The treasure entrusted to us is not ours to keep, but ours to share.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. A master entrusts his servants with different amounts of treasure, then departs. When he returns, he asks them to account for what they have done with what was entrusted to them. The servants who invested their talents and made them grow are praised for their faithfulness. The one who buried his talent is challenged for failing to use the gift he received.
As we begin celebrating the 75th Anniversary of St. Rose of Lima Parish, this Gospel invites us to reflect on a question that is both personal and communal: What have we done with the treasure entrusted to us?
For seventy-five years, generations of parishioners have received and shared the treasures of faith, hope, and love. Through the celebration of the Eucharist, the proclamation of the Gospel, the education of our children, care for the sick, the formation of our young people, and countless acts of generosity and service, the gifts entrusted to this parish have continued to grow.
Our anniversary is not merely an opportunity to look back with gratitude at what previous generations accomplished. It is also an invitation to recognize the gifts God continues to entrust to us. We are not merely the beneficiaries of a wonderful parish history; we are its stewards, responsible for nurturing and passing on the faith to those who will follow us.
Today’s Ministry Fair, following the 12:00 p.m. Mass, offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this living treasure. Each ministry reflects someone who has taken a gift, an ability, or a willingness to serve and offered it for the good of others. Whether through liturgical service, outreach to those in need, education, hospitality, music, prayer, or the many unseen acts of kindness that sustain parish life, our ministries are how God’s gifts bear fruit.
Perhaps this anniversary invites each of us to ask: What talent have I been given that could make a difference in our parish’s life? What gift have I been keeping to myself? Where might the Lord be inviting me to serve?
As we begin this anniversary year, may we be a parish that does not bury its treasure but generously shares it. May the faith entrusted to us seventy-five years ago continue to grow, flourish, and bear abundant fruit for generations.
Today we are also pleased to welcome back our parishioner, Fr. Patrick Nolan, SJ, who will preach at our Anniversary Kickoff Mass. His presence is a special blessing as we begin this anniversary year. It reminds us that among the many treasures entrusted to St. Rose of Lima are the vocations that arise from our parish community. As we celebrate seventy-five years of faith, may we renew our commitment to fostering a culture of vocation discernment, to encouraging our young people to listen attentively to God’s call, and to supporting those discerning a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life. We remember and give thanks for the priests, religious sisters, and deacons who have served our parish. May our parish continue to be a place where vocations are nurtured, recognized, and joyfully celebrated.
ANNIVERSARY PRAYER – I asked Fr. Joe McCann, CM, who has assisted our parish for over 50 summers, to share some thoughts to help us develop a prayer to be prayed throughout the anniversary year. I am grateful for his insights, drawn from his experience with our parish and its people, and we have used them to compose our jubilee prayer. I ask all parishioners to incorporate this prayer into your daily life, and when you do, include Fr. Joe in your intentions.
Saint Rose of Lima – Pray for Us!
Peace!
