastor's Thoughts
Dorothy Day, the great Catholic activist, doubted God’s existence. At least in her early adult years. But something changed when after giving birth to her daughter, she experienced an overwhelming gratitude. She later described how, as she held her daughter, the only...
by Dan Fuerst | Oct 9, 2025 | Pastor's Thoughts
Today we hear about how Jesus, continuing on his journey to Jerusalem, heals 10 lepers. This story is a lesson about faith and reminds us that faith is sometimes found in unlikely places. Ten people afflicted with leprosy cry out to Jesus. Struck with pity, Jesus...
by Dan Fuerst | Oct 2, 2025 | Pastor's Thoughts
A priest friend of mine received a call from a family whose elderly mother was dying. Within thirty minutes, he was at her bedside, offering the consolation of the sacraments, anointing her with the oil of the sick, and commending her soul to God. She passed not long...
by Dan Fuerst | Sep 25, 2025 | Pastor's Thoughts
On January 1, 2002 St. John Paul wrote on the World Day of Peace that there can never be peace without justice and no justice can be had unless there is forgiveness. He reflected in his speech upon the violence of the world during his pontificate and compared it with...