Beloved in Christ,

The King invites you to a wedding banquet, but please respond and come in the proper wedding garment! In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us a parable about a king who throws a wedding banquet and invites privileged guests to attend. But the invited guests turned down the invitation, giving all kinds of excuses (Matthew 22:5). The banquet is not an ordinary one; it is a messianic, heavenly banquet prophesied by the prophets, especially the prophet Isaiah, who said: “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines” (Is 25:6).

The message wakes us to a profound truth: God invites; we must freely choose to respond. Ignoring and rejecting the invitation is detrimental—whether for good reasons or excuses (lies or not a priority). God calls. Sending his servants, God assembled all who were found, both bad (ponerous) and good (agathous), and the wedding chamber was filled to the brim, with all reclining at the feast. But the invitation does not stop at acceptance; it also calls for coming to the banquet in proper wedding attire. The king came to the banquet chamber and saw a man “not having been dressed in a dress of wedding,” and he had him bound and thrown into the darkness.

We must attend the eternal banquet in the required garments. The garment may refer to our baptismal gown and life of grace. Clothe yourself so you can move with ease around his house; this calls us to respond fully to his grace (his invitation). Be a participant, not a spectator—no room for indifference or complacency. Invitation comes with expectations or requirements- the need to respond to grace and be productive through a life of prayer and virtues. Ignoring this requirement will be to one's own ruin. Many are called, but few are chosen. Will you and I be part of the chosen?

Have we RSVPed to the Sacred Banquet? Do we respond by the deadline to God’s (King’s) invitations to his eternal wedding banquet? What excuses can we possibly have for not attending and participating in such a wonderful taste of divine food on earth- the Mass? Please, let’s respond to God’s invitation today and always!

In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP

Beloved in Christ,

"What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done?" (Is. 5:4). God has done much and enough for his people to expect good fruits from them. Using the vineyard as a symbol for Israel, his chosen people, God makes a list of all the goods he has invested in his vineyard: he built it on very fertile land, cleared it of stones, dug in a well, planted choice vines in it, built a watchtower in the middle of it, and hewed out a vine press in it. Jesus uses this vineyard imagery as the background 
for his parable in the Gospel for this Sunday's Mass, from Mt. 21:33-46. The tenants he leased his well-made vineyard to failed to be productive. He was patient and benevolent, yet they rejected his help and support. They did not produce vine at the expected time.

We, the church, are God's vineyard. Each member of the Church is a part of the vineyard God has planted. God has nourished us with all the graces we need to be fruitful in holiness and charity, but we often fail to bear the good fruit of the kingdom of God. Why are we not productive enough? How can we become more productive? We touched briefly on what we needed to do last week. We must adopt a humble attitude of self-emptying and continuous repentance of our sins, the sour or wild grapes we produce despite God's generous nourishment. We do not always bear good fruit because we do not welcome Jesus enough. Our sin is in the way. We must repent and hate sin, mortal and venial. When we reject sin and embrace life in Christ, we will begin producing the fruits God expects.

What fruits does God demand and expect of us? The virtues. As I mentioned, we should manifest holiness and charity. With the graces God continuously provides and his abundant mercy and patience with us, we ought to be living the virtues that St. Paul listed in his letter to the Philippians: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Phil. 4: 6). We must strive to live these virtues, and more. God provides for us, within the Church, the sacraments and other means of grace. The Eucharist is supreme among the sources of grace Jesus offers to help us live a holy and virtuous life. If we are properly disposed to and partake of the sacred meal, we indeed will be empowered to live a religious life. This is the proper time to produce wine from God's vineyard. We must become more active participants in the sacred mystery of the Mass. The Eucharist is the most effective way to be intimate with the Lord; he is the vine, and we are the branches. Of course, there are other ways to grow in grace. We can commit our time to many church devotions to grow in holiness. God has done so much for us in the life of grace; let's take action.

In October, we pay more attention to praying the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In addition to devout worship of Jesus in Mass and adoration, pray the Rosary daily. Meditation on the mysteries of our redemption is an excellent help to living a holy and virtuous life. We have many opportunities for these pious practices in our parish. Our monthly adoration is at 6 p.m. on Monday, and we pray the Rosary before every Sunday Mass and before daily Mass.

Our parish picnic last Sunday was simply fantastic! Despite fears of inclement weather, the parish hall celebration drew a large crowd. We had good fellowship. I am grateful to the John Gulya-led organizing committee.  It was a dream come true to see our people come together as one family. Thank you for your good response. Let us keep that spirit alive. 

