Pastor's Column for December 29, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

         I am writing this in the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning and realizing it will be my last Pastor’s Column…for 2024. It’s been a great year for me and I hope the same is true for you. If you had told me when I was a child that I would still be alive in the year 2025 (I was born in 1960), I don’t think I could have imagined that. If I were able to, I’d probably have pictured myself riding around in a flying car or spaceship (much like the one in the Jetson’s cartoons that I know many of you would remember!). But technology has certainly come a long way. We could not have imagined at that time that we would be carrying a small, thin device in our pockets (or purses) that would allow us to make phone calls, search for any kind of information, watch videos, and do a host of so many other things, even carry the entire bible with us! But here we are. Anyway, this is just my long way of wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy 2025!

Once again I must acknowledge the people responsible for decorating the church so beautifully for this Christmas season. We are so blessed not only to have a beautiful church but people who make it even more beautiful during these important feasts of the year.

Before I go on I want to congratulate Angelina Morales and Robert Hamill who were wedded this weekend. They were smart to marry when the church is already decorated so as to save money on flowers! But I know they wanted a “Christmas wedding” and it’s a great time of year to begin a new life together so we wish them well and hope they live a long, fruitful life.

But sadly I must also express our sympathy to those who have lost a loved one recently, especially the family of Julie Jelar and Sharon Trifiro. May they rest with the Prince of Peace.

You’ll notice that we have placed a “QR code” in our weekly bulletin. This will allow you or any visitor to our church to scan the code with your phone’s camera and be taken to a website where you can securely make a donation. If you know what this means, then no further explanation is necessary. If you don’t, then know further explanation will be provided as it means you probably don’t like this technology I mentioned earlier! We will also provide a QR code that will take you to our website where you can view the bulletin online, watch our live-stream of Mass, and of course so much more. 

I need to mention two people for whom I continue to request your prayers, especially as we bring this year of 2024 to a close because for them, it has not been a year they would want to remember. First, I went to visit Father Ned Weist along with a parishioner who has remained in close touch with him over the years. Fr. Ned is the last surviving former pastor of St. Leo’s, but has been suffering from cancer in recent weeks. I gave him a card which thanked him for his ministry of service to the people of St. Leo’s for over 10 years and which pledged to him the spiritual bouquet of many Masses and prayers that we have been offering for him. He honestly looked very good and continues to retain his gentle, humorous and deeply sincere disposition. His faith inspires me. As we all live day by day according to the Lord’s command, we continue to commend him to the Lord.

I also want to say how much I missed Deacon Pat sitting next to me during our Christmas Masses. And I just miss being with him during the week. He continues to have therapy but it’s going to be a longer road to recovery than what was thought. Please continue to pray for his healing & to offer support to his wife Joan. They both contribute so much to our parish and to me personally. May 2025 be a much better and healthier year for them.

 Fr. James P. Schmitz

Pastor's Column for December 15, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

         About a month ago I shared with you the sad news that former pastor, Father Ned Weist, had been diagnosed with cancer. It seems to be progressing rather rapidly and while there are many who have reached out to visit with him, he is finding such visits both joyful but also very exhausting. There are some parishioners who have remained very close to him ever since he left St. Leo’s to join those at Our Lady Help of Christians parish. We talked about what we could do for him at this time and of course there is little we can offer except the promise of our prayers. So we would like to give him a “spiritual bouquet,” something that was common when I was younger. It’s simply the promise of prayers offered on behalf of several individuals. It can be as simple as a Hail Mary or Our Father or even as powerful as the offering of a Mass or a rosary. We would like to present Father with a card that expresses our concern for him and the pledge of our prayers in this way. So may I ask you to do this: between now and Christmas, commit yourself to offering some kind of prayer for him, or even a sacrifice of some kind, or an act of charity—anything that can be used to ask for God’s graces to be even more abundant in his life right now. Then without telling anyone, please fulfill that commitment when you are able. This way we can assure him that he is being thought of, prayed for and supported by this community that he loved and served for many years. I think of the times I saw him “in action” here when I would visit my cousin, Fr. Dan Schlegel, during his time at St. Leo’s. I still remember Father Weist talking to the children whose confessions we were about to hear. And now I sit in the same pastor’s office that he sat in (along with all the pastors from Fr. Lux onward). It’s an honor to follow in their footsteps. Thank you for your kindness in this matter and know what a great act of charity it is to pray for those who are ill.

