Pastor's Corner

Is There Something Missing?

It is a common experience for students graduating from Catholic high school and going to state universities that their first year causes a great interruption in their relationship with God. For years they were in an environment that encouraged and helped them to deepen their faith, learn more, and practice what they have learned. Of course, there are certain temptations that can go along with college life, but even without falling into these, many will find there is something missing. But it does not impact everyone the same.

Each of us tends to be attracted to God according to one or two of His qualities—His unity, His truth, His goodness, His beauty. These four qualities of God appeal to the deep desires in the human heart, but differently for different people. Some are excited by his beauty and so are moved greatly by the music at Mass, marvel at the beauty of a sunset, and can easily be taken up by a great piece of religious artwork. Some are struck by God’s goodness and so their relationship with God is nourished more by the example of the Saints or by acts of kindness received and even those shown to others. Some marvel at the unity, the oneness of God, so integrating their knowledge and their actions together becomes very important. Some are moved by the truth of God, so the things they learn about God are what nourish their faith more than anything else.

For “God’s truth” people, it is essential to be learning about God. It doesn’t necessarily matter what. They could be learning about a sacrament they are preparing for, how to grow in their marriage, reading about Christology, or going through a random book of the Bible. For these people, the loss of learning through their religion classes creates a vacuum that needs to be filled for them to continue growing.

There are many adults who try hard to practice the faith. They attend Mass, put their kids in Catholic school, help out around the parish, but are not growing. Their excitement and devotion dim over time. Is that you?

We are good at insisting that our children be learning the faith, but it is just as important (maybe even more) for adults. As we start the school year, I encourage all of our adults to find a faith formation opportunity. Those offerings will be highlighted in the bulletin and at Mass over the next few weeks, but don’t worry if you can’t find exactly the right thing for you. Often it is good enough to just have something.

Fr. David Marstall, Pastor

Choose To Give Him More

“Father, I think I’ve learned more here than in 12 years in Catholic school.” I’ve heard this said many times in classes I taught or retreats I’ve led. I’ve heard it said by college students and adults. I’ve heard it said when people came back from programs or conferences that I didn’t lead, with frustration (“Why didn’t anyone teach me this before?”) and with joy (“I’m so excited about what is happening now!”). It is a common experience that people who with many years of religious education all of a sudden have an experience that seems greater than everything else combined. What is behind this experience?

While there may be many reasons, one of the most important is the role of choice. In school, students are put in a class according to their age, and that class is given something to learn (the curriculum). There is of course some time for random questions, opportunities for students to pick the topic of a research paper, and good teachers try to make the course responsive to the needs of the students, for the most part students study what the curriculum dictates, so they do so somewhat begrudgingly.

I point this out for two reasons. For students, if you are aware of this dynamic, you can choose your response. You can see class as something you have to get through, or you can choose to really be formed by it. Here at the beginning of the school year, make a choice. You can say to yourself and to God, “I didn’t pick this class, but now I choose it. I choose to learn about ____ so I can grow in my relationship with You.” God always respects your freedom, so He will only take the parts of your mind and heart that you give Him. Choose to give Him more.

For adults, you are invited now to classes and Bibles studies to allow your own faith to be better formed. You may have had the experience that religion classes in school were not all that enjoyable or impactful, and you may presume that adult classes will be the same. That would be false. Even if we taught the same course with the same teacher and the same books, the mere fact that it begins with you making an adult decision to grow in your faith, that you picked one group rather than another, that you are choosing to spend time growing your faith rather than the many other things you could be doing, actually does give God the room to do more in a few weeks than you allowed Him to do in twelve years. Make the choice.

Fr. David Marstall, Pastor

As we celebrate our patroness this weekend, we rightly reflect on the many gifts and blessings this parish has received through her intercession. This is true every year, but especially this year as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our founding. Since 1950, the people of our parish have been graced through the prayers of St. Mary Magdalen.

I would invite each of you to take count of some of the blessings you have received. Perhaps this is where you learned about God, where your marriage began, where you or your children were baptized. For many, this community provided comfort at a time of loss or struggle. Perhaps you have experienced powerful moments of mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation or consolation in prayer before our Blessed Lord. I hope that everyone can say this parish contains people you can rely on as good friends who accompany you through life—providing encouragement or even a challenge to help you to grow. Even those like myself who are very new have already begun to receive grace, though perhaps these things go unnoticed.

