News - July 2026 RSS Feed

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in African philosophy, “The one who knows the value of a drum will gladly carry it on his shoulders.” When you know something is truly valuable, you do not complain about the weight. You carry it with joy. That is exactly what Jesus teaches us today. He tells us about a man who discovers a treasure hidden in a field and a merchant who finds a pearl of great price. Both joyfully sell everything to gain what they have found. They do not sacrifice because they have to. They sacrifice because they have discovered something worth far more than anything they leave behind. It reminds me of a young woman back home in Uganda who saved for years to buy a bicycle. After she finally bought it, he never complained about buying tires, changing the parts, or washing it every Saturday. Her friends asked, “Why are you spending so much money on it?” She smiled and said, “Because now it is mine.” Isn’t that true? We rarely complain about the sacrifices we make for what we truly love. However, St. Paul takes today’s message one step further. He says something beautiful, but also difficult: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.” Notice what he does not say. He does not say that all things are good. Cancer is not good. The death of a husband, wife, or child is not good. Losing your job is not good. Living with anxiety, loneliness, depression, or financial stress is not good. Many of us come to Mass today carrying invisible crosses. Some are grieving someone they loved. Some are worried about their health. Some are caring for a spouse with dementia. Some are wondering how they will pay their bills. Others are smiling on the outside while their hearts are quietly breaking. St. Paul is not pretending those sufferings don’t hurt. He is telling us that God is so powerful, so loving, and so faithful that He can bring good even out of what seems hopeless. Look at the Cross. On Good Friday, it looked like defeat. On Easter Sunday, it became the victory of salvation. If God could bring the Resurrection out of the Cross, He can also bring hope out of your sorrow, strength out of your weakness, healing out of your wounds, and new life out of your disappointments. That does not mean He always removes the cross immediately. Sometimes, He walks with us as we carry it. And that is the treasure Jesus speaks about today. The treasure is not simply a better life. The treasure is Christ Himself. When everything else is taken away, our health, our plans, even the people we love, Christ remains. He never abandons us. He walks beside us. He weeps with us. He Himself strengthens us. Every time, every day, and every Sunday, we come searching for treasure. And we find Him here. Not buried in a field. Not hidden in a vault. But present on this Holy Altar in the Most Holy sacrament of the Eucharist. Today, Jesus gives us not gold or silver, but His own Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. He becomes our strength when we are weak, our peace when we are anxious, our hope when life seems uncertain. My dear brother and sister, if you are carrying a heavy cross today, do not lose heart. If you are grieving, come to Jesus. If you are sick, come to Jesus. If you are lonely, come to Jesus. If you are financially, emotionally, or spiritually exhausted, come to Jesus Christ. He may not remove every burden today, but He will never leave you to carry it alone. Brother! Sister! As we approach the Holy Altar, let us ask the Lord for the wisdom of Solomon, a heart wise enough to recognize that the greatest treasure is not a life without crosses, but a life with Christ. For when Christ is our treasure, no suffering is wasted, no tear is forgotten, and no life is beyond the reach of His redeeming love. Amen. Namugera Louis (Seminarian)

Welcome to At the Master’s Table Every Sunday, the Lord invites us to His table, the Table of the Word and the Table of the Eucharist. There, He speaks to our hearts, nourishes our souls, and sends us forth to live the Gospel in our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. It is my joy to invite you to At the Master’s Table, a weekly reflection on the Sunday readings. Together, we will pause to listen to God’s Word, reflect on its meaning, smile now and then, and discover how the Gospel continues to shape our daily lives. Whether you are reading this over your morning coffee, after Mass, or during a quiet moment in the week, I hope these reflections remind you that God’s Word is not just something we hear on Sunday; it is a living Word that accompanies us every day. Thank you for allowing me to share this journey of faith with you. I look forward to meeting you each week At the Master’s Table, where Christ is always our Host, our Teacher, and our Bread of Life. Namugera Louis (Seminarian)

This past July 4th, in New York, Sister Kaler took the first vows in the Sisters of Life Convent. She is the daughter of Harry and Karen Diemer in Hull. Together, we pray for Kaler and share our happiness with her and her family.

We have a new visiting priest named Fr. Peddy and a new seminarian named Louis. They both come from Africa. Fr. Peddy is from Zambia and Louis is from Uganda. Fr. Peddy will be with us for 2 months this summer and Louis will be with us the whole pastoral year. Be sure to say hello!

A beautiful new rug has been put town in the parish center. It features a gorgeous cross in the parish center entrance way. Be sure to come visit and take a peek!

St. Ann Church’s cross has been under construction. The finished product looks better than ever and is soon to be placed back on the roof of the church.