Dear Friends:
I want to thank in a particular way both the Santa Maria Council of the Knights of Columbus as well as the Legion of Mary for the good work that they did to host a farewell reception for Father Lijo two weekends ago. The event was well-planned and executed and a good number of parishioners came to thank Fr. Lijo and to wish him well as he left for New Milford and Washington Depot. We have made his new address available and I hope that many of you will drop him a note or a card from time to time to let him know that he is not forgotten.
With the summer season in full swing now, I note that the other day I happened upon a brief message on YouTube from Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York. In that brief message, his main point was particularly salient. The summer months are a time for rest and relaxation, a time away from the routine of life, but they are not in any way a time away from our spiritual life and devotions. We are still obligated to take time to pray each day, and I hope that we do so in a substantial way, not just a minute here or there. We should also be sure that we participate at Sunday Mass. If we are away from home, there is a website, Parishes Online, which enables us to find a church nearby so that we do not miss Mass. If you are planning a vacation this summer, I wish you safe travels and much happiness.
I note that several weeks ago, the Supreme Court issued a significant decision, Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Montgomery County Board of Education, in which the justices upheld the rights of parents to opt out of programs and events that promote one-sided ideology on gender and sexuality. The issue that prompted the decision was the rule that the Board of Education in Montgomery County, Maryland, imposed requiring all students to participate in the reading of storybooks that celebrate gender transitioning, pride parades, and pronoun preferences. The rule applied to all children, even those as young as three or four years of age, all in the spirit of “inclusivity.” Parents objected, on the grounds of faith and morals, and in the end, the Supreme Court sided with them on the issue.
This decision raises yet again for us a fundamental teaching of our faith, namely, that parents are the first teachers of their children, not only in matters of faith and morals, but in all other matters as well. Even though we are all on summer hiatus, I think it would behoove all parents of children in our parish, particularly those enrolled in the public schools, to keep a careful watch on what your children are learning in school. An elementary or secondary school has as its primary purpose the education of children so that they will have the necessary skills needed to succeed in life, be it at the college or university level, or in trade schools, or in the military. There should be no place for political or ideological indoctrination in our schools. Parents, beware!
Have a good week!