On September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors. As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got underway, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767—United Airlines Flight 175—appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center and … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – September 11, 2022

Thursday, September 1st was the beginning of meteorological Fall; and this weekend – Labor Day weekend – is the beginning of the Fall routine. Labor Day is time to recognize the power and work of organized labor in the betterment of social life. Since 1891 the Catholic Church has affirmed the value of collective bargaining and the right of workers to organize. In the late 1800s a handful of captains of industry (known as “Robber Barons”) held the reigns of economic life in the United States. One such “Robber Baron” was our own James J. Hill – The Empire Builder. Today, 131 years later, the … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – September 4, 2022

What about this Latin Mass? The Latin Mass is not about Latin. One could celebrate the Vatican II Mass in Latin if one wanted to. It is not the Latin Mass, it is the “Old Mass”. The “Old Mass” is not just another way of celebrating Mass, but an expression of a pre-Vatican II mentality that dates to the Council of Trent. “It’s not about Latin, it is about the meaning of Church, stupid.” It is not possible to say that one recognizes the truth of the Second Vatican Council and at the same time not accept the liturgical reform born out of the Council. The reality of liturgy is intimately joined … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – August 28, 2022

In the 27th chapter of the rule Saint Benedict wrote for his monks, he writes about the need for the Abbot to care for the weakest. He wrote: “They (Church leaders) are to imitate the loving example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep in the mountains and went in search of the one sheep that had strayed. So great was Jesus’ compassion for its weakness that “he mercifully put it on his shoulders” and carried it back to the flock (Luke 15:5).” The Christian life is for human beings. Those who exercise authority in the Christian community are to see themselves as healers … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – August 21, 2022

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is a saint because she truly accepted who she was and who God chose her to be. The following, from Bryce Lungren, Wyoming’s Cowboy Priest, writes about finding within your self the seeds of holiness. Father Steve Adrian Father Bryce Lungren cares for cattle, but he also cares for the souls of his Wyoming parish. He is known as “The Cowboy Priest” He writes: “My whole motto is sonship, and that means that God calls me, calls me by name and according to my nature. He calls me as ‘Bryce.’” When I first … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – August 14, 2022

Next Saturday, August 13th, is the Annual Saint Matt’s Mass in the Park with Buffet following. This annual event usually takes place on the weekend closest to the Feast of the Assumption, August 15th. The relaxed atmosphere of the park provides a different experience of prayer and liturgy as well as an opportunity to visit with fellow parish members and their families and friends. The Men’s Club provides the meat; the Rosary Society provides the table setting (paper plates and plastic cutlery). You are invited to bring a side dish and beverage. Bring a lawn chair; or a blanket if you plan to … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – August 7, 2022

If you or your son were students at Cretin High School in the 1960s you may have taken a course from Brother James Miller or Brother Jim Miller may have coached you in football. He was known for his ability to fix almost anything. He oversaw the maintenance work at Cretin. Students called him “Brother Fix-it”. James Miller grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. He met the Christian Brothers when he attended high school. Later he joined the Order in 1959. He taught at Cretin and in 1969 was sent by the Order to Central America. In Nicaragua and in Guatemala Brother Jim helped build a number of … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – July 24, 2022

Pope Francis warns against hypocrisy, it jeopardizes the unity of the Church. Francis says: “Hypocrisy can be called the fear of the truth, that it is better to pretend than to be yourself. It can suffocate the courage to openly say what is true.” He warned: “hypocrisy flourishes in the environment where interpersonal relations are lived under the banner of formalism.” Pope Francis warned both those who exercise authority in civil life and those who exercise authority in the life of the Church. He warns: “Brother and sisters, a frequent defect in those who have authority, both civil and … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – July 17, 2022

By this time the annual array of graduation parties and receptions are over, or mostly over. I write this reflection as an open letter to 2022 graduates. You have been through two years of a totally unexpected life – no one was prepared for it. COVID-19 turned everything upside down. You have been through it, and God willing you survived. You had the experience of finding yourself in unexpected situations; not a bad prelude to the next challenge in your life. You may be going to another school, or entering the military, you may be taking a “year off” to earn some money for tuition a year … [Read more...] about Reflection from Father Steve – July 10, 2022 – an open letter to 2022 graduates