Fr. Bob’s Homily
Fr. Bob’s Homily
My Brothers and Sisters,
I want to begin by reporting some very good news. Our best estimate of the net profit from the festival is approximately $73,000. This is exceptional, given the fact that it rained for most of the day on Saturday. This festival was the 7th highest in terms of net profit.
This year is certainly a significant year in the life of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. This year and next year are going to be significant years in my life. Next year (2025) and the following year are going to be even more significant years in the life of the parish.
As you know, the Archdiocese will host the Tenth National Eucharistic Congress from July 17 to July 21. This is the first National Eucharistic Congress in the United States in 83 years. The Ninth National Eucharistic Congress took place in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds from June 23 to June 26, 1941. However, Philadelphia hosted an International Eucharistic Congress in 1976.
On June 29, I will celebrate my 49th anniversary of ordination which means that on June 29, 2025 Fr. Jim Farrell and I will celebrate our 50th anniversary of ordination. On July 2, I will have completed 21 years as pastor of Little Flower. In 2003 I never would have imagined that I would be here for 21 years. On August 6th of this year, I will turn 75 years old. What I cannot grasp is that I am now older than Fr. John was when I received my First Communion on May 6, 1956. He was old when he gave us First Communion.
As you know, I continue to be treated for the recurrence of prostate cancer. I feel fine although I am often tired. This treatment will probably last until August or September of 2025.
2025 and 2026 will be even more important years in the life of Little Flower Parish. Little Flower will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The parish was founded in 1925, but the church and school did not open until September 1926. The 100th anniversary executive committee is already preparing for a two-year celebration of our 100th anniversary.
Most of us are familiar with the back story of Job. God had blessed Job superabundantly. When God reminded the devil that although very blessed, Job was also very grateful, the devil asked God for permission to tempt Job by taking away all his blessings. However, Job never lost faith in God. In today’s Gospel, we are told that the apostles were filled with great awe when Jesus calmed the sea. I have to believe they also felt great gratitude when Jesus delivered them from the sea.
The word Eucharist means thanksgiving. As Catholics, we say that we are a Eucharistic people, a people of thanksgiving. When we celebrate Eucharist, we give thanks to God for all God’s gifts to us, directly or indirectly, but especially for the gift of Jesus Christ who makes all love possible.
As a parish, we ask a lot of you. We are constantly trying to increase Sunday Mass attendance. However, when I preach to you about Sunday Mass attendance, you are the ones who are here. Each year we challenge you to be generous in supporting Little Flower financially. We often ask you to support us with the gifts of your time and talent. As just one example, think about all the weeks leading up to SummerFest 2024. We asked you to purchase and sell raffle tickets. We asked you to put out signs. We asked you to donate items for the Silent Auction. We asked you to volunteer to work on the festival. We asked you to pray for the success of the festival. Finally, we asked you to attend the festival.
So, my brothers and sisters, today I want to say thank you. Thank you for faithfully attending Mass on Sunday. Thank you for all your gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Today I say thank you without any qualifiers or any ask. Thank you are the only two words I want you to remember as you leave Mass today.