JUNE 21, 2020 • TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Saints

902 East 9th Street • Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Peter & Paul C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

AND SCHOOL

Established 1872

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

We are a Roman Catholic Community of Christians called to be a priestly people, a household of faith, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apos-tolic Church shining for Jesus Christ in the heart of Christian County.

Rev. Fr. Richard Meredith, Pastor crmeredith@stsppchurch.org

Rev. Fr. Michael Charles Abiero, Parochial Vicar mcabiero@stsppchurch.org

Permanent Deacon, Mr. Tim Barnes tdbarnes@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Roberto Cruz rcruz@stsppchurch.org Permanent Deacon, Mr. Trinidad Soriano Permanent Deacon, Dr. Bill Sweet wesweet@stsppchurch.org PARISH OFFICE PHONE: (270) 885-8522 PARISH FAX: (270) 885-5296 PARISH WEBSITE: www.stsppchurch.org DIOCESAN WEBSITE: www.owensborodiocese.org VATICAN WEBSITE: www.vatican.va PARISH OFFICE HOURS: 8:00AM-12 NOON • 1:00 PM-4:00 PM MONDAY – FRIDAY

SCHOOL TELEPHONE: (270) 886-0172 SCHOOL FAX: (270) 887-9924 SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.stsppschool.org

Tru†h Radio WSPP 93.5 FM (Local Catholic Radio)

Saints Peter and Paul Assistance: 270-886-6027

Saints Peter and Paul Thrift Store: 270-632-1037 Store Hours M-F 10:00 am-3:00 pm. SECOND SATURDAY OF MONTH 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARISH We give a sincere welcome to all new families moving into our Parish. Please register with the Parish Office as soon as possible. Families who plan to move from our parish

community are asked to let us know.

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday evening ..................................... 5:00 PM Sunday.................................. 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Misa en Español .............. 2:00 PM, 10:30 PM Monday - Saturday ............................... 8:00 AM Wednesday ......................................... 5:30 PM

Thursday (en Español) - except June and July... 5:30 PM

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY

The Catholic Church teaches that the sexual abuse of any person is a grave moral evil. To report any instance of sexual abuse by anyone

acting in the name of the Catholic Church, (priests, deacon, employee or volunteer), please call the Diocesan Pastoral Assistance Coordina-tor, using the dedicated confidential phone-line (270-852-8380) as well as the Diocesan web site (www.owensborodiocese.org/safe).

† SACRAMENTS † † Reconciliation: Confessions will be heard Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and Wednesday at 4:30 PM. Confessions will be heard any time by appointment.

† Baptism: Baptismal Preparation Class - Our next class will be announced. Please call the Parish Office to register.

† Marriage: Contact the Office six months prior to the desired date.

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Parish Pastoral Council

Lana Bastin, Administration ...…...……...…....bastins2@yahoo.com Stephanie Blankenberger, Principal..sblankenberger@stsppschool.org Jan Buckner, Family Life ....………….janet.buckner59@gmail.com Dee Dailey, Vice Chair & Worship..….…....dalyfrau2@gmail.com Libby Downs, Pastoral Associate ..…....….ljdowns@stsppchurch.org Hilda Gonzalez, Social Concerns.…….....linareshilda@outlook.com Fran Marko, Secretary………….…………….....franmarko@gmail.com Morgan Murray, Chair & Spiritual Life…..…mcm1811@yahoo.com Robert Tyree, Education….……………..roberttyree@kycourts.net

PARISH OFFICE Tom Buehrle (twbuehrle@att.net)….........................Director Of Stewardship Brenda Chaudoin (bchaudoin@stsppchurch.org)....……..…. Parish Office Mgr. Libby Downs (ljdowns@stsppchurch.org)............................Pastoral Associate

Leigh Ann Johnson ………………….………Parish Assistance Coordinator Steve Kinnard (skinnard@stsppchurch.org)...……….Maintenance Foreman Angie Phillips (abphillips2013@gmail.com)…………….....Thrift Store Mgr. Mayra Tirado (mtirado@stsppchurch.org)…………Hispanic Ministry Asst. Sue Wassmer(swassmer@stsppchurch.org)............................Parish Secretary Dan Wilkinson(dwilkinson@stsppchurch.org)………...Parish Music Director