It is easy for us to take these things for granted or to forget about them when life is hectic. In one sense, maybe it is good that we don’t always think of them—that just means they are reliable and we can count on them being there. Maybe there are extraordinary moments when we are surprised by the mercy of God or the goodness of his people. Most of the time, however, we just find it normal. We aren’t amazed to walk into a clean church or think about the generosity of those who cleaned it. We aren’t surprised by a beautiful liturgy or think about the dedication of those who prepared for it. We aren’t astonished when we are served well in the office or when our children receive a top-notch Catholic education, and we don’t give much thought to the devotion of those who make those things possible. We aren’t surprised any more than a child is surprised when dinner is ready, because those people are dependable.

Today is a day to notice and give thanks. Take a moment to notice those things and even make ourselves aware that behind each of those works is a loving God inspiring the hearts of His faithful in response to the prayers of St. Mary Magdalen.

Fr. David Marstall, Pastor

Thank you! What a great welcome I have received here at the Church of the Magdalen. Changing parishes is one of the hardest things a priest experiences personally, but people here have made my experience much better than I deserve. I am grateful to Fr. Jirak for preparing so well for this transition. I am grateful to the staff for their patience as I learn how things are done here. I am grateful to those who prepared the receptions my first weekend, those who have shown me little things, introduced themselves, greeted me with kindness, and invited me to their homes. I am grateful.

Fr. David Marstall, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

This is my last Pastor’s Corner. I don’t know how many I’ve written—but it’s been a lot! Surprisingly, I’ve enjoyed writing these reflections. I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to read them, whether they were good or not-so-good. :)

On my first weekend at Magdalen, during the first week of Lent in 2018, I introduced what we called the “Adoration Drive,” which quickly became known as “300.” I hadn’t planned to begin my time at Magdalen that way, but the Holy Spirit moved my mind and heart so strongly that I had to follow the Divine impulse. I was also surprised by how well it was received—nearly 200 people signed up for a weekly Holy Hour that very weekend. It was a clear confirmation that the Holy Spirit was alive and ready to burn at Magdalen. That flame led us to update the Magdalen logo with a flame rising from the roof. Some people commented that it made the church look like it was on fire. I responded, “Exactly!”

Now, I leave Magdalen seven and a half years later on the cusp of the opening of the Discipleship Center. The vision for this Center, conceived five years ago, was to become a school for adults. It’s exciting to watch its progress. Many people have told me they’re sad that I won’t be here for the grand opening, which is scheduled for the end of August. Honestly, I’m not sad. I’m excited—for you. Truly. The Discipleship Center is the manifestation of a dream: a dedicated space where adult parishioners of Magdalen can take their discipleship to the next level and become missionary disciples.

I can honestly say that I poured everything I had into these 7.5 years as your pastor. I know I wasn’t perfect, and I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have hurt along the way. I gave you my best, and I’m incredibly grateful that you let me serve you. This assignment has been, for me, the “abundant life” Jesus promised (Jn. 10:10). As I leave, don’t forget: “Magdalen Next Level”, and always “Better Together.”

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

Next weekend we will conclude the Diocesan Capital Campaign, One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Bishop Kemme initiated this campaign to benefit both the Diocese as a whole and each parish individually. Twenty percent of the financial gifts return directly to the parish to support an approved local project. At Magdalen, we discerned to designate this portion toward building a portico at the south church entrance and expanding our Adoration Chapel.

Reaching our $4.1 million goal would fully fund both projects. If we fall short, Fr. David and parish leadership will discern the best path forward. This may involve prioritizing one project over the other or waiting until we receive sufficient bequest contributions to move ahead with both.

This brings me to an important initiative I’ll be handing off to Fr. David. We have recently reconstituted the Magdalen Legacy Society, which aims to cultivate financial gifts through bequests. I’m convinced that legacy giving will play a vital role in Magdalen’s future. Over the past three years, we’ve participated in three major campaigns: Kapaun Mt. Carmel, our Magdalen parish Capital Campaign, and the Diocesan Capital Campaign. Understandably, many have expressed a sense of campaign fatigue. There’s only one sustainable way to avoid future campaigns: legacy giving.