Today is the memorial of St. Francis, but we do not celebrate it because it falls on a Sunday. However, we will observe the tradition of blessing animals. Bring your pets over to the historic church frontage at 2 pm for blessing.

As we already know, October is also dedicated to the praying of the Rosary-the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is on the seventh of October. Let’s make it our desire and love to pray the Rosary of our Lady daily, reflecting on Jesus' saving work. We gain so much grace by meditating on the Rosary's mysteries.

In His Joy,
Fr. Alayode, OP

Beloved in Christ,

Let’s do the Father’s will. We find in this Sunday’s Gospel a parable that calls us to do the Father’s will. What is the Father's will? What does it entail to do his will? In the parable, the father approached his two sons and asked them to go out to his vineyard to work that day. The first son refused but later on changed his mind and went to work. The second son said, “Yes, sir, but did not go”(Mat. 21:30).  Doing the father’s will is a fundamental requirement to be part of his Kingdom. Doing the will of the Father, in the case of this parable, is an invitation to go into his vineyard and work productively. It demands a change of mind, of attitude, and repentance. 

God invites us to do his will on earth as the angels in heaven carry out his will. The invitation calls us to holiness and to commit to keeping the divine law. Our response to the Father’s will must begin with conversion. John the Baptist came to preach this conversion to Israel. The worst examples of sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes, listened to John the Baptist by repenting and following the Lord. The Pharisees, on the contrary, chose not to repent but, with a prideful attitude, thought themselves good enough and in no need of repentance to receive God’s mercy and grace. 

To do God’s will, to live a productive holy life by working in his vineyard, begins when we listen to the invitation to repent, to change from evil ways to good. It means following Jesus closely every day. It requires embracing Christ's attitude: a humble heart. “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus,” St. Paul reminds us in Phil. 2:5. It takes humility to admit our need for repentance and God’s mercy. Once we choose a humble attitude, we will come to understand God’s mercy and justice. God is just and merciful. As Ezekiel says, if someone “turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life, since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die” ( Ez. 18:28).

Today, let’s choose to do the Father’s will: be humble to accept that we are sinners in need of God’s gracious mercy, turn away from our sins, and begin to cultivate a virtuous, holy life that demands a daily obedience to God’s word. Let’s strive to understand and do the Father’s will, now and always.

The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is observed today. As we remember our brothers and sisters who fall into this category, let us reflect on the four verbs that express our response to their dire condition: to welcome. to protect, to promote, and to integrate.”

Next Sunday is traditionally observed as the feast of St. Francis, and an appropriate day for the blessing of pets and animals. As we have done in the past, we will bless pets and animals in front of the historic church next Sunday at 2pm.

Also, remember that October is the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary of the BVM. We should pray the rosary thirty minutes before each Sunday Mass in October. We will pray the Rosary a lot in October as we pray for the unborn and all the vulnerable on Respect Life Sunday next Sunday.

Thank you for praying with me on my priestly ordination anniversary on September 23. I am filled with joy and gratitude for your love and support. You are one of the reasons I am a joyful priest!
​Mo dupe, mo m’ore.

In Jesus, through Mary,
Fr. Alayode, OP

​Beloved in Christ,

"Great is the LORD and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable" (Ps. 145: 3). The Psalmist's words praising  God for his unsearchable greatness took ownership of my mind, thoughts, and spirit as I read through this Sunday's liturgy of the word in preparation for my homily. While the parable of the Lord's Vineyard from the Gospel for this Sunday's Mass from Matthew is outstanding, especially in its emphasis on God's generosity and warning against envy- and demands our reflection- the ultimate disposition of my spirit is to let the words of praise and thanksgiving flow from my lips. Why, you may inquire? I will get to it after dwelling first on the message the Gospel has for us.

The parable of the Lord's Vineyard highlights the contention between workers who put in a full day of labor in sweat and drudgery and those hired at the eleventh hour and worked only for an hour.  The vineyard owner paid the same wage, a denarius, to all the workers irrespective of the hours they put into the work. In the human sense of moral justice, the owner's action is unfair. Is God unfair? Absolutely not! God is just. He paid each one what they agreed to receive when hired: "Did you not 
agree with me for the usual daily wage?" The grumbling workers do so because of envy, jealousy, and selfishness. The envious workers failed to see, and this is the parable's point, that God's generosity is not a calculated giving and is not merited. God lavishes his grace as he deems fit. Who are we to question or query God on how he dispenses his graces? "What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?" All our good deeds result from God's grace, not human power or capacity. Indeed, as Isaiah says of God, his thoughts are not our thoughts nor are his ways our ways (see Is. 55:8).