SCHOOL OFFICE

Stephanie Blankenberger

(sblankenberger@stsppschool.org)….......School Principal Jaime Embry (jembry@stsppschool.org)…………….….. Reception/SCRIP Jennifer Groves (jgroves@stsppschool.org)………….…. School Secretary

MINISTRY TO THE SICK

Please notify the Parish Office upon admission of a family member into any hospital or nursing home. Any parishioner who is ill or infirm may request anointing in extreme emer-

gency by calling the Parish Office, 270-885-8522.

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

This is a devotion whereby members of the parish unite in tak-ing hours of Adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament dur-ing the day and throughout the night, seven days a week. (Code required.) There is a regular schedule of adorers but all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Parishioners are encouraged to sign up for a scheduled weekly Adoration time. Please con-tact Bill & Jenny Rush at 270-885-2888, if you are interested in adopting an hour or if you can be a substitute or prayer partner Available hours: Sunday 12am, Monday 2am, Tuesday 5am, Wednesday 12 am & 2am, Thursday 5 pm, Saturday 1am, 5 am, 9 pm & 10 pm. Need prayer partners Tuesday 9am & Sat-urday 9 pm and 10 pm Hourly Captain. Please help!!

School News

JUNE 21, 2020 • TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 3

Father’s Day Thought: Marriage is the foundation of the family. Children need this solid foundation more than any-thing else a parent can give them. That is why divorce and children outside of marriage are some of the greatest trage-dies. And that undoubtedly ex-plains the extremely high corre-lation between the relationship of our parents and the level of hardship we face in our life. Just about every major social problem we have has at least one correlative factor in common: broken homes. That is not to say there aren’t plenty of exceptions. But it’s an obvious factor. And I firmly believe it is the most important factor of all.

“The family is the first essential cell of human society.” – Pope John XXIII

“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” – St. Pope John Paul II

If we have broken families then we have a broken society. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that increasingly believes divorce is no big deal. And believes that sex and children outside of a marriage bond is just fine for the children. And at the root we have a sentiment that “spouses may come and go, but I will always love my children.” But your children need you and your spouse. That is why your marriage and your love for each other is the most im-portant thing you can focus on. For a married person, it’s your first vocation in life. It comes even before loving your kids. You love your kids most by loving each other first. That is what ensures a safe and solid environment for your chil-dren to grow within.

Top 10 Ways to Grow into a Really Great Dad

1. Say yes to the challenge of fatherhood, each day. 2. Love your wife and treat her with great respect – the

model you set will greatly influence your children’s deci-sions later.

3. Make prayer an essential part of your life. Teach your children to pray, and let them see you pray, regularly. Be faithful to the sacraments.

4. Spend time with your children. Play with them. Let them know you enjoy the gift of being their father.

5. Love your children enough to discipline them. Teach them clearly right from wrong.

6. Grow in patience. 7. Forgive your children and allow them to hear you say

“I’m sorry.” 8. Tell them “I love you”. Don’t be afraid to be affection-

ate: let your children feel loved. 9. Talk with your children – especially as they enter teen-

age years. Be genuinely interested in how they are. 10. Lead by example: Select your friends, your entertain-

ment, your social outings knowing that your choices influ-ence your children more than you will ever know.

Origin of Father’s Day: The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, who was raised by her father, Henry

Jackson Smart. Sonora wanted him to know how special he was to her because it was her father that made all the parental sac-rifices, and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, loving man. She chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Wash-ington on June 19, 1910. Presi-dent Calvin Coolidge pro-claimed the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day in 1924. Fathers have a tremendous in-fluence on the spiritual devel-

opment of their children. Thank you for being a model of faith for your children! Happy Father’s Day!

