March 8, 2026

This weekend, we welcome Father Steven Olds who is with us for our multi-parish Lenten Mission. I am very grateful for Father Steven’s generous offer to do our mission after the death of Father Jerry Kaywell. At a time of mourning at the death of his friend, Father Steven has worked hard to prepare for his time with us.

We will be at Saint Elizabeth Seton, starting this Sunday at 7:00 PM and will continue at the same time on Monday and Tuesday evenings. His theme is, “Memory, Mystery and Mission.” We will have hospitality after each evening, so please come and plan to stay and meet people from Saint George, Saint Stephen, Saint Julie and Saint Elizabeth Seton. Looking forward to seeing you there!

The United States is at war. I write this on Monday, which means all kinds of things could have happened by the time you read this. The world will not miss the ayatollah. He was not a good man. Many Iranians both in Iran and across the world are glad to see him gone. President Trump and Prime Minister Netenyahu chose to make this offensive without gaining support of the United Nations or our allies. What is the endgame. What is the goal?

These are deeply moral questions. Our young men and women of the armed forces are being put in harm’s way. Iran has been responsible for terror and death, including to their own people. That’s how despots work. So how do we morally respond to that kind of evil?

Pope Leo said, “I am following with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and Iran at this dramatic time. Stability and peace cannot be built through mutual threats or with weapons that sow destruction, pain and death. They can only be achieved through reasonable, genuine and responsible dialogue. Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportion, I address a heartfelt appeal to the parties involved to assume moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”

Just as the drug cartels sought revenge after the Mexican government killed one of the worst drug lords in the world, Iranian-sponsored terrorists may do the same. Iran has bombed several neighboring countries because of their cooperation with Israel and the United States.

We live in tense times. We can feel at the mercy of old men who send young people into war. Our most powerful tool for building peace is prayer and standing for our moral convictions. Together, we pray for and work towards a more just and peaceful world. We pray for all those serving our country here and abroad.
Saint Michael the Archangel, intercede for them.