In light of this Sunday's Gospel message about grace, I will now return to the verse from Psalm 145 I began this homily with: “Great is the Lord; and highly to be praised.” I invite you to join me in praising the greatness and goodness of the Lord for the gift of my priestly vocation. It will be twenty-six years of my priestly ordination on Wednesday, September 23, 2026! Whatever good that has come from my priesthood all these years is not as a result of my goodness or merit; it is primarily the fruit of God's generosity. God is great indeed!

What a roller coaster it has been, a journey of ups and downs, with its ebb and flow, yet a joyful one. For the last six days or so, I have meditated on the words of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) posted on my office door: "My past, O Lord, to Your mercy; my present, to Your love; my future to Your providence." I am a joyful priest; I am filled with joy at God's gracious choice of me from his people. I continue to ask for your continuous prayers and support. "Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and highly to be praised" 

I invite you to join me for the 8:00 am daily Mass on Wednesday, to offer thanksgiving to God for His blessings. I also invite you to join me later that day at the National Center of Padre Pio, Barto, PA, where I will concelebrate the Center’s 1:30 pm Mass.

Our Parish’s Picnic comes up next Sunday at 2 p.m. Christ calls us into this one family of St. Peter’s; let's come together to celebrate our oneness and love as we gather to eat, drink, play, dance, and glorify God in all we do. Our contemporary music group, Forgven, will provide lively music for us to enjoy. Please join us in this major parish celebration.

In His Joy,
Fr. Alayode, OP

​Beloved in Christ,
We must forgive those who offend us; it is an obligation. If we do not forgive those who sin against us, we should not expect God to forgive us. If God does not forgive us our sins, we face eternal condemnation. That is not a pleasant truth. A cursory reading of some verses from this Sunday’s readings from Sirach 27 and Matthew 18 clearly buttresses the challenging divine order to forgive: “Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sin? (Sir 28:4 ). “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35). To forgive is at the heart of Christian living, yet it is not an easy choice to make. Nevertheless, Jesus teaches that God’s forgiveness of our sin depends on forgiving our brothers and sisters when they sin against us.

What is the basis of our obligation to forgive? We forgive not only because God ordered it and because of the advantage we derive from it, but because, by forgiving, we echo and replicate God’s love and mercy. Our Lord is kind and merciful. Our God gave His Son, Jesus, for the salvation of our souls. By the shedding of His innocent blood, Jesus redeemed us from the debt of sin we are incapable of paying, as illustrated in the parable of this Sunday’s gospel. Jesus satisfied the debt of sin we are eternally incapable of satisfying. The least we can do is to imitate Him by forgiving without limitation. We must forgive without limitation, and from the heart.

Now, to forgive is hard. It must be a movement of grace and a response of choice. It does not demand that we feel good about it; it is not based on emotions. It is an act of will inspired by grace. We may never forget the act inflicted on us by the one we forgive, but we must never let our remembrance of the ill done to us revive sentiments of hate, malice, or anger. We need God’s grace to forgive. We must pray for that grace because we need to forgive to say the Lord’s Prayer and ask God to forgive our sins. We need to forgive to experience freedom and peace of mind. Unforgiveness enslaves us to the person who wronged us. The process of forgiveness may be long, but it must begin immediately. Is there someone we need to forgive? Is there someone we have forgiven verbally but not from the depth of our heart? Forgiveness must be genuine and unlimited. May we be instructed by God’s Divine Mercy in our holy choice to forgive, because to forgive is to be godly and liberated.

Two major feasts this week should draw our attention. We have the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. I encourage you to schedule time to attend both Masses. Since September is traditionally devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows, consider adding to your prayers the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary as instructed by Our Lady of Kibeho in Rwanda.