Pray for Fathers. We thank you, God,

for the gift of our fathers, for grandfathers and godfathers

and fathers-in-law. Send your Holy Spirit upon our fathers,

in whose laps we were cradled, on whose knees we were bounced,

by whose hands we were fed, instructed, and at times corrected,

in whose company we learned to work and play and pray,

at whose side we hear your word and celebrate your mysteries.

Heal their pains and disappointments. Forgive all that needs to be forgiven.

Give to them the good that they have given others.

Welcome into your arms those who have died.

Fill this world, O God, with a father’s love. We ask this through your Son Jesus Christ,

who taught us to pray to you as Abba. He lives and reigns with you and

the Holy Spirit, who is Father of the poor, one God forever and ever.

Amen.

Welcome Home!!! As we return to opening the church

for public Mass, please be patient as we do our best

to keep our parishioners safe. A mask must be worn during Mass and

an usher will seat each person to stay within the CDC

guidelines of social distancing.

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 4

Guidelines for Resuming Parish Gatherings Outside the Liturgy: Effective immediately (May 27, 2020), parish gatherings outside the liturgy (Religious Education classes, RCIA meetings, small groups, etc.) may resume with ten peo-ple or less, with the following guidelines:

All must continue practicing physical distancing of six feet from those not living within the same household.

All must wear a mask if closer than six feet to anyone not living within their household.

No communal food may be shared.

Encourage all to wash hands frequently before, during, and after the gathering.

Encourage all to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.

Those at high risk over 65 with heart, lung, or kidney disease, are still asked not to gather.

Because of these new guidelines, we are working with families involved in First Holy Communion, Confirma-tion, RCIA and our high school graduates. Text messages and phone calls are in process for availability of dates for practices and the reception of Sacraments. Once these have been determined, dates will be announced to the par-ish. Please continue to pray for these children, youth and adults as they continue their preparation for the reception of Sacraments in the Catholic Church. If you have additional questions, please call Libby at 270-885-8522 or 270-985-8544.

High School Graduates: Could you be with us on Sunday, July 5th at our 10:30 a.m. Mass to allow us to celebrate your accomplishments? Would you be willing to serve at this Holy Mass as a lector, usher or Minister of Holy Com-munion? See or call Libby if you or a family member would like to be involved in this Mass. Also a flyer is being mailed to each of our high school graduates.

High School Graduate of 2020 Saints Peter and Paul Parish

Edwar Acosta Georgianna Baker Brenda Bonifacio Jennifer Bautista Alison Bellew Logan Gibson Scribbie Goode Will Groves Chenoa Hall Kaleb Hall Dayana Hernandez Layne Jorgensen

Anna King Lauren Langhi Zach Langhi Natalie Linares Manuel Martinez Joseph Nguyen Hope Pace Rayna Pound Trace Pound Jessica Roman Angel Rodriguez Sofia Sargeant John Schmitt Kristen Shouse Allison Sunderhaus Maritza Uribe

We are in the process of rescheduling First Holy Communion and the reception into the church of our RCIA candidates. Continue offering prayers for them as they continue in their journey to the Sacraments of the Church.

Updated Guidelines for Places of Worship: On Thursday, June 11, 2020 we received from the Diocese of Owensboro updated Guidelines for Places of Worship issued on Wednesday by the Governor’s office. One particular

guideline, effective immediately, is attend-ance has been increased to 50% of the ca-pacity of the building. For us here at Saints Peter and Paul this means we are able to have 300 people in attendance at any one Mass (600 capacity at 50%).

Other guidelines remain in place such as wearing of mask, use of hand sanitizers, six foot distancing, sanitizing after each service, choirs should avoid singing as directed previously, etc. Remember to leave your kneeler down to indicate what pews need to be sanitized. Thank you for helping us!

RICE BOWLS: During the Season of Lent, did you and your family participate in the Rice Bowl program? Typically, these monies are brought to the church on Holy Thursday at the evening Mass and given as alms to the poor. Since we were unable to physically attend Mass on Holy Thursday, do you still have your Rice Bowl donations at your home? If so, we ask you to please to return them to the par-ish by next Sunday, June 21st. These funds need to be sub-mitted to the Diocese before June 30th. Thank you.

