Pastor's Letter
August 2nd, 2026-18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we celebrate the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Two themes I see present in todays readings are that God is always with us. And the second is that God will always take care of us if we ask. In the first reading from Isaiah the prophet tells people to come to God when you are hungry and thirsty and God will meet your needs. We often take this literally and think of food and drink, but God also takes care of other hungers and thirsts. Our hunger for love, forgiveness, joy, or peace can be satisfied by God and his work. In the Gospel Jesus pushes the disciples and tells them that they need to feed those who are in need. Again in the Gospel the disciples see it as satisfying a hunger for food, but I think Jesus is challenging all of us to satisfy all the needs of those around us. Can we give hope, joy, forgiveness and love? Do we see the Eucharistic table as extending beyond the doors of the church into our homes, workplaces, and families? Many people are hungry, we are called to feed them.
We have just a few more weeks before we close our registration for our Religious Education program. Now is the last call to register your children for the coming school year. We are pleased to welcome Jackie Grischeau as our new director of Religious Education. Registration information is available in the bulletin or on the parish webpage. We are also putting a call out to adults who are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith.
July 26, 2026-17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we celebrate the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the first reading from the book of Kings, God tells Solomon to ask for anything. God tells Solomon he will give him whatever he asks for. Solomon asks for wisdom to know right from wrong. God is pleased in someone so young. He didn’t ask for power, riches, or the death of an enemy, rather he asks God to help him lead his people justly. Do we ask God to help us to know right from wrong? Do we ask God to help us daily as we live as family? Do we ask God for guidance on being a wise boss or coworker? When push comes to shove, do we judge wisely as God would judge? Today lets seek treasure or pearls that truly make our lives meaningful, and the world a better place.
I don’t even want to say the words. But next weekend the St. Vincent De Paul Society will host their “Back to School Drive” at all of our masses. Your help will give a fresh start to students at St. Angela School and Mission of Our Lady of the Angels School. We all can remember beginning a new school year with fresh paper, new pens and pencils, folders, notebooks, crayons, and backpacks to carry all our books, Many children don’t get that opportunity because their parents can’t afford all of the supplies necessary to begin the year right! St. Vincent De Paul gives us the opportunity to look beyond our own wants and needs. Please join us next weekend in helping make the new school year a great success.
Just a mid-summer thanks to everyone who was able to support the Annual Catholic Appeal for 2026. This year we once again went over our parish goal. Money over the goal comes back to the parish for ongoing local projects. I appreciate your willingness to help fund so many ministries in the Archdiocese. Through the Appeal we also continue to help groups like Catholic Relief Services. They are often the first on the ground when disasters hit. This was the case with the two earthquakes recently in Venezuela. Thanks again for your help.
Thanks also for everyone who was able to help us with the last minute collection for Catholic Relief Services in Venezuela. The parish donated just over $5,000 to help with relief. Being a Catholic is being part of a big family that shows up when we need them. God speaks through the community, and he did in your willingness to help. Thank you all for your help and prayers.
Finally, next Saturday, August 1st, Discern and Decide begins. It is a seven session program on making decisions in our lives through the lens of our Christian faith. We all make decisions big and small every day. How does our faith figure into our decision making. Join us if you are able.
July 19, 2026-16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus continues to teach through parables. Today we get two stories about seeds and one about baking. For me, the first parable about good seed and bad seed sown in a field tells us that we live in a world of good and evil. We can’t get away from it. But that being said, we need to tend to the good, and not get caught up in the bad. The second parable about the mustard seed reminds us that if we do a good job at tending the seed, it will produce good that changes and creates a better world for everyone. The smallest seed becomes the a large bush, a new home for the birds of the air and creatures on land. In otherwards we can create a home for everyone if we tend to the good. The yeast in bread dough is really unseen when mixed with flour, yet it will make the whole loaf rise. Are we prepared and open to sowing good seed for a bountiful harvest.
In a few weeks we will begin a new program called Discern and Decide. Jennifer Gerwing, one of our parishioners who participated in Alpha came to us with a program she participated in at St. Paul of the Cross. It was all about how we make decisions. The program uses Ignatian spirituality to help us make important decisions in our life. All our decisions have consequences. Do we take time to discern the impacts of the decisions we make each and every day? It fits in with the parables we just heard. Are we tending to the good in how we choose to live our lives? This program is for all ages. We all make decisions that change our lives. Discern and Decide will be held on Saturday mornings beginning at 9:15 am. There are seven sessions to the program. I encourage you to consider taking time for this worthwhile program. For more information or to register see the ad in our bulletin our visit st.juliana.oorg
Don’t forget to sign up your children for Religious Education for 2026-27. If you are preparing your children to go back to their day school, it is also time to register them for RE. Registration closes on August 19th so that we can order books and supplies for the classes. Check the bulletin or web page out for registration information.
