The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God’s house is meant to be “a house of prayer for all peoples.” The Lord’s love is not limited by nationality, background, or circumstance. What matters is the heart that seeks Him and the life that strives to walk in His ways. This is a beautiful reminder for us as a parish community. The Church is not a private club for those who have everything figured out; it is the household of God, where every person is invited to encounter His mercy, truth, and love. As disciples of Christ, we are called not only to welcome others through the doors of our churches, but also to make sure that our words and actions communicate that welcome. Then to pray and guide each other to that encounter with the Lord in that radical hospitality.
The Gospel gives us a challenging example of this truth in the Canaanite woman who approaches Jesus on behalf of her suffering daughter. She is an outsider, yet she refuses to give up. Her persistent faith eventually draws from Jesus the affirmation, “O woman, great is your faith!” Her story reminds us that God can find profound faith in places and people we might least expect. It also challenges us to examine whether there are people whom we have quietly placed outside the boundaries of God’s mercy. May we have the humility of the Canaanite woman to trust in the Lord and the generosity of Jesus to recognize and welcome faith wherever we find it. As a parish family, may St. Francis Solanus always be a place where every person can discover that there is room for them at the table of God’s mercy.
At the end of June Doris Karhoff was given the Woman of Distinction Award by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women event at the Cathedral. Doris is truly deserving of this award as she is always serving. Whether it be in decorating our wonderful Church or cleaning anything and everything anywhere or helping with the funeral dinners now, and on and on Doris has the heart of a servant of the Lord. She is truly giving. We thank her for all she does for our parish.
As we begin school, keep our teachers and staff in your prayers. Pray for our parents and students. It’s always such a joyous and exciting time! We have done so many projects over the summer to get our school ready. Thank you for your generosity in making that happen. Thank you to Austin’s Army for all they always are doing, but especially in the summer with so many great things accomplished. Thank you to Mrs. Radel and George Moore and Marty Karhoff for the constant work. Thank you to the Notre Dame Boys football team for helping with some projects. With everyone’s help we are ready for an exciting year!
Father Arisman