Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

Luke’s Gospel 13:22-30 this weekend reminds us:  “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.”  There is always hope as we keep on striving.  It is when we stop striving and stop seeking God that the way forward begins to block us.

So we can think of the message of this Sunday as encouragement to keep on striving to be faithful to God, even when we can see and know our own failures.  It is as if God Himself is telling us:  Do not give up hope!  Trust in the Lord forever.

Keep safe, and may God bless each of you and those that you love.
 
Fr. Greg

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

In a 2002 homily, Pope John Paul II said:
 
“If Jesus is Life, Mary is the Mother of Life.
If Jesus is Hope, Mary is the Mother of Hope.
If Jesus is Peace, Mary is the Mother of Peace, Mother of the Prince of Peace.”

Looking ahead, on Monday, August 15th, we celebrate the Assumption of Mary, when Mary was assumed both body and soul into heaven, and that she was spared the corruption of death.  We need Mary in our lives.  That is certain.

Consider joining me for mass this Monday at 8:30 a.m. as we turn to our Blessed Mother in prayer.
 
May we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother, our Mother of life, our Mother of Hope, our Mother of Peace.
 
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

Keep safe, and may God bless each of you and those that you love.
 
Fr. Greg

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

Ukraine's sunflowers are a national symbol and a major crop for the country.  Ukraine is in fact one of the world's biggest producers and exporters of the pantry staple - sunflower oil.  

In March of this, Food & Wine wrote "Sunflowers, which are the national flower of Ukraine, have grown in the country since the mid-1700s.  According to MIR Corp, a travel company that specializes in eastern European destinations, sunflower oil became increasingly popular in Ukraine because the Orthodox Church did not restrict its use during Lent. (Orthodox church members weren't supposed to cook with butter or lard between Ash Wednesday and Easter.)  As a result, fields of sunflowers became more widespread, and sunflower seeds became an in-demand snack."

At a recent funeral reception hosted by our C.W.L. in the Divinity Room, sunflowers adorned the tables, making for a very welcoming and powerful first impression.  Sunflowers have been planted in our lower gardens, now over 7 feet tall, and will soon be in full bloom.

In Ephesians 5:9 we read: ”The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, justice and truth."  Just as sunflower flowers produce oil, the believer who sets her or his sights on God shows her or his characters of goodness, righteousness and truth.

May we continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia.  May we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother for peace in our world.  May we, as believers and disciples of Christ set our sights on God, and like sunflowers, produce fruit and reveal the characteristics of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

During these warm summer days, may your summer continue to be filled with God's blessings, and may your flower and vegetable gardens yield a bountiful harvest.

Keep safe, and may God bless each of you and those that you love.
 
Fr. Greg