Legacy giving is a true final act of stewardship, activated at the moment of death. While it’s not easy to talk about death, it is a meaningful step that helps us rightly order our values and goals. Discerning a legacy gift is a beautiful and selfless way to prepare for a holy death. Even my dad, a rural Kansas farmer, was moved to include a bequest in his will. He and my mom have five children, and they decided to make the Church their “sixth child” in their will. That decision deeply inspired me and I share their example with many.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

As you know, I will be leaving Magdalen as Pastor at the end of June. Honestly, the only thing I don’t like about being a priest is having to say goodbye. This will be my fourth time leaving a parish: I served as parochial vicar at Blessed Sacrament for 2 years, and at the Cathedral for 3 years. As pastor, I served at Blessed Sacrament for 7.5 years, and now at Magdalen for the same.

It’s never easy to leave. However, one thing that leaving has taught me is that this life is passing.  St. Thomas Aquinas states that our trials make us aware of the transitory nature of this world. A letter written to Diognetus in the 1^st or 2^nd Century highlights the transitory character of the Christian life, stating, “There is something extraordinary about their [Christians’] lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any county can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country.” In other words, we are all pilgrims on this earth. 

In recent weeks, I’ve experienced moments of sadness and even dejection. Yet those have been accompanied by deep consolation and gratitude to God for the incredible 7.5 years we've shared. We’ve been through much together. Your passion for the Catholic faith has inspired me often, and I am genuinely excited about Magdalen’s future. Stay Next-Level!

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace! Wow, it’s been an exciting week with the election of a new Pope and, more than that, an American Pope: Pope Leo XIV. I am still getting used to saying his name during the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass. Once, I almost said Pope Francis XIV. :)

In his first homily as Pope, the Holy Father explicitly mentioned discipleship—and not just any discipleship, discipleship with the cross. He stated, “When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross, and when we profess Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord.” He continued that even if one is a bishop, priest, or cardinal, even a Pope, without the cross, one is not a disciple.

Discipleship follows Christ by “walking,” “building,” “professing,” and carrying the cross. This is difficult and enduring work and can only be successfully lived out with other disciples. Discipleship only grows with others through charity. For this reason, we need spiritual friends to encourage, support, counsel, and even at times to correct us with fraternal life. In his first homily Pope Leo stated that we are a “community of friends of Jesus.” I love it! I’m so grateful that we have all sacrificed to create a space where the adults of our parish can walk, build, and profess while carrying our crosses together as friends of Jesus. The Discipleship Center has been designed to be a place for our adults to grow together in spiritual friendship and discipleship. It is our “school” for developing adult disciples.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace! Alleluia, Alleluia! Yesterday morning I received a text that Pope Francis had died. I wasn’t shocked, yet somehow I was shocked. When a Pope dies, even though it’s not a surprise due to the circumstances of health and age, the gravity and importance of the Papacy for the Catholic faith leave us in a state of bewilderment and flux. Well, at least that is my experience.

I don’t see the timing of the Pope’s death and this Sunday’s celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday as accidental. I see Kairos—that is, God’s timing. In other words, Divine Providence. As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, we also say goodbye to the Pope of Mercy. Pope Francis was about mercy from the first moment of his election in 2013. In fact, he chose as his papal motto Miserando atque eligendo: “having been shown mercy and chosen.” The motto comes from the Gospel of Matthew, where Matthew is chosen as an Apostle while still sitting at the tax collector’s table. The exact phrase is lifted from a passage by St. Bede on the calling of St. Matthew. A more familiar expression of this moment hangs as one of Caravaggio’s most famous paintings in the church of San Luis dei Francesi. Fr. Marco will likely be visiting the church to see the painting this week in Rome.

Pope Francis experienced this mercy in a powerful way at sixteen years of age when he felt a Divine impulse to enter a church and make a good confession. He encountered the Lord’s forgiveness during that confession in a way that would wrap around him as a permanent garment for the rest of his life. Pope Francis’ mother urged him not to become a priest; she preferred that he become a doctor. The future Pope responded that he would study the “medicine of the soul.” And what is the medicine of the soul? Pope Francis knew intimately that this medicine is the merciful gaze of his Lord. The salient theme of his pontificate was applying the anointing of mercy. In my humble opinion, the papacy of Pope Francis will be misconstrued and misinterpreted if studied apart from the framework of mercy.