Celebration of Confirmation With Bishop Medley presiding

Wednesday, August 5th at 5:30 p.m. At Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Confirmation practice with our Confirmation students and their sponsors (or a parent) will be held on

Wednesday, July 29th at 6:30 p.m. in the Church.

Confirmandi include: Esmeralda Bautista, Addie Gal-van, Jackie Ginez, Livie Jorgensen, Bryan Linares, Mar-tin Nguyen, Thieng Nguyen, Aaron Oñate, Esther Pep-ple, Emma Petrie, Michelle Salas and Lucy Wilkins.

ATTENTION from the Diocese of Owensboro

For those who come from the same household, there is no need to maintain a six foot physical distance at any time during the Mass, including the Communion procession.

Therefore, if you reside in the same household, please come forward in the Communion procession as you have always done so – one after another; in-stead of a 6 foot distance apart.

It is remembering that you live together, eat togeth-er, sleep together, ride to the church in the same ve-hicle; therefore, come to the Lord’s table together – share in this experience as family.

JUNE 21, 2020 • TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 5

Monday, June 22

ST. PAULINUS OF NOLA & STS. JOHN

FISHER & THOMAS MORE

8:00 am DEANA HOLDMAN

Tuesday, June 23

8:00 am † C.A. THOMAS

Wednesday, June 24

THE NATIVITY OF

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

8:00 am NO MASS

5:30 pm † NORMA FRANCES SOYK

Thursday, June 25

8:00 am ARSHA BATTAH

5:30 pm Spanish NO MASS

Friday, June 26

8:00 am GERTRUDE FLOOD

Saturday, June 27 ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA

8:00 am JOEY & HEATHER RODGERS

5:00 pm HELEN WINSTEAD

Sunday, June 28

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY

TIME

8:00 am † GEORGE & MARY MACIAS

10:30 am †

JOHN J. CHEWNING &

JOHN J. CHEWNING II

2:00 pm Spanish † ROSE ANN TOBIN

10:30 pm Spanish FOR ALL PEOPLE

† Indicates Requiem Mass

SANCTUARY LAMP

IN MEMORY OF MAGALI GONZALEZ & CAROLYN VIRGINIA ALDRICH BUTTON

Questions regarding Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration: As a parish we know the importance of our Adorers and their min-istry of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Your commit-ment to Perpetual Eucharistic Adora-tion has made such a difference in the life of our parish, your homes and within your own heart for the last 18 years. We hear your ques-tions and your deep desire to return to this ministry. Please know that we are working on a pro-cess that will be safe and in-line with the guidelines provided to us from our Governor and our Diocese. Please keep watching as we hope this ministry returns soon. Continue to pray for our parish and the fruits that come forth from our love of the Eucharist. It is our hope that Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration will resume on Saturday, June 26th. Be attentive for a phone call from Bill and Jenny Rush. Hours available to be adopt-ed include: Sunday 12:00 AM (midnight)

Monday 2:00 AM

Tuesday 5:00 AM

Wednesday 12:00 AM (midnight) and 2:00 AM

Thursday 5:00 PM

Saturday 1:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM

Prayer partners needed for Tuesday 9:00 AM and Friday 11:00 AM. An hourly Captain is needed for 10:00 PM.

Mass Intentions Readings for the week of June 21, 2020 Sunday: Jer 20:10-13/Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35/ Rom 5:12-15/Mt 10:26-33 Monday: 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18/Ps 60:3, 4-5, 12-13/Mt 7:1-5 Tuesday: 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36/ Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 10-11/Mt 7:6, 12-14 Wednesday: Is 49:1-6/Ps 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15/ Acts 13:22-26/Lk 1:57-66, 80 Thursday: 2 Kgs 24:8-17/Ps 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9/ Mt 7:21-29 Friday: 2 Kgs 25:1-12/Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6/ Mt 8:1-4 Saturday: Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19/Ps 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21 [19b]/Mt 8:5-17 Next Sunday: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a/Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, Lpi© 18-19/Rom 6:3-4, 8-11/Mt 10:37-42

