I think many Christians get very discouraged when they don’t seem to make much self-improvement in their personal virtue and general spirit life. It’s normal but doesn’t necessarily need to be that way. There are many possible causes. This is why time spent in prayer, meditation upon scripture and devotionals along with self-examination are very important. The answers are not obvious to us and that is the source of our frustrations. For example, it could be caused by our self-pride. In which case applying remedies to other issues will not help. But other than miss identifying causes another major problem is trying to overcome a difficult problem in a day. The author C.S. Lewis once recommended, “Don’t worry about winning the war. Concentrate of winning the small skirmishes and in the end, you will have won the war.” In other words, fight the small battles you know you can win. For example, you know you frequently use the Lord’s Name in vain. You want to stop but it just seems to always blurt out in spite of your very best intentions. Instead to trying to stop entirely, shoot for doing it less by simply keeping count each day. This technique can be applied to many other vices. When a small victory has been achieved, speak a brief thanksgiving to the Lord and reward yourself in a small way. And be patient with yourself. The important thing it to stay close to the Lord by your regular prayer and attendance at Mass. Your willingness to be in His will is all He needs to eventually get you there. Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.

This Monday will be Columbus Day, a federal holiday. Columbus has come under withering criticism in recent decades, mostly because of the mistreatment of Native Americans that resulted from Europeans immigrating to the Americas. I fail to see how that was his personal fault. The coming to the Americas was inevitable. With the development of better sailing vessels it was only a matter of time, if not Columbus it would have been someone else. Attached to the mistreatment of Natives was the slave trade. These were indeed evil practices and the Church led the way it bringing about their end. I bring this topic up because slavery is still among us and even increasing with very little notice or effort to stop it. One of the distressing attachments to the ongoing influx of people from south of our boarder is young girls and boys who are being brought to our nation to be sold for sexual entertainment. They have no identity, no proof that they even exist, so they are disposable. They disappear in death without notice, without record, without justice. This terrible evil is happening right now in our nation. So, I ask you to be alert. If you come across a young person, (child, teenager, or young adult), accompanied by an older adult and something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Make mental notes, if you can snap an unnoticed picture with your phone do it, then call 911. You might be thinking, but what if it’s perfectly innocent? It might well be. But what if it’s not and you did nothing? So, watch and pray and by all means, act! Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.

This is Pro-Life Sunday, a Sunday set apart to recognize the sanctity of all human life. The primary focus for the last 50 years has been abortion on demand. The Catholic Faith has always taught that willful abortion is morally wrong and considered “grave matter”, meaning it is a very serious sin. Even, Pope Francis who strongly leans toward progressive thought and politics has recently stated in his typical blunt vocalizations that, “abortion is murder.” That said, it must also be recognized that most women who submit to abortion have been pressured to go against their most maternal instincts. Although media will put before you women “celebrating” their abortions, honest mental health providers have observed that abortion always leaves a scar upon the heart and soul of both women and men, haunted by dreams and imaginations of what “might” have been, or more properly, “who” might have been. Parents of aborted children carry deep wounds. It is this whole contorted mess of human death and tortured souls that the Church stands against, and she offers forgiveness and healing. And she does all in her power to bring an end to the barbarity and insensitive disregard for the precious, unrepeatable gift of human life. Stand with the Church, pray for an end of abortion. Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.

I have some news to announce to the parish. Our parish has been continuously growing and its needs have increased accordingly. I have found it increasingly difficult to meet those needs. As a result, many areas are left unattended. After conferring with the parish council and with their approval we are hiring some assistance. I am pleased to inform you that as of October 1st, Kathy Wieck will be employed 20 hours a week as Administrative Assistant. For the past year Kathy has been working on a volunteer basis with organizing our music. As an employee she will continue this duty. She will also be taking on the duties of Director of Religious Education or D.R.E. This position has been filled for more than 10 years by Donna Placke. Donna has done an excellent job by bringing organization and arranging a curriculum so that our youth are exposed to all aspects of our Faith. Donna will continue as a catechist but feels it is time to pass the baton to another. She has served very well, and we are grateful and happy that she will still be around as a valuable resource. In addition to the duties mentioned above Kathy will also be working up a parish data base to provide for better communication within the parish. This will provide list of various groups within the parish, men, women, youth, families with school age children, new members, singles, married couples, etc., etc. and the best means by which to communicate with them. Thank you Kathy, for coming on board. We are very pleased to have you. May the Lord bless all you put your hand to. Yours in Christ, Fr. Sid.

FROM THE PASTORS DESK Next weekend is the annual Junk Jaunt, and our High School youth are participating as a fund raiser. It will be held in the parish hall. Food will be served, and they are solicitating the donation of items to sell as well as food. (Please check sign-up sheet for requested food items.) After Sunday all unsold items will be appropriately disposed. If you wish to reclaim any unsold item, you will need to make arrangements to pick it up by Sunday 1 pm. This is the first time the parish has participated in many years. It was successful then with the exception of the removal of unsold item. Hence, this is why there is requirement of picking up unsold items you wish to keep. You may bring item beginning Wed. Sept. 22 after 7:30 pm (conclusion of religious ed.) through Thur. Sept. 23. For more information or questions please contact Ken Kozisek (308-379-7170) or Beth Kozisek (308-379-1949). Yours in Christ our Lord, Fr. Sid.

