From the Pastor’s Desk,

This past weekend we celebrated the great birthday of our country.  A “three-four-day” weekend filled with fireworks, good food and summer fun.  Even in our troubled pandemic times, we have much to be thankful for as Americans.  We still live in the greatest nation on earth.  Yes, we can complain about high taxes, governmental waste, and all the goofy politics.  We can complain about the cost of utilities, the rising food costs and items that used to be on the store shelves where the shelves are now empty.  While we have the freedom to complain, we must count our blessings, and remember that in so many other nations, as we have seen across the Middle East or the far east, to complain could mean arrest or even death.

I have traveled to many “unique” places of the world–places not usually on the tourist map–I have experienced the lack of the freedoms that we in the United States take for granted.  Even China, with all of its growth and moving toward capitalism, is not free as I discovered when I was there years ago.  Christians are not free to worship openly outside the government-sponsored churches and I was told to make sure that I did not wear any clerics.

Regardless of how bad we believe our problems to be, look around and you can always find those whose problems are greater.  During World War II, between the Nazis and the Communist government, Christianity was to be destroyed in much of Eastern Europe.  From Poland to the Baltic nations, priests, bishops, brothers, and nuns were put in camps from which most never returned.  Only through the power of God did the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches survive.  Slowly those churches are rebuilding their congregations, their schools and their hospitals.  Two of the greatest evangelization tools the Catholic Church has are our schools and hospitals.  These institutions are open to anyone of any faith.  Back then, these places were the first that were attacked and closed when the Nazis and Communists took control of Eastern Europe.

So, as we had fun this past weekend, I hope you thanked God for all the freedoms we enjoy.  Thank God that we live in a land that can feed itself and provide jobs for her people.  The food may not always be what we like, but it’s better than what two thirds of the people of the world could even dream about.  There are jobs here, even if they aren’t what we would like to do, or for the salary we want.  On average, we spend more money on entertainment (movies, vacations, cable, internet, and sports) during the year than the great majority of people in the world even make.  So if we complain about the cost of internet or rising food costs, remember the majority of the world population is walking or riding public transportation this weekend if it is even available.  Give thanks to God and ask Him for His guidance, for His love, for His protection as we continue to deal with Covid 19.

~Rev. Lewis Hejna

Fr. Joseph Stoverink’s going away celebration will be on July 19th 6:30-8:30pm outside on the shady grassy area between the Cathedral and the Catholic Center. Stop by, enjoy some Andy’s frozen custard and thank him for his 3 years of ministry here at St. Agnes.