Moving: It saddens us to learn that we have several par-ish families who will be moving from our parish community this summer. Know that we at Saints Peter and Paul will continue to pray for your family as you move and take up residence in another city. We challenge you to continue to grow in your faith by registering in a new parish and be active by sharing your gifts and talents. Before you leave, would you please call us (270-885-8522) and let us know you are leaving so that we can re-move your name from parish records. We will also need a forwarding ad-dress so that we can mail you future information for your tax records.

Christian County Relay for Life Event Friday, July 31st beginning at 5:00 p.m.

at the Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex 155 Tilley Way, Hopkinsville

Come and show your support for our Saints Peter and Paul Relay for Life Team

and the American Cancer Society

T-shirts and decals are still available.

Budget News June 14, 2020

Contributing Households

Envelopes 56 $8,145

Online Donations/EFT 39 $8,712

Loose collection Cash $638

Loose collection Checks 21 $2,400

Weekly Total 116 $19,895

Weekly Parish Budget Needs $20,500

2019/20 Diocesan Assessment due 6/2020 $38,355

SS PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, HOPKINSVILLE, KY 6

Last week, seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement in the wake of the death of Mr. George Floyd and the protests that have broken out in Minneapolis and other cities in the United States. Their statement included a plea to all Catholics to pray and work for healing and peace: I [W]e call upon all Catholics to pray and work toward a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for a supernatural desire to rid ourselves of the harm that bias and prejudice cause. We call upon Catholics to pray to the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of Truth to touch the hearts of all in the United States and to come down upon our criminal justice and law enforcement systems. Finally, let each and every Catholic, regardless of their ethnicity, beg God to heal our deeply bro-ken view of each other, as well as our deeply broken society.

Safe Environment: The safety of our children is the responsi-bility of every Christian. Anyone aware of the abuse of a person under the age of eighteen is required by law to report this to the proper state authorities: local law enforcement (270-890-1300 / or 270-887-4135) or the Kentucky Child Abuse Hotline (toll-free: 1-877-KYSAFE1; 1-877-597-2331). To report to the diocese abuse by church personnel (paid or volunteer) either past or present, please call the Pas-toral Assistance Coordinator at this confidential phone line: 270-852-8380. The Diocese of Owensboro sexual abuse policy is available in the sacristy of church, or in the parish office and also on the diocesan web site (https://owensborodiocese.org/safe).

GASPER ON THE GO: Since we can’t have camp at Gasp-er River this year, we created “Gasper On the Go”! This will be a three day experience of day camp in your towns! Led by two different Gasper River staff teams in two different cities each week. Saints Peter and Paul will be one host site scheduled for July 21-23 as well as other places around the Diocese!

GASPER ON THE GO —> Tuesdays thru Thursdays Incoming 3rd thru 6th Grades, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am Incoming 7th thru 12th Grades, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

We will play games, have arts & crafts, sing songs, learn about our faith and have tons of fun! The cost is $75 for the first tier or $65 for the second tier. Please pay what your family can afford. Any additional immediate sibling will only cost $50. All campers will receive a one of kind Gasp-er On the Go! t-shirt and a camp photo. We will adhere to all state requirements for safety for day camps for Gasper On the Go! Please go to our website to register at www.gasperriverretreatcenter.org or call our office at 270-781-2466 if you have any questions.

12th Sunday In Ordinary Time June 21, 2020: I know well the plans I have in mind for you, Says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the Lord, and I will change your lot… Jeremiah 29:11-14

Wherever you go, I shall go Wherever you live, there shall I live

Your people will be my people And your God will by my God, too.