In His Cross,
Fr. Alayode, OP

​Beloved in Christ,

Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20). Let us talk about the church as a community that manifests Jesus and how important it is for that community to remain united, even when there is frequent rancor and disagreement among its members. The Gospel for this Sunday Mass, Mt. 18:15-20, speaks to how to address the problem of a recalcitrant member, remedy it, and gain that member back. We pray that we listen to the voice of God, who speaks through the church, whenever we fall away from the truth. 
I want us to look further into the Greek word for the church, ekklesia. In the context of this reflection, the church is constituted by people who have been called by grace out of the world to form a people of the new covenant, members of Christ's kingdom. As members of God's family, the church, we must work toward unity of heart and purpose. In matters of faith, we cannot do our "private" things; we do what God commands us to do as one people. In like manner, when it comes to what the institution of the church has legislated, whether it has to do with doctrine or liturgy, we cannot do our own thing, but we must follow the directive of the voice of Christ speaking through his body, the Church. 

We can see the importance of acting as one, with unity of purpose, as the church in the life of prayer, both public and private. Jesus emphasizes "symphonein," a Greek word meaning "in accord" or "agreement," indicating a harmony of voices. For instance, when we come together as a church to participate in the Mass, we should be one in mind and heart; we should leave no room for discord in our intent and purpose. Beyond praying with affirmation as we come together, we should also stress the importance of a unified understanding of what we are doing and how we are doing it. What is the Church's intention for us in how to celebrate and participate in Mass? Are we of one accord? 

As we reflect on the importance of reconciliation and unity in the Body of Christ, the Church, we must carry Mary, the Mother of the Church, with us. In this regard, I would like us to keep in mind the traditional liturgical devotion for September: Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows. We celebrate the memorial on September 15. Before this memorial are the celebrations of her Nativity on September 8 and the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14. All these memorials and feasts are linked, and they help us meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary as an aid in accepting sufferings and spiritual healing. Have you ever prayed the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary? This ancient devotion was revived in the apparition of Our Lady to the visionaries at Kibeho in Rwanda in the '80s. Consider supplementing your daily rosary with the chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.


Happy Labor Day!

In Christ's Cross,

Fr. Alayode, OP

Beloved in Christ,

Jesus asked his disciples a simple but fundamental question when they got into the region of Caesarea Philippi: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). They offered answers from outsiders: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Next, Jesus posed the same question to the insiders, his close friends: "But who do you say that I am"? Addressing the question personally to them in Caesarea Philippi speaks volumes. Against the background of the temple dedicated to Caesar, the Roman emperor whom people generally considered Lord, a divine one, Jesus was asking a subversive question at that time. Jesus asked his disciples, and all who will become his followers: Who am I to you?

"You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," Peter answered on behalf of others. Jesus is the Lord! He is the anointed one expected to lead all humankind from bondage to sin to freedom. Jesus is not just one of the prophets. He is not an idea or a wise philosopher. Jesus is the anointed one, the expected Messiah. He, and only he, deserves worship. Believers in Jesus can encounter and be in communion with him only when they identify who he is.

Peter came to know who Jesus is because the Holy Spirit moved him to this awareness. Knowing who Jesus is leads to a life lived for him. All other things must flow from a relationship with Christ. Jesus is the one to whom we must ascribe the ultimate worth, not any other person or thing. To whom do I direct the entirety of my heart, mind, thought, energy, interest, time, talents, and emotions? Money, social media, sports, family, politics, or people?  If I want to be a faithful Christian, Jesus must be the center of my life. Money, social media, sports, family, and politics must flow from a relationship with Jesus. When we recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, we 
must necessarily develop a living relationship with this living person, and we will eventually prioritize him over other things. How do we make this desire a reality?

The lead question is: "But who do you say I am?" Consistently spending quality time and hours of meditation before the Eucharistic Lord would lead to similar, personal Petrine confessions: You are the Christ! You are my savior and the Son of God. Jesus Christ is my Lord! With you all, my beloved in Christ, we are the church called to profess Jesus as our Lord in deeds, words, and worship. As members of one body of Christ, the mystical body of Christ, we are called and sent to proclaim Christ as the Lord to the people we meet. But we cannot give what we don’t possess through ongoing periods of contemplation. We must seek to discover more of Jesus daily through study of Scripture and spiritual reading. We must continue to nourish and strengthen our relationship with Jesus if we want to endure in our call to make Christ known. May I suggest that you attend at least one daily Mass with adoration offered in our parish, Monday to Friday? One hour a week devoted to loving Jesus in prayer is not too much to ask of anyone seeking to encounter Jesus more intimately. To know Him is to love Him and share Him with others.

