A Pastor’s PerspectiveJuly 04, 2021 Bulletin

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Happy Fourth of July! As families and friends gather to celebrate the 245th anniversary of our nation’s “Declaration of Independence,” we have much to celebrate and for which we must give thanks to God. We do live in a land with a rich history and many proud traditions that come to us from both the indigenous peoples and the immigrant populations (our ancestors) who suffered and sacrificed much on behalf of our nation.

But the hopes, values, and ideals that have brought and kept us together have not yet been fully realized for everyone. We see painful reminders of this reality in the media on a daily basis. Yet it is important to recognize that for people of good will, especially for people of faith (please see Deacon Michael’s column on page 5), the desire and struggle for all citizens to share in “the American dream” continues. That, too, must be part of our growth as a nation and our progress as God’s pilgrim people.

Thus, as long as the God-given, unalienable rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are not guaranteed to every human person by any society, its members must strive to overcome whatever holds us back from achieving the lofty principles to which we have long aspired. We do so by speaking respectfully and acting responsibly, both for the common good and the good of each individual.

Quoting certain divine titles from the Declaration of Independence, I conclude by praying, “May God, the Creator and Supreme Judge of the world, bless our nation with an abundance of peace and prosperity, according to his Divine Providence.”

Peace and blessings,Msgr. Andrew