From our pastor, Father Neil Herlihy
This Sunday we welcome Fr. Brian Baker and his family as he celebrates his first Mass at 10:45 a.m. Fr. Brian will also preside at a special Holy Hour for Life and Religious Liberty on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Day Chapel in connection with the Archdiocesan Fortnight for Freedom Campaign. On Tuesday, we officially say goodbye to Fr. Josh and welcome Fr. Tri to our Parish. We thank all those who participated in our farewell gathering for Fr. Josh. We also intend to have a reception for Fr. Tri in the near future.
This Friday we celebrate the Fourth of July, Independence Day. On this day, we celebrate the birth of our nation, and we cherish in a very special way the many freedoms we enjoy in this country. However, these freedoms should never be taken for granted. As we know all too well, there are those in our society who are attempting to undermine our trust and belief in God, and in the process are distorting our precious freedoms. On our money bills we proclaim, “In God We Trust.” As disciples, we are invited to pray that this trust in God may be restored in our nation through the example of our leaders. Our bishops remind us that there is a need to strengthen the moral foundation of our country, a moral foundation based on faith and trust in the Lord. There is also a need to reaffirm our commitment to truly make our country “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We are invited on this day to truly appreciate our faith and freedoms.
The following excepts are taken from a Fourth of July prayer that is attributed to Ed Hays (A Pilgrims Almanac) and sums up our love of God and country:
“We lift up our hearts, O God, on this day of celebration
in gratitude for the gift of being Americans.
We rejoice with all those who share
in the great gift of freedom and dignity for all.
With flags and feasting, with family and friends, we salute those
who have sacrificed that we might have the opportunity
to bring to fulfillment our many God-given gifts.
Come, O Gracious God, who led your children Israel from slavery,
keep us free from all that might hold us in bondage.
Bless our country and join our simple celebration
that we may please You, our Source of freedom,
the One in whom we place our trust.”