Mercy is certainly God’s forgiveness first and foremost. However, mercy is also God's help, as none of us earns His help outright. We need this help always and everywhere. When we live with this awareness and attitude, we are never far from the merciful gaze of our Lord. St. Mary Magdalen knew this gaze, and Pope Francis knew it too. May this gaze warm our own drowsy hearts and clear our clouded minds on this Divine Mercy Sunday.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

He is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! This Easter Sunday greeting originates from the earliest centuries of Christianity. The greeting is also sometimes referred to as the “Paschal Greeting.” To say that Christ is risen is to say that he is alive. He is living. And, he is living now among us and within us in 2025. Recognizing his resurrected presence is always an act of faith. Even for those privileged individuals who saw the resurrected Lord before the Ascension, an act of faith was required. 

The risen Lord is within us. Where is he? How do I recognize him? The risen Lord is working within us to raise us from sin to grace, from being an enemy of God to being a friend of God, even to being an intimate of the Lord. An important place to recognize his presence is in the growth and development of our interior life as His disciples. The risen Lord always begins where we are and there are no shortcuts. The stages of rising in the Christian tradition are generally referred to as the Purgative way, the Illuminative way, and the Unitive way. We can recognize his presence within the stage that we find ourselves in our relationship with the Lord. Without grace, we can’t take one step toward God. The natural can’t leap to the supernatural without the aid of the supernatural. It is the Lord who always takes the initiative as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us. We participate by responding to the Lord’s initiative.

By recognizing the stage that we are in, we recognize the presence of the risen Lord, as we are not allowed entry into any stage without Him. So, which stage am I in? St. Thomas Aquinas offers some helpful descriptors associated with each stage. He describes characteristic actions that a person performs proper to each stage. This doesn’t mean that the person doesn’t perform actions proper to other stages; rather, generally speaking, the described behaviors are what’s taking most of the person’s attention and effort. Here are the three stages in which the risen Lord is at work within each of us and their characteristic activities:

1. The Purgative Way, or Way of Beginners

• Actions pertaining to avoiding sin (bad habits)
• Resisting sinful inclinations

2. The Illuminative Way, or Way of the Proficient

• Behaviors pertaining to guarding oneself from sin
• Behavior pertaining to growing in virtue (good habits)

3. The Unitive Way, or Way of the Perfect

• Actions pertaining to dwelling with God and experiencing enjoyment in God

As you reflect upon these stages in order to recognize the presence of the risen Lord within, don’t look at it too black and white. These are general sketches and there are nuances and exceptions. However, I have found it a very helpful guide for myself and guiding others. He is risen! Indeed, He is risen!

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace! As many of you have heard, a so-called “Black Mass” is being planned for 11am on Friday, March 28 outside of the Kansas Capitol building in Topeka. This is a grave concern as it is a desecration of the most sacred of the sacred, namely, the Most Precious Eucharist. The organizers of this event claim to have a Consecrated Host.

What are we to do? In a letter to the faithful, Bishop Kemme has asked—actually implores us—to “join me in responding to this grave situation with fervent prayer and fasting.” I know some parishioners are planning to pray at the site where the desecration is taking place. That is beautiful and inspirational. Bishop Kemme will be leading a Holy Hour of Reparation at our Cathedral at 11am followed by the usual noon Mass. He is also recommending for all adults a voluntary Lenten day of fasting, such as we offer on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Prayer and fasting are powerful spiritual exercises that everyone can practice. I am reminded of the occasion when the Apostles were sent out to heal and cast out evil spirits. They returned and confessed to the Lord, “Why could we not cast it out?” He responded, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).

When it comes to prayer, there is no more powerful prayer than the Mass. In the Diary of St. Faustina, Jesus told her that one day he was going to cause a chastisement to fall on the city of Warsaw for their many sins. He then instructed Faustina to “unite yourself closely to Me during the sacrifice and offer My Blood and Wounds to My Father in expiation for the sins of that city.” Faustina followed through, uniting herself to Jesus and offering His Body and Blood to the Father as an expiation for their sins, which resulted in the Lord blessing “the entire country” (Diary, 39).