I wish all our students and teachers a blessed new school year. We bless you as we bless your backpacks this Sunday. The Elizabethtown Fair begins tomorrow, August 24. The Men’s Club and the Council of Catholic Women are flying our parish’s flag again this year. I plead with you to support them by assisting at their stands, patronizing their highly rated food, or both. This is a parish activity, not only for the devoted members of these parish societies. Thank you. Have a blessed week!

In His Joy,
Fr. Alayode, OP

​Beloved in Christ,

The faith of the Canaanite woman in this Sunday’s gospel illustrates an unshakeable trust in God: “Woman, great is your faith!”(Matthew 15: 28). Last Sunday, if you recall, we reflected on Peter’s weak faith; faith mixed with doubt and fear. We encounter in the Canaanite woman a more profound faith, made more 
striking by her Gentile origin. Her persistence and trust in Jesus, despite his seemingly harsh response to her request, make this foreign woman an example for all to imitate. Jesus is saddened 
by the lack of faith of his own neighbors and the little faith of his own disciples as he is struck with admiration at the great faith of the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman (CCC 2610).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes further to say that “The prayer of faith consists not only in saying, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but in disposing the heart to do the will of the Father. Jesus calls his disciples to bring into their prayer this concern for cooperating with the divine plan” (2611). We must not only develop the bold faith of the Canaanite woman but also be submissive and at 
peace with God’s will.

The second dimension to today’s liturgy of the word throws light on God’s inclusiveness. The 
two readings before the Gospel, from Isaiah and Paul, tell of God’s bigger plan than the limited imagination of the Jewish people. God wants to expand our vision of who is deserving of his love and care.  Isaiah reminds us that God loves foreigners- indeed anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord. God’s temple is a house of prayer for all peoples, not just native-born Israelites. Everyone is deserving of dignity and care because all are from God. This is why our prayers are directed to all- family and strangers; local and international; all are included in our prayers. Let’s remember this in how we pray, as we do in our Universal Prayer (prayers of the faithful).

Drawing on the lessons from today’s readings, I want to express profound gratitude for your prayers for me on my birthday last Wednesday. Thanks for joining me in the highest prayer of thanksgiving at Mass on Wednesday morning. I am grateful for the prayers, gifts, and cards. 
May God hear our prayers said in deep, trusting faith.

In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP

Beloved in Christ,

"Lord, save me!" Peter cried out as he became frightened and began to sink 
as he walked on the troubled sea (Mt 14: 30). Jesus walked on troubled water, stirred by the wind. The wind was blowing against the boat the apostles were riding. The disciples of Christ were filled with fear because they could not contend with the fearsome power of the wild wind rocking their craft to the point of capsizing. The wind against the boat symbolizes the trials and tribulations dealt to the Church and Christians, and the need to direct our cries for help to Jesus, who is always quietly, yet powerfully present in our midst.

God never fails to help his friends when they call upon him. In the first reading from 1 Kings 19, Elijah fled for his life from a raging and vengeful Jezebel to the cave of Mt Horeb to draw strength from God, who made himself present to him in "a tiny whispering sound." God is always present with his troubled and endangered children, sometimes in simple and gentle ways. In their fright due to the threatening winds, Jesus reveals himself to his disciples and reaches out to save them. He responds to their cry for help because he is true to his identity as Iesus Hominum Salvator, a Latin abbreviation we find on our sacred linens, vestments, and vessels, meaning "Jesus, Savior of Humankind."

What are the winds blowing against our Church and us at the moment? There are several forms of treacherous winds blowing against our progress to heaven, enemies of the faith: from lack of absolute faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist to the corruption of the will and morals of Christians due to the secularism and materialism sweeping across the world like a raging wildfire. The tsunami of stress, worries, and anxiety threatening to capsize our spiritual boats can be arrested and tamed when we look up to Jesus, who is always present and reaching out to save us. If we turn to Jesus in faith and confess him humbly and honestly as "the Son of God," he will step into our boat and calm down the wind of life-endangering problems. Jesus, our Savior, is bigger and greater than all the winds of evil that scare and trouble us. And his promise to come to our rescue is ever dependable because he is the Son of God.

Are you in the midst of any trial at the moment? Jesus is here to the rescue. Recognize him as the Son of God, a friend and lover of your soul. In faith, look up to him. Pray constantly without wavering in faith. One of the most efficient ways of coming into the presence of Jesus is a turn to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pray the Rosary of Our Blessed Mother Mary, assumed into heaven. She always appeals to her Son and Savior, Jesus Christ, on behalf of all her sons and daughters who seek her intercession.