I hear from parishioners that they are worried about getting to a doctor’s appointment or to see a sick friend because of lack of transportation. Most of them do not drive anymore and are unable to use alternative transportation such as Uber due to their lack of technological skills. I’m wondering if we have other parishioners who might be willing to offer a car ride on occasion to such people. We might be able to coordinate that through the rectory office. I’m not envisioning anything too regular but again we could have some willing to offer a ride here and there when really necessary for someone to get to a certain place, like to the doctor’s or to visit a friend. If you have the time and ability to offer such a service, feel free to reach out to us in the office and let us know. Again, we can limit such opportunities to more important times when someone is in need. Thank you for your consideration of this possibility. 

This Tuesday, December 17th is the 88th birthday of Pope Francis. You can see that he is pretty much confined to a wheelchair though his health otherwise seems pretty stable. Please pray for him this week. And this Wednesday would have been the 70th anniversary of ordination for Father Vesely. Let us continue to pray for the repose of his soul this week as well. 

On Friday, I will celebrate the last all school Mass for this year of 2024 as the students leave for their Christmas break. Which means Christmas is right around the corner. On this Third Sunday of Advent, we focus on the theme of joy as our rose candle is lit, another reminder of the closeness of our Christmas celebration. So be joyful for our salvation is near. 

 Fr. James P. Schmitz

Pastor's Column for December 8, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

         The first thing I want to share with you is my deep gratitude to two parishioners who (anonymously) donated the beautiful new signs that are now in place on our property. We were badly in need of them and it’s been on my to do list for a long time to have them replaced but it’s a big expense and a lot of work as each sign needs to be designed (kind of a pun there) and I honestly didn’t feel competent enough to do that. So longtime parishioners asked what I thought of the idea of having new signs put up and of course I was thrilled with the idea…especially when they said that they would be happy to design them (a talent of theirs) and even donate them (again, a very large expense). We discussed it as it was in progress but then they just appeared this week and I couldn’t be happier with them. The largest one is seen very clearly when you drive in the parking lot off of Broadview Rd. and is so much brighter & easier to read. It also includes our parish logo which is another big plus. It clearly directs the way to the church (of course the most obvious building) but also to the rectory, office, parish center, Marian shrine, and parish school (which also indicates that we offer Pre-school through 8th grade. It stands out with our parish colors as well and is just simply but nicely designed. There is also a sign by the Parish Center and soon (if not there already) by the Marian Shrine. There is a sign by the Rectory office and again soon (if not there already) by the West 25th entrance to the rectory parking lot. I speak on behalf of all our parishioners and visitors when I thank sincerely those who donated these marvelous signs and who did the great work of designing them. We are indebted to you!

OK, next up is just to let you know that you may hear our peal bells ringing before, during or after Mass this weekend as the Catholic Bishops of the United States are asking churches across the country to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Parish. I’m sure you recall the sad and tragic fire that destroyed part of this iconic symbol of our Catholic faith 5 years ago. Thanks to the hard work and generous support of so many throughout the world, it is finally re-opening on December 7th & 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Of course this medieval cathedral is named after “Our Lady” (Notre Dame in French) and so it’s appropriately restored on this great feast. The First Mass & consecration of the new altar will take place on Sunday, December 8th and will draw some 170 bishops from around the world. Of course you’ll be able to watch this great celebration on TV or the internet. This celebration is dedicated to honoring those who saved and rebuilt the cathedral. I have not been there myself yet, but it certainly is on my bucket list! So if you hear our bells ringing this weekend, say a Hail Mary in thanksgiving for those who saved & rebuilt this world-wide symbol of our Catholic Faith and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Speaking of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, this may be a bit confusing but here it is: normally this feast is a holy day of obligation for us in the United States except when it falls on a Friday or Sunday (as it does this year with Sunday being December 8th). However, because Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is the patroness of our country, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has made this holiday one of obligation for us in the United States this year, even though it falls on a Sunday. So, long and short of it is that Mass will be at 8:30a this Monday, December 9th (it will be an all school Mass but all are welcome) and then again at 7p. 

I also asked that you say a Hail Mary for Vincent & Elizabeth Rongone who lost a child through miscarriage. We celebrated a funeral Mass for their son, Charles Antonio last week.