Along with the Bishop’s request, I would encourage us all to follow the same directions that the Lord gave to St. Faustina on the occasion when he was ready to destroy the city, namely, at the next Mass you attend:

1. Through your intention and choice, unite yourself to Jesus at Mass. This can be as simple as the prayer, “Jesus, I join myself to you at this Mass.”

2. Offer Jesus’s Body and Blood to the Father. We are actually directed to this offering when the priest says, “Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.”

3. Make the intention of the offering the cancellation of the so-called Black Mass and for the healing and conversion of all involved. Did you know that the priest offers the Mass for a specific intention at Mass? These are called Mass intentions or offerings. However, each participant can also choose to offer the Mass attended for a specific need.

These three steps are not just a great formula to prepare the mind and will to pray the Mass well for a specific intention. They are the formula by which we reap the greatest fruit from the Mass, and in which we participate fully, consciously, and actively as directed in paragraph 14 of the Second Vatican Council’s document Sacrosanctum Concilium.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

Lent is just around the corner, and this is the perfect time to plan for living Lent well—or as I like to say, "Next Level." Sadly, I have experienced a number of disappointing Lents due to overlooking or forgetting the importance of planning. It simply is not possible to live Lent well without some intentionality and planning before it begins. This year, I am happy to announce a unique Lenten Challenge for adult parishioners. Like any good challenge, it is not too easy and not too hard. And, as with any good challenge, there is a reward or prize associated with it. 

This year’s Next-Level Challenge is to complete at least 5 of the 6 weeks of one of the following options:

• Sign up and complete a weekly Holy Hour in the Adoration chapel.

To participate in this option, you must sign up for an hour in the Adoration chapel. If you already have an hour, you must sign up for a second hour for the six weeks of Lent to complete the challenge.

• Attend one daily Mass each week.

To participate in this option, you must select a daily Mass that you are not already attending. In other words, if you attend daily Mass four days a week, then you will need to attend a fifth Mass.

• Attend the Sunday morning Adult Catechism Class.

Catechism class will be held each Sunday from 8:30-9:20am in the Fr. Kapaun Room. Terra Reusser will be teaching from the Catechism’s section on Life in Christ, which covers Catholic morality.

Of course, there must be a reward. I am excited about the prize for completing the challenge. Winners will receive a free ticket to a Mexican fiesta dinner with the priests after Easter. Fr. Marco will be exhibiting his famous salsa. When he made this salsa at the rectory, I was in my bedroom and my eyes were actually burning. You won’t want to miss it.

I hope that you will join our Next Level Lenten Challenge.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

This weekend we celebrate World Marriage Sunday. Let’s spend a few moments reflecting on the good of married life. I call marriage a gift as it comes from God, and it is good. In fact, the recognition that “its not good for the man to be alone” led to the creation of woman and to the Adam’s elated response, yes, “this one at last, is bone of my bone, this one is flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23).

Marriage is a natural good. As a good it contributes to human happiness and flourishing.  Theologically and canonically, we know that the two goods of marriage are the flourishing of the spouses and the bringing forth and raising up of children. It is absolutely necessary for us to keep these two goods in mind as marriage will always be compromised when these two goods are not given their full due reverence and appreciation.

Between two Christians, we also recognize a third good: a supernatural good. The union between a man and woman becomes a sacrament. In the sacrament of marriage the two are made one in God so that now their relationship has a new goal and new purpose, namely, that through marriage the couple are called to holiness, to accompany one another to become saints.

When the grace of the sacrament elevates the natural union of man and woman in marriage, no harm is done to the natural goods of marriage. Human happiness realized in the good of the spouses sharing life and love together and the joy of children remains. Not only is no harm done to the natural goods of marriage, but they are enhanced and elevated by the good of the sacrament, the grace of marriage. The sacrament inclines the spouses to love each other and to love their children out of love for God the Father.

A wife can love her husband for the husband’s sake, and this is both beautiful and deep.  But, taking it to the next level, the wife can love her husband for God’s sake, namely, motivated by her love for God. This Divine love inclines the wife to go beyond what is due to her husband. With promptness, her elevated love is ready to be everything that St. Paul described in his letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul describes love with the following qualities.