Do not forget to attend the Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Please plan to participate in the Mass of the Assumption, not because it is a day of obligation (it is not obligatory this year) but because you love the Blessed Mother, and our Lord Jesus would be honored when you honor his mother. She is our best intercessor before Jesus- to Jesus through Mary.

O Mary, Assumed into Heaven, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.

In His Joy,
Fr. Alayode, OP

​Beloved in Christ,

“And they all ate and were satisfied” (Matthew 14:20). The miracle of the multiplication of loaves and feeding of the five thousand looks back to God’s satisfaction of the Jewish people’s hunger in the desert by feeding them manna. The miracle also points to the Eucharist which Jesus will establish at the Last Supper. Matthew indicates this reference by using verbs like “taking,” “blessed,” “broke,”
and “gave.” As God once satisfied the hunger of his people during their wandering in the desert, so shall he satisfy their hunger in the Messianic time through the Eucharist.
The miracle of the loaves in this Sunday’s gospel is not only about physical hunger; it also points to spiritual hunger and sustenance for a lifelong and eternal journey.
 
There is hunger in the heart of every human. The multiplication of bread satisfies the physical needs, but even more, it is a source of spiritual nourishment for the soul. When Prophet Isaiah says everyone who thirsts should come to the waters, to come, buy and eat wine and milk, he was quick to remind them not to seek satisfaction in what will not satisfy their inner longing; he says they should not be wasteful in their search and spending: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” He adds: “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (55:1-2).
 
The message is clear: Only Jesus can satisfy our hunger and nourish us on our journey through this world to eternal life. As Matthew says, “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (4:4). The word and body of Christ are our ultimate sustenance. Jesus, full of compassion, sees our hunger and thirst. He comes to give us Himself in Scripture and the Eucharist. We can trust in his generosity and abundance. He will increase our insufficiency. Our little faith and love for him is enough because his grace is freely given; he who has no money, “without money and without price,” can approach Jesus, and he will satisfy our hunger because He loves us and he is full of compassion for the hungry.
 
In this month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, may Mary, the Mother of the Word, and all the amazing saints of August pray for us to seek satisfaction for our hungry heart in the Word that comes forth from the mouth of God and bread of life that only Jesus can give.
 
Let’s not forget to attend our parish communion building coffee and doughnut meal after masses on Sunday. Also, please plan to attend the next “Snacking with the Saints” (Africa) parish event next Sunday after the 10:30 mass.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

 Beloved in Christ,
 
“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt 13:45-46). The one parable that drew my attention the most while reading the section on parables of the kingdom from this Sunday’s liturgy of the Word is the one about a merchant seeking treasure. Why, you may ask? During last week's Vacation Bible School and at the Snacking with the Saints event held in the Parish Hall last Sunday, a treasure box was used as a teaching tool to help the children understand the value, or ultimate worth, of the Kingdom of God in the life of Mary and the saints. Saints! That is the ultimate goal of a Christian: to become a saint. Studying and getting acquainted with the lives of saints will reveal men and women who treasure above all things the kingdom of heaven and gave up attachment to all earthly things in order to possess it.
 
The saints are treasure seekers. If you were to pay close attention to the saints like we did this past week at the Snacking with the Saints (America's) event last Sunday and at the memorials and feast of the saints, we celebrated at daily masses (Ss. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr, Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church, Mary Magdalene, Bridget of Sweden, Religious, Sharbel Makhluf, Priest, and James the Apostle), you would have seen clearly that the saints made their own the words of this Sunday’s responsorial psalm: “For I love your commands more than gold, however fine” (Ps. 119:127). The saints, human like all of us, sought above all other things the love of Christ and his Kingdom. In seeking the treasure, “a pearl of great price,” they made painful sacrifices. Loving and embracing the Kingdom of God comes at great cost; as one theologian calls it, it is a costly grace. We too must, in fact, we have only one reasonable choice, to sacrifice any other goods and comfort to gain the most valuable treasure, the reign of Christ in our lives.
 
The “Snacking with the Saints” OCIA initiative, which kicked off last Sunday, ranks up there as one of our parish events in recent times that's made me exceedingly happy. Not only was it fitting for the day, but it was well planned and attended. I am very grateful to all the parishioners and parish society behind it (Men's Club and the Council of Catholic Women ). I told the OCIA team that they have started on a high note, and they now have a hard task to never fall below the standard of what they established last week. They assured me they will give it their best shot. The only thing left is to have the same good -and even better- response to their invitation by our beloved saints in training of St. Peter parish this Sunday and forthcoming Sundays immediately after the 10:30 am mass. Please make it a priority for you, your family and friends to attend this Sunday's Snacking with the Saints (Europe). I must not forget to mention that the food is great!
 
