Brothers and Sisters,

Would our lives be better if suffering did not exist?

St. Ignatius, in his Spiritual Exercises, offers profound insights into suffering. Much like the Letter to the Hebrews, which describes God allowing Jesus to suffer as a path to perfection, Ignatius speaks to the value of accepting suffering. When we choose to embrace and offer our struggles—be they sickness, hardship, or pain—God’s grace and mercy flow through us. But why should we accept suffering? It is God’s will, and though I may not have the perfect answer, I know that accepting suffering can profoundly shape our world for the better.

Ignatius even calls us to go further: not only to accept suffering but to desire it. This desire is rooted in a longing to be closer to Christ. Our willingness to embrace penance and sacrifice is intertwined with this calling. The discipline of embracing small penances each week helps us grow deeper in our faith and closer to God.

Ultimately, Scripture reminds us that our lives are not just about ourselves. We are created to imitate God’s generosity, who gave his life for us. Marriage is one of the best witnesses to this self-gift. Embracing the sacramental life of marriage bears much fruit—in the lives of the husband and wife, in openness to children, and the broader community. Let us continue to pray for our families and all those striving to grow closer to the Lord.

I encourage everyone in our parish to be engaged disciples, participating in Sunday Mass, daily prayer, formation opportunities, and regular service. We have several upcoming opportunities, such as 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory this fall, a half-day retreat titled Your Journey with God on Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and a prayer workshop, Lord, Teach Us to Pray, offered on Tuesday, October 15, at 8:45 a.m. and again on Saturday, October 26, at 9 a.m. Register at olphparish.org/reg-hub.

Last week, I spoke about the importance of supporting a pro-life culture. I voiced my concerns about the proposed amendment in the State of Maryland, “Question 1: Right to Reproductive Freedom,” which seeks to enshrine abortion as a right. Many parishioners expressed their gratitude for this strong and clear message. At the same time, I understand the concerns of parents who feel that such topics can be challenging to address in the presence of children during the homily. I strive to be mindful of how I approach sensitive topics and am considering creating a guide for parents to help them speak with their children at appropriate developmental levels. I welcome these conversations and aim to support parents in their role as the primary educators of the faith.

For those interested in further discussions, I encourage you to attend the “Right to Reproductive Freedom” talk on Wednesday, October 9, at 7 p.m., led by the Maryland Catholic Conference. Additionally, the U.S. Bishops have updated their document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, an excellent resource for guiding us in our civic duties as we prepare for the upcoming election.

In a few weeks, our parish campus will begin a temporary traffic pattern as we start repaving the south side of the campus. Last year, we identified significant issues with our parking lot, including repeated cracking and potholes. After a thorough geotechnical study and engineer analysis, we discovered a deeper issue with the initial installation: certain sections lack an underlayer, making simple resurfacing a poor investment of resources. While the exact start date is not yet confirmed, and more information will follow regarding new traffic patterns, I ask you to join me in praying for good weather, as rain or early winter frost could delay the work and, unfortunately, increase costs.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all who regularly contribute to our building fund. Your generosity allows us to move forward with this $368,300 project. If you are interested in contributing or increasing your current gift, please visit olphparish.org/giving. Every bit helps us maintain and improve our parish home.

Let us continue to grow together as a parish family, offering our sacrifices and embracing our faith with joy and hope.