This Wednesday we will begin our new youth religious education school year. As I write this we are still in need of catechist for the kindergarten and 5th grade. Why do I say “catechist” instead of teacher? Because a catechist is more than a teacher. They do teach but more than teach, they hand on the Faith, the Faith of the Church, and the faith they personally possess. St. John-Paul said that what the Church needs is not teachers but “credible witnesses” and if a teacher is to be effective, they must be a credible witness. The difference is a teacher might only pass on information. A witness gives testimony, just like a witness does in court. Every one of us bears witness in our world to something by our words or silence, our action or inaction. The “catechist” bears witness to their faith in Christ Jesus as taught by the precepts of our Catholic Faith. By our Baptism and Confirmation every one of us has been gifted to be a witness via the uniqueness of our individual personage, created by God. There is no exemption from this call. Every Christian is to be a witness for the Lord. So, have you prayed about this need we have for catechist. Not everyone is called to this just as not everyone is called to be a priest or religious. But some are. Is it you? Yours in Christ, Fr. Sid.

Our nation observes Labor Day this weekend. It should be pointed out that it was Christianity that gave dignity to “labor”. Prior to the time of Christ all who did manual labor were considered to be of lessor value, not worthy of respect. Christ came as a common man who labored with his hands as a carpenter. This changed everything. God became a laborer! Unfortunately, as the influence of Christianity wanes in our culture we are once again seeing this nasty division among people. We have on one side wealthy, educated and politically connected elite and on the other side a working class, high school educated who hold politically incorrect values according to the elite. The tension has increased year after year. Only Christ can heal this. The name “devil” means “divider” and boy has he been working overtime. Let us not get caught up in this but remember our true values as Christians. As Bishop Sheen has observed, “Our test is not in how much we love our family and friends but rather, how much we love our enemies!” Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.

We have had an unusual string of deaths here at St. Libory’s. Bert Placke, Tony Sabin, Betty Schwenk and Michele (Buhrman) Brase all within a few days of each other. We extend our sincerest condolences to each family during their time of grief. I want to say a special thanks to the CCW for the invaluable service they render to the families by putting on the lunch after the funerals. Attending a funeral, putting on the lunch or providing in any way to comfort the sorrow of the families is what the Church defines as a “corporal work of mercy”, specifically called “burying the dead.” Burying the dead is one of our primary ministries as the Church. This is a time when the message we proclaim is most readily realized, the hour when someone leaves this life on earth and crosses over into eternity. Our participation reminds us that we too will face such a moment, our last moment. Helping to “bury the dead” prepares each of us for that day. “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son so that everyone who believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.

Why is Jesus’ rising to Heaven called “ascension” and Mary’s rising called “assumption?” There is a very important distinction. Jesus as God rises to heaven on His own power. Mary is drawn into heaven by the same power. For example, a helicopter rises by its own power as compared to someone being lifted into the air by a rope from a helicopter. The distinction is important because many Catholics (and most non-Catholics) get confused about the nature of the Blessed Mary. She is NOT divine. She is fully human. Consequently, we do not worship Mary. We honor her as the human mother of the divine and only Begotten Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became fully human without giving up His full Divinity. Because of her unique role in our salvation as the Mother of our Lord she reigns in heaven as Mother of the King, Christ Jesus. Your baptism made you an adopted sibling of Christ the King, princesses, and princes if you will. As such, Blessed Mother Mary is our adopted, spiritual mother. She prayerfully intercedes for us like any faithful mother only much more effectively due to her unique position and relationship to her Son our Lord. A right relationship with the Blessed Mother will never distract or compete with a Christian’s personal relationship with her Son. It’s quite the opposite. She will always defer to her Son and always lead you closer to Him. Yours in Christ our Lord. Fr. Sid.

Next week the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be observed. It falls this year on Sunday so it will be an opportunity to celebrate it with a larger part of the faith community. The Assumption is a Holy Day of obligation. Unfortunately, it is usually a smaller crowd when it falls during the week. So, this year falling on Sunday we have the opportunity to engage this observance with the full force of Sunday attendance. So, what is the Assumption? It is an observance of the occasion when the Blessed Virgin Mary was bodily assumed into Heaven at the moment of her death. It has been a subject of discussion among Catholic theologians as to whether she actually died or was simply assumed into heaven at the end of her earthly life. Some have argued that she had no sin therefore she was not subject to death. Others have countered that she followed the footsteps of her Savior-son and died. Does it matter? Obviously to some but in general it makes little difference to our salvation. What it does mean is that her mission/ministry changed. Similar to her divine Son and like the saints she entered into the powerful mission of an intercessor. Only hers is supreme to all the saints due to her office as Mother of God. (Now don’t let that confuse you.) The title Mother of God is not so much about Mary but about the person she gave birth to, Jesus. He is fully human and fully God/divine. In conceiving and giving birth to him, that makes her the “Mother of God.” Please be encouraged to read up on this as it drives non-Catholics crazy.” In all things, Mary in her perfect humanness sets the pattern/model for the Church and every Christian. In all things she is what we are to do and become, bringing Christ into the world, nurturing, and giving the Body of Christ to the world. Among the few words we have from Mary in scripture she says of her Son, “Do whatever he tells you.” Super advice! To this I would add, “Do it the way Mary did it!” Yours in Christ our Lord and Savior. Fr. Sid.