Today is World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. Let's take some time to pray for them and appreciate their love and support.
 
Have a lovely Summer Week, dear Saints in the making.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

 Beloved in Christ,
 
We began reflections on the parables of Jesus last Sunday, focusing on the obstacles to the flourishing of Christ's teachings and the growth of the Kingdom of heaven. We have three more parables today, and we shall see three more next week, for a total of seven in Mathew 13. The parables for our consideration this Sunday center around growth in God’s kingdom. Of particular focus is the parable of the wheat and weeds growing together. The sower sowed good seed, but the enemy sneaked in to sow weeds, that is, darnel, which is a weed known for its poisonous element. The disciples asked: “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” Jesus replied: “No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them.” Jesus permits the good and the bad to be active side-by-side in his kingdom. Why not pull up the weeds? There is indeed a purpose for not removing the weeds from the wheat until the end of time, when God will make the judgment.
 
There is an argument made in Tradition by some Church Fathers to explain why Jesus does not want to pull up the weeds; why Jesus allows the bad to live alongside the good in the church. St. Isidore of Pelusium offers an explanation that I will not share with you: “The sinners, represented by the weeds, are not to be immediately pulled and burned in order to give them time to repent. God forbids the angels to gather up the evildoers, lest they uproot the good wheat together with the tares, that is, so that the sinner may not be cut off while in his mind there is yet a possibility of repentance. God did not slay Matthew, who had given himself to the exacting of the tribute, so that He might not thus impede the preaching of the Gospel. Neither did he destroy the harlots who served lust and immodesty, lest models
of repentance might be wanting. He avenged not Peter’s denial, because already He beheld his burning tears of repentance. Nor did He strike down with death the persecuting Saul, lest the ends of the earth be deprived of salvation.” (The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers).
 
God is the generous giver of opportunities for repentance and growth. He is patient with us and wants us to be
patient with one another as we continue our journey of growth in holiness and in the knowledge of the mysteries of
the kingdom.
 
Over the past week, from last Sunday through Thursday, our Vacation Bible School offered catechesis on the Kingdom of God, with an emphasis on Mary, the Mother of Christ, who leads us closer to her Son and His Kingdom. I am thankful to God for the amazing team of adults and youth volunteers who guided the sixty-one children who participated in the program. May it be an inspiration to closer work with Christ for everyone involved. A big thank you
to Georgann Azzalina and her Religious Education team.
 
We will begin our “Snacks with the Saints” series after the 10:30 a.m. Mass this Sunday. This initiative by the OCIA highlights the central theme of the VBS, the love for Mary and all the Saints. Let us participate actively as a parish. This is an opportunity to learn and grow in our Catholic faith.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
“A sower went out to sow” (Mt 13:3). It is seeding time! Seeding is a past participle form of the noun seed. Like Jesus, I want to borrow this word from botany and agriculture to illustrate the mission Jesus calls all of us to by virtue of our baptism. The act of seeding is a deliberate one, informed by soil preparation and the careful selection of healthy seeds. Jesus finds this metaphor meaningful and helpful in teaching his hearers the importance of mission. Jesus is the sower, and his word is the seed. Jesus intends that the act of sowing, the seeding of his Gospel, continues after his ascension. He calls and sends his disciples to extend this mission. When we receive baptism, we become sowers by default. In being named, we are called not only to live in Christ and be identified as sons and daughters of the Father, but we are automatically called and sent to bear witness in words and deeds to the Kingdom.
 
This past Tuesday, I met three men called and sent by Christ and his church to bear witness publicly to the Gospel. These men, Antonio Ugues (Maryland), Isaiah Vargas (Georgia), and Elmer Garcia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), members of Neo-Catechumen, came to the parish office to share their experience of Jesus. Each one narrated their encounter with Jesus. The fruit of their encounter with Christ is the embrace of the mission. Each had a different background and struggles with sin (infidelity in marriage, alcoholism, fornication, addiction to porn, selfish indulgence in worldly pleasure, and so forth), but through the Neo-Catechumen experience, the love of Christ. Now filled with the Spirit and the love of Christ, they are walking from parish to parish within the diocese to share the experience of Christ's love and healing with others. They are seeding! I listened, and their testimonies impacted me. I am hoping to invite them back someday.
 