• Love is patient
• Love is kind
• It does not envy
• It does not boast
• It is not proud
• It does not dishonor others
• It is not self-seeking
• It is not easily angered
• It keeps no record of wrongs
• Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
• It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres

Does this sound difficult? Yes, it is very difficult. Yet, it is very attractive. How do I know?  Well, this reading is chosen more than any other reading for wedding Masses. Yes, it is attractive and seen as “very good” to those couples preparing for marriage. This leads me to believe that there is a strong desire for the sacrament of marriage, i.e., the elevation of natural marriage. God doesn’t merely desire that there be natural happiness in marriage. Rather, God sent his Son that married couples might have life, and, have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace! If you have passed by the parish office recently, you've undoubtedly noticed the changes due to the construction of the Discipleship Center. The hallway is narrower now, making it difficult for the usual flow of at times nearly 500 kids who travel back and forth to daily Mass. The construction site is a point of intrigue for many, and peering through the makeshift window often creates a bottleneck, slowing down traffic even further.

This physical construction in our parish hallways parallels the spiritual construction we are undertaking as Magdalen parish. As we commit to new priorities, such as building next-level adult discipleship, we are in essence, building something far more complex and enduring than any physical structure. Shifting our parish priorities necessitates a shift in our individual priorities as parishioners—a shift that I, as your pastor, am navigating alongside you.

The new priority that we are investing is building next level adult disciples. Yes, I emphasize the word adult. This does not mean that we aren’t continuing to invest in building disciples of our youth. We are focusing on adult discipleship because we understand that without spiritually strong adults, our efforts to make saints of our youth will likely fall short. It no longer works to give our adults “leftovers.”  This truth became practically apparent to me about three years ago. Although I had acknowledged the importance of adult formation conceptually, it has become my actual priority more recently.

As a parish this means investing time in awakening our adults to the truth that we are made to find our supreme happiness in God himself, that we must accompany one another to realize this vocation of friendship with God, and, last but not least, we must equip our adults to awaken and accompany others as Christian disciples in which St. Augustine stated that he rejoiced. This third step is what we call mission, and it presupposes the other steps.

Embracing this priority will require time, dedication, and some inconvenience, analogous to the disruptions caused by our current Discipleship Center construction. Yet, for all of the inconvenience its pretty darn cool watching our Discipleship Center being built and the hope that it inspires for the future of our parish.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

I want to thank everyone who completed their stewardship forms this year. Msgr. Thomas McGread, the pioneer of stewardship in our Diocese, believed that strong parish stewardship requires a renewed, deliberate, and written commitment each year.

When discerning our stewardship response, it’s easy to focus solely on the “response” aspect. However, what makes stewardship unique in our Diocese is that our response is rooted in gratitude. Gratitude transforms stewardship from a mere obligation into a source of joy. While gratitude is inspiring in concept, it can sometimes feel dutiful or lack enthusiasm—like when my parents would remind me as a child, “What do you say? Thank you!” Uggh.

But there’s a deeper well to draw from: giftedness. Dan Loughman, one of the architects of stewardship in our Diocese, often said that the greatest challenge today is our failure to appreciate our giftedness. He taught that giftedness comes before gratitude. This aligns with the very definition of stewardship: a grateful response born from recognizing God’s gifts. Our journey doesn’t start with gratitude—it starts with an awareness of our giftedness. The fact that we exist and have life is itself an incredible gift.

St. Thomas Aquinas takes this even further, teaching that all gifts we receive reflect the favor of the giver. No one gives a gift unless they hold the recipient in high regard. Grace, literally “God’s gift,” reveals how we are favored by God. As Aquinas says, “It is understood that there is something in him pleasing to the other.” Before reflecting on our gifts, we can contemplate this profound truth: we are beloved in God’s eyes.

Jesus lived this truth perfectly. At His baptism, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 3:17). This foundational truth anchored Jesus' mission, and I am sure that he returned to it often in prayer. Also, consider the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon announcing her mission to become the mother of God, the angel Gabriel addresses her as “Highly Favored One” (Luke 1:28).