This promise of fidelity from the book of Ruth (1:16) reminds us that Christ will live and go with us, wherever we live and wherever we go. It also invites us to care for people be-cause they are His people, too. Christ asks each disciple to be His partner in the work that God the Father sent Him to do in this world. He promises to be our partner, wherever we go, whatever our work, whatever kind of life we live. We follow Him, trusting that He is with us, not just for a mo-ment, but for the whole of our lives. Wherever we go, how-ever we live, “the Lord is at my side.” His commitment is life-long despite our own inability to think of Him always, even despite our occasional thoughtless rejection of Him. The mys-tery of God’s call to us and of our response to Him is that He is always there for us. “I am at your side; you are my friends,” said Jesus, even to disciples who sometimes lose the way. “Wherever you go, I shall go.” If we take those words to heart we can accept the risk of going out to others in His name. In saying “yes” to our life as Christian disciples, we can, like Jeremiah, go forward in a zigzag fashion, going somewhere, but not always directly or in a predictable manner. “Do not be afraid,” Christ said and still says. Christ is not for the fearless but for those who must control their fears. Neither is He for the perfect but for those who need His word of forgiveness. If this ideal of going the journey of life with Christ seems beyond our reach, remem-ber He once said to His friends, “With men it is impossible but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” I follow Christ best when I realize that the gospel ideal is be-yond the reach of my own strength. It is then that I can lean on him and build on the strength of the Lord who is always at my side.

Please Pray for our Deployed Military & Families

Ryan Harrison, Trey Johnston & Quin Perry

In Need of Prayers… Carriage Way Assisted Living- Eleanor Rog-ers, Albert Weakly Covington Convalescent– Pat Chesnut Western State Nursing Facility- Debbie Dickerson, Ellen Jones Christian Health Center- Thelma Budias, Lillian Cotthoff, Norma Downs, Barbara Holubecki, Christine Mills Others.. Helen Allard, Dick & Jackie Arnold, Sherry Beck, Holly Bivins, Ruth Britt, Carolyn Brown, Helen Brown, Judy Brummett, Adley Shay Buckner, Colleen Buehrle, Sher-ry Calhoun, Sam Chesnut, Martha Fowler, Nancy Freeman, Shae-na Godwin, Jim Gorman, Bill Hancock, William Hancock, Bill Hen-ney, Heather Jeffries, Carol Johnson, Leigh Ann Johnson, Tony Jones, Charlie Keel, Jane Lucas, Kathy Lytle, WP Meredith III, Joe Mezzoni Sr., Jim Milazzo, Cecelia Omundson, Teresa Pazin, Sher-man Peger, Emily Pyle, Martha Reed, Tara & Dylan Rush, Al Rut-land, Frank Selph, Mary Catherine Smith, Beth Snyder, Rocky Spader, Mike & Marilyn Stocker, Georgiann Svestka, Mary Swicicki, Jerry Thomas, Ron Todd, Carla Wagner, Clyde Wallace, Wassmer Family, Helen Winstead, James Wittschack, Pamela Mezzoni Wofford. Names will remain on this list for 1 month.

JUNE 21, 2020 • TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 7

Pastor’s Greeting A GOSPEL RESPONSE TO GRAVE INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE In recent days we have seen two par-ticular murders on the streets of America, that of Mr. George Floyd and that of Capt. (Ret.) David Dorn, and we know

