Dear Folks,

Who do you say that I am? The words our Lord asked His beloved apostles. This is our parish theme for the 2025-2026 year.

First, consider Jesus asking this of His Apostles in Matthew 16. The answer that He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” is a gift to Peter. If you don’t wrestle with understanding God made man, then you are likely reducing His authority, omnipotence, and omniscience!

Second, ask this question of the Church: Who do you say that the Church is? It is the bride of Christ. The Church is only one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic, because Jesus is first.

Third, ask this of the pope, “who is this American Leo XIV?” I failed at being a prophet, erroneously saying we wouldn’t have an American pope in my lifetime! He is the visible head of the Church, a Chicagoan, and White Sox fan!

Fourth, ask it of each other: “who is Fr. Mosimann? … who is my spouse? …who is my neighbor? …who are you?” It is by grace and conforming our lives to Jesus Christ, that we can become ever more transparent icons of Jesus! Each of us should decrease, so that He can increase!

Finally, ask it of the least, the vulnerable, and the poor: “whatsoever you do to the least, you do unto Jesus.”

Mother Theresa rode this thought to the pearly gates!

The poster for the theme this year (on the cover today) is meant to be a little bit of a puzzle, and a riddle. Can you find Jesus in the Church, the saints, the pope, your pastor, the young and the elderly, and in your own home?

In the coming weeks we will explore the work of ministry at St. Mary and how you might seek to find ways to become who you are, children of God who make present and visible His love.

pax (et bonum),

Father John Mosimann