All of us, like Antonio, Isaiah, and Elmer, are called to go out to seed. We are called by Jesus through baptism to go on mission. We need not wait until we are perfect before seeding. We only need to have faith and be available. Many of us in the parish are gifted in different ways to go out and sow. What is your story? What is your ongoing encounter with Jesus like? In what ways is Jesus and his church calling you to go out “seeding”? No one is useless; all are useful in spreading the seed of the Word of God to those within their family and beyond. We need parishioners willing to reach out to those who have become dormant to invite them back to the active life of faith in our parish. No one should be considered lost. We must live our faith by practicing mission; it is the purpose for which the church is established. Are you ready to go seeding? Start at this Mass by opening your heart to Jesus in the liturgy of the Word and Eucharist.
 
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

 Beloved in Christ,
 
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” ( Matthew 11: 25). I am writing this Sunday’s bulletin reflection on a Monday afternoon from the Herbert Macaulay Library (renovated by GTBank), Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. The last time I was in this library was in 1987 when I was preparing for my GCE Advanced Level exams. I was only taking a walk on Herbert Macaulay Way, where my parish church, St. Dominic’s, is located, when I saw a renovated version of the library and decided to step in and reminisce. In recalling with fondness my several visits to the library with a friend who is now a pastor of a Pentecostal church in Lagos, I was filled with joy, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the role this library played in my life. I am not sure if you do something similar, but I tend to offer praise to God when I recall transforming moments in my life. My studies in this library played a significant role in passing my exams and gaining admission to college. Do you sometimes find yourself in places and moments when you are inspired to give praise to
God for his graces?
 
With the Psalmist in this Sunday's responsorial psalm, I extol my God and King, and bless his name forever and ever. I particularly bless and praise the name of my king and God in anticipation of a safe flight back
to the US in a couple of days. I look forward to seeing and serving my beloved ones at St. Peter’s Elizabethtown, even as I feel disappointed that my twenty-four-day vacation is about to run out. In any case, departing and arriving are causes for directing praise to the Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I am filled with praise as I recall the amazing 80th birthday party we celebrated for my mom. She is a very happy mom, also gladdened by the gift of a car from her children!
 
As Catholics and followers of Jesus, the Way, we must always be filled with praise and thanks for the love and mercy the Father, in Christ, His Son, has bestowed on us. We have many reasons to offer daily worship of praise and thanks to God, because we are all so blessed to be citizens of heaven and of our great country, the United States of America, as we celebrate our two hundred and fiftieth Independence anniversary this weekend. We particularly celebrate the fantastic way our country is hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup, “the beautiful game” we call Soccer in the US. I have been following it every day and enjoying the joy and unity it brings to people around the world. We must render praise to the Father, even for such mundane but impactful sport.
 
I am hopeful that I can share this reflection and more with you this Sunday (even though I am writing in Lagos on Monday, June 29). In being able to do so, that is, share this message with you this Sunday, I
will “give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth."
 
Happy 4th of July!
 
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
 

​A father’s role in the life of a child is a unique and irreplaceable calling, one designed by God to provide strength, guidance, and a model of faithful leadership. While a mother’s nurture is foundational, a father’s presence offers a different kind of security—a steady anchor in the storms of life. Fathers are often the ones who encourage adventure, who teach resilience through skinned knees and lessons learned, and whose approval builds a deep sense of confidence and identity in a
child’s heart. Their strength is not just physical but emotional and spiritual, creating a safe space for their children to grow and flourish.
 
The spiritual leadership of a father is profoundly impactful. When a father leads his family in prayer, opens the Word with them, and demonstrates a life of integrity and dependence on God, he provides a powerful example for his children to follow. He becomes a living reflection of our Heavenly Father's character—a provider, a protector, and a source of wisdom. This consistent, daily walk of faith does more to shape a child’s spiritual compass than any sermon ever could. It shows that God
is not just for Sundays, but for every moment of life.
 
The responsibility of fatherhood is a high calling, and it is a ministry that builds a legacy for generations to come. Today, let us honor the fathers who are striving to lead their families with
love and godliness. Let us pray for them, encourage them, and recognize the vital role they play. 
 
         ~  Dr. Joe Pettigrew, pastor and Christian author