that there have been several more similarly unjust killings accompanied by mob violence, arson, looting, and rioting. People of conscience are all outraged by the murders, loud-ly and justly protesting this inhumanity, this abomination. Overwhelmingly, Americans responded in horror at the cold-hearted, deliberate murder of Mr. Floyd. Both the murder and its racism evoked outrage across all racial and ethnic lines here and around the world. The nation shouted outrage in protest, as well we should. The murder and the demon-stration of our outrage, however, were also taken as an opportunity for violent anarchy, intentionally destructive rioting and looting, and raging, uncivil mayhem under the cover of a just outrage. The murder of Capt. Dorn, mean-while received a response muted by the continuing uproar. Instead of responding to the barbaric provocation of Mr. Floyd’s murder with increased determination to establish “equal justice under the law,” using hatred of the “other” as a political tool, certain rioters hijacked what otherwise was just and civil protest. Doing so, they seized upon this time to overturn the rule of law for the rule of the “mob.” Death and destruction have brazenly followed, deceitfully claiming the mantle of justice. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and those who live by it side with the protest against these gross injus-tices and give witness to a starkly different pathway for-ward. The Gospel rejects taking up unjust and evil means to overcome evil and its injustice. Most perhaps all Christians ask God daily as Jesus Christ taught to deter us from temptation and to deliver us from evil. By the light of Christ we are surely seeing evil these days. We can see it on the streets of America. But we can also see it in our own sins. It is also seen in the spir-itual forces of evil at work in this present darkness (Ephesians 6:12). We acknowledge that all the human race is fallen and is inclined to sin, but that even more truly we are offered redemption through God’s grace by conversion, repentance, divine mercy, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin, death, and Satan are more powerful than fallen hu-manity; but absolutely more powerful still is the Crucified and Risen Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and in his name we conquer evil overwhelmingly. We intend to stand in his light. As he was being arrested, Jesus ordered Simon Peter to sheathe his sword, not because self-defense against injustice is in itself evil, but because God’s plan for Jesus was to de-feat evil utterly with the power of God. God does not need or have to use earthly violence to defeat earthly violence—for those who use the sword are just as apt to perish by the sword. By suffering the violence and death of the Cross, Jesus takes away the sins of the world on himself. By rais-ing Jesus Christ in a new creation to glory, the Father con-quers evil and its power over us. By Christ pouring out upon

us the Holy Spirit from the Father, he equips us “with the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13) to wage the spiritual battle for our world. God’s wrath, vengeance, and justice are all revealed at the Cross. And so, Jesus Christ teaches Christians how to govern self and how to fight the good fight together, facing the evil of our world. Adapting the words of Saint Paul (Romans 12) imple-menting Christ’s sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7), we are: to bless those who persecute us, and not curse them; to re-joice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep; to live in harmony with one another; not to be haugh-ty, but to associate with the lowly; not to be wise in our own sight; not to repay evil for evil, but to give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all; if possible, so far as it depends upon us to live peaceably with all, never avenging ourselves, but leaving that to the wrath of God. If our ene-my is hungry we are to feed him; if thirsty to give him some-thing to drink—we are not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. These days we ask with what good are we to overcome evil. In answer, we need look no further than the Gospels (with the rest of the New Testament) and in their light to the Declaration of Independence and to the Constitution of the United States of America. This is exactly what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., proposed and did. He was armed with these weapons and equipped with these tools. All those Christians who confronted this broken and conflicted world confessing Jesus Christ, even being martyred in his name, who came before Dr. King—they all taught and practiced the same kind of witness. They all faced the same insanity, depravity, and cruelty of darkness but fought for humanity captured in its snare. Every generation, every one of us can and ought to do the same. If we want justice (a never fin-ished striving in this world) we have the means to achieve it for our time. Then, if we have taught them well, our children must strive for justice after us, and so each successive gener-ation until the Lord returns in glory. Jesus Christ through his Cross reconciles human beings of every race, language, tribe, and people (see Revelation 7) to each other and to God, making us fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household (see Ephesians 2). This hope of the Gospel is not only an ultimate fruit of the New Jerusalem, it is a present time grace to be accom-plished often even if it is a gift ever to be sought and la-bored over in the quest for justice and peace. Fr. Richard

Parish Picnic Planning Survey: A Fall Festival is being planned instead of our traditional parish picnic. Currently, the date is set for Saturday, October 3rd at DeBow Park on North Drive. The event will begin in the afternoon, include Mass at 4:00pm with a picnic meal following. Many activi-ties are in the works and the planning committee wishes to hear from you. Please go to our Facebook page (@stsppchurch) or website (www.stsppchurch.org) or https://forms.gle/4SAcLnfAu6s3n6Ty8 to complete a Parish Picnic Survey. Also, know that we will closely watch the pandemic situation and make a final decision on the event in early September. We look forward to hearing from you.