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We have many guests come to Sacred Heart Chapel and marvel at its architectural beauty and just stand and gaze up. I’m sure many of you have encountered these visitors. When we as parishioners walk into Sacred Heart, what do we notice; who do we see? We are gifted with an incredibly beautiful church! All of those saints that surround the altar, where Jesus Christ is present to us at every mass and in the tabernacle all of the time, gave their life witness, and some, there very lives to Jesus Christ as martyrs. They gave themselves completely to Christ in the life they lived. Their lives of living (and some dying) for Christ are well documented. We are surrounded by super stewards, those who are canonized saints. We are surrounded by examples of great stewards. We receive the same Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist that they received to help them grow in holiness and give thanks to Jesus for all he has given us, which is everything.

Saint Patrick also has its share of visitors throughout the year especially during the three special Spanish Masses held throughout the year bringing people in from all across the United States. In the past two years, Saint Patrick has added two saints to the communion of Saints that are represented at that chapel. How could we not have a portrait of Saint Oscar Romero, patron Saint of El Salvador with the number of men, women and children in our parish who trace their roots back to that country? Patron Saints of particular countries are basically how saints end up in churches in the first place. It’s the Irish Heritage that gave us the name of Saint Patrick. There are two German Saints, Hugh and Boniface, at Sacred Heart hearkening back to the heritage of many of the founders of that church. On October 18 of this year, we blessed and placed the beautiful statue of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, patron saint of the Philippines to honor our growing Filipino community. Both Saints Romero and Ruiz were martyrs giving their very lives to Jesus Christ for the faith. They were super super stewards!  We are again within our parish, at St Patrick, surrounded by Saints who received the body, blood soul and divinity of the same Jesus we receive in the Eucharist today.

Saint John the Evangelist, was one of the few who stayed with Jesus and stood at the foot of the cross in the time of Jesus’ and Jesus’ Mother Mary’s most needed time. He did not waver; he did not flee; he stood with them in their time. He was rewarded in his earthly life to be the steward of Jesus’ and truly Our Mother, Mary! There wasn’t a lot of room at the foot of the cross; maybe that is why we are in a small place worshipping Jesus and receiving him in the same Eucharist Mary, Mary Magdalene and John would have celebrated and received too!  

We are all called to be saints which means we are all called to a life of holiness. Holiness happens by the way we prioritize our lives such that only those things that are pleasing to the Lord are part of our lives and that everything we do leads to and flows form our relationship to Jesus Christ. That is the life of a steward. Notice everything we know about saints to make them saints are recorded in their lives. That means people knew what they were doing! Not so they could boast or be proud; No! They became saints because of their true humility and example. People knew. They did it all only for the glory of God. Why do I want everyone to complete the time and talent forms? Not for pride; not for boastful purposes; so that you too can commit to how you will grow in holiness; how you will prioritize your life for Jesus everything flowing from or going to him. “It’s no one’s business what I am doing for God or my church” is not a sentiment of the saints that surround us when we worship at St Vincent de Paul. They didn’t do any of it so they would be worshipped by the people; but most of them did come to realize people were paying attention and were seeing them as models; even young Saint Carlo Acutis became aware of this in his life. We probably won’t use time and talent forms when your story of how you became a Saint is written, but it will be part of how you followed what you promised to do. 

The envelopes that we give to the children are all a part of this too. Many of our saints died at a very young age and they too gave their lives for Christ while they lived, and yes, some died as martyrs. It is never too early to start growing in holiness and showing the Lord that we are thankful for all that we have and all he has done for us. So, please, parents and grandparents, help the children and adolescents in your life use these envelopes. Young people, use them and be a witness and example to others in your life!   

The offertory is the time, when not only the bread and wine along with the money in the basket comes down the aisle, but that offertory including what is in the basket is representative, symbolic of everything in our lives, our lives ourselves, offered up to Christ during the Eucharistic Prayer. So, a practical reality has removed many from the spiritual reality of the offertory that we mean to correct. It is great we have added the option “to give online.” But that means “nothing” is placed in the collection basket representing your offering of very self to the Lord to be brought up to the altar. The correction is that you who give online also recently received envelopes and will continue to offer envelopes. Importantly, on all adult envelopes there is a box to check that says “I give online.” Simply check that box and place the envelope (empty) in the collection basket so the spiritual reality meets the physical reality of a gift of self.

Many come to our parish and marvel at what they see. Let us marvel at the gift of our Saint Vincent de Paul parish and all it holds knowing these saints went before us and shared in the same Eucharist we share to grow in holiness. Let us imitate these boys and girls, men and women, and become all God is calling us to be: stewards, holy, saints!