Dear Friends in Christ, “Be still and know that I am God.” Thus does the LORD instruct us in Psalm 46, verse 10. The stillness to which we are called in Holy Scripture is a letting go of actions and words that yields silence, both interior and exterior, and such silence is essential for every…

Dear Friends in Christ, We often receive requests from people who want to get married at St. Mary’s or want to have their baby baptized here or who have been invited by a friend or relative to serve as a sponsor for a Baptism or Confirmation somewhere else. And very often these requests come from…

Dear Friends in Christ, Given the great cultural changes through which we are now living, some Catholics may be tempted to withdraw from the world the better to resist the challenges to Christian life that confront us all. But such a withdrawal is not the Catholic way. Consider, for comparison, the Amish, who are famous…

Dear Friends in Christ, Our new fiscal year began on 1 July, and I want to give you a quick overview of our financial situation. During the fiscal year which ended on 30 June 2015, our offertory income was $1,722,390, and we finished the fiscal year with a surplus of $26,390 or 1.5%. From these…

Dear Friends in Christ, Today is the 29th anniversary of the ordination to the diaconate of the Reverend Mr. George Tierney. Deacon George has served faithfully in the ministries of Word, sacrament and charity these three decades minus one – both at St. Mary Magdalene, Simpsonville and at St. Mary’s, and we are deeply grateful…

Dear Friends in Christ, To all the Dads among us, Happy Father’s Day. And as we give thanks for the gift of fatherhood, I am grateful for the grace of being the spiritual father of our parish family. Next Sunday is the 14th anniversary of my service as the 16th pastor of St. Mary’s, and…