Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The month of August is the Month of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. In that spirit, I invite you to reflect on Our Lady’s promise at Fatima that, “My Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
We all recognize that we live in turbulent times. 1917 was just as turbulent, with World War 1 in full swing and the Spanish Flu pandemic on the horizon. Our Lady’s message to the children was primarily aimed at encouraging devotion to the Holy Rosary and calling Christians to prayer and penance for the sins of the world, primarily those of Russia, which was in the midst of the Bolshevik Revolution, and prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
The piece of this message which we seem to have lost sight of is that, no matter how bad things are, Our Lady has promised that the evil order which plagues the world will one day be destroyed, and the Church will once again take Her place as Mother and Teacher of all nations. Looking to this reality, we look at the primary Marian Feast of the month of August, that of Our Lady’s Assumption on the 15th.
Because the feast falls on a Saturday this year, it is not a Holy Day of obligation, but I still strongly encourage everyone to attend Holy Mass on that day. It is also the patronal Feast Day of Our Lady of the Lake church in King Ferry, and so, in addition to the regular 4 pm Mass at St. Michael’s, which will use the Mass texts for Our Lady’s Assumption, there will be a 9 am Mass in King Ferry with Confessions available beginning at 8 am. The evening Mass will also fulfill the Sunday Obligation.
As a parish community, we should all seek to place ourselves under Our Lady’s mantle that she may protect and guide us. St. Louis de Montfort reminded the whole Church that the best way to deepen our devotion to Christ is to approach His Blessed Mother, for no one can be closer to Him than she is, enthroned as she is in glory and having carried Him in her womb. Let us take this opportunity to be guided by Our Lady not only into deeper devotion, but into the evangelistic zeal which she encouraged the apostles in as they went out to all the corners of the earth. Our small corner likewise needs to live in the Good News of Our Lord’s Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, and there is no greater sign of the truth of these events than Our Lady’s Assumption by her son’s Divine Power. Let us seek her guidance and protection, that we may bring ever more lost sheep into the flock of the Good Shepherd.
-Fr. Maurici

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we reflect on this week’s Gospel and the parables it contains, I wish to reflect on the importance of Confession and how it con-nects to our life in the Kingdom.
As Our Lord tells us, the Kingdom is like the Pearl of Great Price, or the treasure buried in a field, that we give everything that we have to possess. The thing about that is that, much like Captain Flint from Treasure Island, we need a map to find our way back to that hidden treasure.
Part of that map is the Sacrament of Confession. It is a gift that the Lord gives to us in order to help us navigate the storms of life. Although the modern world prefers to act as though sin does not exist, it is a very real part of our lives as humans. The writer Rod Dreher defines sin as, “loving wrongly.” In other words, to sin is to love something that is bad, to love something that is good too much, or to love something lesser more than something greater. For instance, to use a somewhat hot button example, preferring virtual friendships, formed in online spaces, to real friendships with neighbors. These virtual friendships are by their nature insufficient, con-tributing to what sociologists and psychologists are calling an “epidemic of loneliness.”
That is, of course, an extreme example, but we face these kinds of decisions on a daily basis. Because of our fallen state and the temptations of the world, we very often choose those things which, ultimately, lead us away from God. Confession not only brings us back to Him, but helps us to overcome those temptations and to reorder our affections so that we begin to love rightly. Confession is not something to fear, rather, it is a place where we experience God’s love and mercy in its fullness. That experience of God’s love is meant to help us to grow closer to Him and so possess the Kingdom more and more in this life, so that we may experience its fullness in eternity.
-Fr. Maurici

My brothers and sisters in Christ,
In this week’s Gospel, we hear the parable of the Wheat & the Tares. This is an invitation for us to reflect on the realities of the world, especially given some things that have been happening lately in Church news. It is a good reminder to us that, until the Final Judgment, there will always be sin and evil in the world.
What we must remember is that, no matter how confusing or disorienting things may be, Christ is Lord of History, and the Church, His Spotless Bride, will remain and provide refuge to all until the consummation of the age.
And along this line, I invite us all to consider the refuge that the Church Provides. Primarily this comes to us through the grace of the Sacraments, but also through devotions like the rosary, saints’ medals, blessed objects of all kinds. The Church provides us with many ways to grow in our devotion and seek to leave the worldly habits that we have developed over time.
Thus, the invitation from the Lord is clear. He asks us to leave behind the things that keep us from Him, and so be fruitful, and gathered into His Kingdom on the Last Day. Please know that I am always happy to bless medals and statues and homes, and our newly expanded Confession times are meant to give as many as possible the opportunity to celebrate that Sacrament regularly. If those times still do not work for
you, please feel free to contact me to set up a time to go. Not only does Confession absolve us from sin, it also helps to strengthen us against future sin. And so, by the help of God’s grace, we grow in the life of Holiness and bear fruit for the Kingdom. Be assured of my prayers as we seek holiness together.
-Fr. Maurici

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Sacramental Life of the Church is the framework that guides us all through the trials of life. Often, the Church Fa-
thers described the Church as a ship, sailing the stormy seas of our fallen world, seeking the heavenly harbor. The Sacra-
ments help us to mature and grow into our places on that ship, and thus how we support each other in our Christian lives.

Holy Baptism rescues us from the stormy waters and brings us aboard the ship. With Confirmation, we are able to man
the yards and help to steer the ship by harnessing the wind of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Eucharist, of course, sustains and
strengthens us for the difficult journey, while Matrimony and Holy Orders each in their own way lead and encourage the
Christian People and help to spread the Gospel so that the Barque of Peter may bring more souls to salvation.
The Anointing of the Sick and Confession do different things. The Anointing imparts spiritual and physical strength in

times of serious illness so that we may persevere in trial, while Confession heals the wounds which the things of the world in-
flict upon our souls. It is for when we stumble as the storm rocks the ship, and we need the help of Grace to remain upright.

With a view to the importance of Confession for our spiritual lives, I am expanding the confession times for the Good
Shepherd Catholic Community. Beginning this weekend, Saturday Confessions at St. Michael’s will happen every week from

3 to 3:45, and Thursdays from 3:15 to 3:45. We will maintain Sunday Confessions at St. Patrick’s, Moravia, and add Tues-
day before Mass from 8:15 to 8:45. There will be Confession available at St. Patrick’s, Aurora after daily Masses, and first

Friday confessions will remain at Our Lady of the Lake.
As a reminder, everyone has a right to the Sacraments. I, as one with care of souls, cannot deny a reasonable request for
Confession (cf CIC 986). It is my prayer that with these changes, more of us will be able to avail themselves of the Sacrament,
and experience the outpouring of God’s Grace. 

In Christ, Father Maurici