Stewardship is a way of life that goes beyond parish commitments and extends throughout the year. To move from viewing stewardship as a chore to living it with greater joy, I encourage you to reflect prayerfully and often on this truth: You are favored—beloved—by the Father, who is well pleased with you.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

It’s a new year, and I have chosen my saint and virtue of the year. My saint is St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, renowned for her message of Divine Mercy. My virtue is prudence—the habit that perfects the intellect, guiding us in the best ways to achieve our goals. It’s sometimes called “right reason applied to action.” Don’t worry, I’ll delve deeper into this “charioteer of the virtues” as the year unfolds!

I am also excited to announce that I will be teaching regular sessions several times a month on the diary of St. Faustina, commonly referred to as Divine Mercy in My Soul. Her Diary gives a personal witness to the often messy, yet beautiful, journey of the spiritual life. The Lord sometimes spoke to her through locutions—a special gift by which a chosen soul hears the Lord speak. Occasionally, these messages were for her alone, and at other times, they were intended for everyone. Indeed, the Lord’s message of mercy to St. Faustina is meant for all of us.

I would venture to say that mercy is particularly relevant to this Jubilee Year of Hope, which began on December 24, 2024, and continues through January 6, 2026. In his proclamation titled Hope Does Not Disappoint announcing the Jubilee, Pope Francis wrote, “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future might bring.” All of these “good things to come” are expressions of God’s merciful love.

I conclude with the words Jesus spoke to St. Faustina in 1936: “I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, the third – by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for me.”

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

As you consider your virtue of the year, I’d like to share some thoughts about virtue and our struggle to achieve it in light of the doctrine of Original Sin. We will soon celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, through which Christ gave power by the words and water poured at our own Baptism. Although Original Sin is removed at our Baptism, some of its effects remain.

Among the virtues that help us overcome these lingering effects are temperance and fortitude. These virtues help us become masters of ourselves, governing our emotions—also known as our passions. Temperance regulates our impulses toward pleasurable things (such as food, drink, and sexual matters), and fortitude shapes our responses to challenges and obstacles, channeling our instinct to fight for what is good.

The difficulty in cultivating temperance and fortitude stems from the fact that we inherit a bad habit, a firm disordered inclination, due to Original Sin. While the guilt of Original Sin is removed at Baptism, our emotions remain unruly, not easily guided by reason. It’s like adopting an untrained dog that barks at everyone. Training it is possible, but not easy. Similarly, the passion of anger may leap to lash out at anything disagreeable. The virtue of meekness (a sub virtue of temperance) can tame and rule anger according to reason over time.

Original Sin introduced rebellion into our hearts. Our emotions no longer follow reason naturally, and our reason resists following God’s will. Although science cannot detect this spiritual reality, we recognize it through experience. We often find ourselves conflicted, as St. Paul describes: “For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind…” (Romans 7:22-23).

Does this mean we are doomed to disorder and chaos within ourselves? Not at all. Virtue, aided by God’s grace, helps restore order to our souls. Through patience, effort, and the grace of Christ, we can reform and reorient our passions. Temperance and fortitude, in particular, help us reestablish order.  Understanding the doctrine of Original Sin can bring relief: we know why our emotions resist reason and God, and we need not be surprised or discouraged when we struggle, nor struggle mightily.  We are all in a wrestling match.

With God’s grace, hard work, and time, we collaborate with Him to establish integrity and character in our souls. In doing so, we begin to taste the peace and fullness of life commenced in us at Baptism.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

It’s that time of year again—yes, choosing a virtue to focus on for the year. As part of a three-part series, this reflection will consider the birth of Jesus as the birth of the supernatural life within our souls through the virtues. The birth of Christ in the world is for our eternal salvation, and the road by which He saves us is the path of the virtues.  First and foremost, the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, which elevate the powers of the intellect and will, actually direct us toward a supernatural destiny and ultimate happiness in God Himself.

Faith, hope, and charity are “born” in the soul at baptism (CCC, 1813). Yes, we celebrate a new birth both at Christmas and at baptism. We are born again at baptism as children of God. Without the birth of the virtues of faith, hope, and charity, there is no Divine life within us—and this Divine life is Christ’s own life.

