Unfortunately, my weekly Pastor’s Note is submitted early each Wednesday in order to make the publishing deadline for our bulletin. That means that sometimes, as in this past week, critical items of news in our society are not reflected in a timely manner. As I write this (on a Monday morning), we have experienced continued tragedies of gun violence in the United States.
Last week saw the political assassination of a young political activist. Whether you agree with his political statements or activity, our country should be a place where freedom of speech does not lead to a widow and two children growing up without a father.
On that same day, yet another shooting took place at a high school in Colorado; this follows the shooting at Annunciation School in Minneapolis just a week before that, as grade school kids were fired upon while attending their Back-To-School Mass.
I’m not going to pretend to have an answer for this, but will offer a couple of points that we should all reflect upon, and pray about.
Back in high school, now 50+ years ago, I was part of the Forensics Club; we learned how to debate issues, and part of the league rules were that whether you were “for” or “against” the issue in any given debate was determined by a coin flip. We spent all summer doing research so we could understand – and even defend – both sides of that year’s topic. Today, in our public circles, civil debate has become non-existent; petulant arguments take the place of research and understanding. As we saw this week, violence can, and often does, follow. In a country governed by laws, regardless of what side you may take, our rule of law should protect the common good, and should create a society that is safe … not just “safer.” We must advocate for changes that make the world safe for our children and grandchildren.
Back in 2018, I authored a study guide to the Vatican II document on the Laity, Apostolicam Actuositatem. In that document, the Church Fathers pointed to the diversity of roles for the laity in recognizing that Catholics will frequently be called upon to interact with other Christians and non-Christians in societal and secular roles. They wrote that: “… dynamic and prudent cooperation … is of special importance in temporal activities…” (AA 27). In that same document, the Vatican II Fathers called for action by the laity, bringing our Gospel values into the secular world: “… the laity must seek in the light of faith loftier motives of action in their family, professional, cultural, and social life and make them known to others when the occasion arises…” (AA 17)
My friends, we are better than the statistics on gun violence, mass shootings and school shootings. We must be; we cannot be content to read statistics that such acts of violence are far more common now than 30 years ago (Rockefeller Institute for Government). We need to be better. If not us, who? If not now, when? How much violence must we absorb before we say “enough” and actually witness the Gospel by transforming our world? Let us pray as if everything depends on God, and act as if everything depends on us (St. Ignatius).
- Father Jim
Bishop’s Anniversary Mass
Burlington County Sunday, October 5th Cathedral of St. Mary the Assumption in Trenton, NJ. To sign up for the Blessing and Mass, please click here.
Hospice Care Information
Faith at Home
These links provides you with the latest one-page resource for families, Faith At Home; it connects to the theme of the upcoming Sunday Liturgy. This resource is updated each week and can be found on the diocesan webpage at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home and en Español at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/fe-en-casa.
May God continue to bless us and keep us close to Him.
Please support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul so that together we can help local families in need. Those needing help should call the SVDP helpline at 856-291-7313. Click this link to visit the SVdP website: www.SVDPmoorestown.org
Local food pantries include:
St. Matthew's Church, 318 Chester Ave.
First Baptist Church, 19 West Main St., Moorestown
Bethel AME, 512 N. Church St., Moorestown
Prince of Peace 61 E Rte 70, Marlton, NJ 08053
SVDP also has Thinking of You cards available. A gift can be given to the poor in the name of someone special at your
request. You will be remembered in the prayers and works of the Moorestown Vincentians. We are so very grateful for your
generous ongoing donations.
Our Promise to Protect
The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors. The Diocese has in place a Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, who is available to obtain support for your needs and help you make a formal complaint of abuse.
If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan Abuse Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 or via email at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.
The Diocese encourages anyone with an allegation to also report that abuse to their local law enforcement agency. The Diocese reports all allegations received to the appropriate county prosecutor’s office.
ONLINE GIVING OPTIONS
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