July 12, 2026-15th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Today we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week we begin a month of parables in the Gospel. Today we hear the story of the Sower and the Seed. But before we reflect on that story, I believe Isaiah today also offers an important lesson for us. Isaiah reminds the people that rain and snow are constantly coming down to water the earth. Even in seasons of drought, eventually the moisture returns. Isaiah tells us that God’s word is like that. God is constantly speaking to us, even when we don’t listen or hear. So back to today’s parable. A farmer sows seed. Forget our mechanized farming today. In Jesus time a farmer just went out and literally threw seed to the wind and let it fall where it may. The story is interesting for us whether we are farmers or not, because Jesus assigns a value or judgement to where the seed falls. God scatters wisdom, knowledge, and love the same way the Sower does. The importance for us is productivity after we have heard God’s voice. Are we open to the word of God, or does it fall on rocky, thorny, or dead hearts. At our best we will produce goodness a hundred fold if we keep our hearts open.
Today welcome back Fr. Hunter Ostapowicz back to St. Juliana. Hunter was a seminarian with us for a number of years as he studied for the Diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan. A few weeks back Hunter was ordained a priest. Many of you here at St. Juliana had a part in his journey and his call. The seminarians bring their gifts to the parish, and the parish give the seminarians gifts in return. Hunter will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at 11:00 am this morning. The Mission Spirit Team will be hosting a simple reception after the mass for Fr. Hunter in the back of the church. Please join us as we celebrate and congratulate Fr. Hunter on his ordination.
This week the parish launched its new website. Over the past several months, Barb Ernat has dedicated countless hours to bringing this project to life. While there were plenty of starts, stops, and challenges along the way, her persistence and hard work have resulted in a fresh, user-friendly website for our Saint Juliana community. You can still access the website the same way you always have at stjuliana.org. From there, you'll be welcomed by a new landing page that provides easy access to either the parish or school website. It was no small task to clean up the web site content and rebuild it for easier use. While the website will continue to grow and evolve, we are excited to share this important milestone. Thanks once again to Barb for all of her work.
Finally, I would like to invite you our newest small group faith sharing group; Discern and Decide. The program is set to kick off on Saturday, August 1st, at 9:15 am. It is a program that uses spiritual discernment to help make decisions in our daily lives. There is more information in the bulletin and our new and improved web site.
Today we celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The word meek comes up in both our first reading and the Gospel. We often associate being meek with weakness. The world tells us that we are to ready to fight at a moments notice. Meekness is actually a form of self control, self reflection, and strength. It is stepping back and reflecting on a situation before making a decision. It calls for contemplation before sometimes destructive action. My grandfather was a meek man. Though he used few words, he was probably one of the strongest and most influential people in my life. He taught me to never shy away from the unknown. He taught me to be open minded. He taught me to see everyone as equal. He taught me that everyone had a value. His meekness came from life experience and his faith in Jesus. We pray to God today for an extra portion of meekness.
This weekend we gather with family and friends to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. Independence Day is a day to reflect of the brave men and women who envisioned a new way. They took their lived experiences, and realized that there could be a better way. Together they formed a country of freedoms and rights that come from a belief that God created all of us equal. There is no distinction in the eyes of God. We are all created good and need to share that goodness and light with the world. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and I encourage all of us to rededicate ourselves to our founding principles.
This week, we are pleased to welcome Jackie Grischeau to our parish staff as our new Director of Religious Education. Jackie has a lifelong connection to the St. Juliana community and is a proud alumna of St. Juliana School. We are excited to welcome her to our team and look forward to the knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm she will bring to our Religious Education program.
Next Sunday July 12th, at the 11:00 AM mass we will welcome back Fr. Hunter Ostapowicz. Hunter was a seminary intern at St. Juliana for a number of years. He participated in our weekend liturgies, the Missionary Spirit Team, and our OCIA. Over the years he built relationships in the parish and on the staff. Two weeks ago Huner was ordained a priest for the diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan. Next Sunday Hunter will celebrate a mass of Thanksgiving here at St. Juliana. We will have a simple reception following the mass in the back of church. Please join us for the celebration.
Next Saturday, the St. Juliana Scouts will host their summer car wash. Proceeds from the car wash help fund their activities throughout the year.