Pastoral Message from the July Beacon
07/01/2025
Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption,
Our Blessed Parish is 100 years old!!! In our 100 years, there have been 18 priests assigned and 4 additional periods totaling 15 years with “fill-in” priests. I am honored to be able to say that as of this month, it appears as though I am the longest serving priest to be assigned in the past century. This speaks volumes of where the AGOC is today in our maturity as a community.
Even more impressive is that we will be starting our new community center this month. A parish with less than 100 families doing what we are doing is unbelievable. I do not think there is another parish in our Archdiocese that is currently showing our strength and resolve.
I must express the deepest appreciation for those in our parish who embraced the vision and supported this project. You are the epitome of “I believe and therefor will see.” It is because of you that this project is now becoming a reality. Without your strength and support, those who couldn’t embrace the vision would have created a self-fulfilling prophecy—their doubt would have stifled the parish.
Of course, a great number of our members preferred to stand on the sidelines with more of a “I need to see it to believe it.” I encourage those members to embrace the sight and become believers. Not only believers in observance, but believers that become fully committed; step into the vision and become part of the truly committed in which your whole self (time, talents and treasures) are dedicated to Him!
As the spiritual father of the AGOC, I am fearful that those who didn’t embrace the vision were merely putting up a “smoke screen” and will now find a new excuse to remain on the “sidelines.” My fear is not for the community—it will succeed by the Grace of God—it is for their spiritual unhealthiness manifested in a limited relationship with God without sacrifice and trust in His beneficence. Let us all believe with one voice and one heart!!!
In His Service,
Fr. Jon