Now, as with any of God’s gifts, they must be freely chosen and exercised to be fruitful. Having the supernatural gifts of faith, hope, and love—whereby we now have the power to know, love, and serve God—without exercising them is like a person with a genius intellect refusing to study and handing themselves over to a life of drugs. The common response to such cases is, “What a waste.” This can happen to us when we fail to practice the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. These virtues are first gifts of God that establish within us the power to act for, with, and in God.

In considering the virtue that you will choose for the year, it is helpful to reflect on the hierarchy of virtues. Faith, hope, and charity are the greatest because their object is God Himself. And of these virtues, charity is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13). Charity is the love by which we love God and all that belongs to God for His sake.

In charity, it is not we who love God first (1 John 4:19), but God who first loved us and poured within us the life of charity born to us in baptism. The Advent season is our preparation to more fully receive and respond to the love of God as we celebrate the birth of the Savior. In other words, it is directed toward growing in the greatest of the virtues, faith, hope and charity, and, especially charity. In the next two reflections, I will offer some thoughts and logic about virtues and selecting a virtue for the year.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

Money matters! Scripture never states that money doesn’t matter for our spiritual life. In fact, scripture teaches that money plays a significant role in our relationship with God. In the Old Testament, people's relationship with God suffered because they stopped tithing. Their failure to tithe of their first fruits was akin to rejecting God himself. Malachi 3 illustrates this with a piercing question: “Can anyone rob God? But you are robbing me! And you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ Of tithes and contributions!” Here, the people endure a famine as a consequence of their actions.

As Catholics, we understand the Biblical tithe as stewardship of treasure. This practice is rooted in the faith that everything we have is first and foremost a gift from God. As St. Paul reminds us, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Cor. 4:7). The 10 percent “first fruits” tithe (Exodus 23:19) moves faith from an abstract idea to a concrete practice that rightly orders our relationship with God.

The allure of money is strong—so strong that Jesus said, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” The logic behind our annual stewardship renewal counters our temptation to reclaim the 10 percent we give to God, preventing us from rejecting the truth that all we have is a gift from God. 

My personal history with tithing isn’t perfect. Growing up on the border of the Wichita/Salina Dioceses, without a local Catholic School, my family rarely discussed tithing. We donated, but not a full 10 percent. In my early 20s, discussing tithing with my parents, I saw the challenge it posed, especially as they were farmers with modest income and no Catholic school for their children. Yet, they rose in faith, began tithing 10 percent, and experienced many blessings from this act of faith.

If you are not currently tithing, consider gradually increasing your gift. If you’re giving 2 percent, try 3 percent. If 7 percent, then aim for 8 percent this year, working toward the Biblical tithe. God meets us where we are, so there’s no need to run a marathon on your first day of training.

Ultimately, we tithe as a primary expression of our appreciation and love for God. God desires our gifts to be given freely, not out of mere obligation. As Bishop Eugene Gerber often quoted from St. Paul: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor

May the Lord give you peace!

It is insightful that the Catholic Church defines parishes based on territory rather than personal preference. Defining parishes by where we live offers a valuable opportunity to cultivate merciful love, embodying Jesus' command to “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus extends the concept of neighbor to those outside the circle to whom we naturally owe a response. We find ourselves in parishes surrounded by people who we did not choose. This gives us the opportunity to help  others by sharing our gifts without any expectation of receiving something in return. It shapes our hearts with the graciousness of God.

So what does that have to do with “Who is my neighbor?” This concept aligns with St. Augustine’s teachings. He wrote that there are limits to the number of people we can realistically serve. Consequently, we are commanded to love the neighbors with whom we are in closer connection due to specific circumstances, places, and times.

Our parishes are beautifully established within territorial boundaries to foster love of neighbor out of love for God. By Canon Law (Canon 518), all the Catholics who live within our parish boundaries are our fellow parishioners. We do not choose our fellow parishioners (neighbors); rather, God brings us together, often with people we may not have selected ourselves, nor whom we would choose if we were free to do so. We are united by Providence, not personal choice. The context of our specific time and place has brought us together as fellow parishioners, neighbors in the Lord. Stewardship is the way of life through which we sacrifice our time, talent, and treasure to assist these neighbors—our fellow parishioners who Providence  has placed in our lives—to fulfill the divine command to “Go and do likewise.”

Ad majorem Dei gloriam, Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor