Dear Parishioners of St. Rosalie and St. John Bosco,

    Greetings in the Lord for a happy and safe Fourth of July Weekend.

    This year’s external celebrations will be different than in the past because of COVID 19 restrictions. Less and smaller celebrations will give us more time to think and reflect upon America’s liberties, freedoms and blessings as well as our short comings and faults. We are blessed with many graces yet these days we are challenged to become a more perfect people where everyone is recognized and treated as equals and with justice.

    Pope Paul VI’s famous quotation is as relevant today as when he said it in 1972, “If you want peace, work for justice.” The battle cry of so many protestors today is so true, “No justice, no peace.”

    The Two Great Commandments: “Love God with your whole heart, mind and soul; and love your neighbor as yourself” are prerequisites for peace in our day.

    Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, the poor, the sick, the handicapped, immigrants, refugees, and all those of different denominations and faith backgrounds are all beloved of God and our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

    Jesus calls us to love one another as He loves us with sacrificial love.  It takes will power and strength to live the Christian life and walk more closely in Jesus’ footsteps.

    We shouldn’t treat others with less respect just because they are different from us.  We shouldn’t treat others with less respect just because they are fleeing harsh conditions endured by themselves and their families in their native lands. We shouldn’t treat others with less respect because they hold differing opinions than we hold or because they don’t act the way we think they should.

    At times, some of us, set ourselves up as judge and juries of other people. We criticize, complain, gossip and use foul language in speaking with or about others who we dislike. Yet, Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and He tells us: Judge not, lest you be judged.

    On this Fourth of July Weekend let us recommit ourselves to Gospel values in our dealings and in speaking about our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us remember also the words of Stephen Levine: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

God loves you!

Fr. Mark