It is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The gospel reading of the weekend, Matthew 10:26-33 presents a powerful message of trust, courage, and unwavering faith in the face of adversity. The passage reminds us that the truth will ultimately prevail, despite attempts to hide or distort it. It encourages believers to be fearless in proclaiming the Gospel, knowing that God's wisdom and justice will be revealed. As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace our identity as witnesses, acknowledging that our worth lies not in the approval or acceptance of others, but in the knowledge that God sees and values us deeply. This passage offers solace and reassurance, assuring us that our Heavenly Father cares for us intimately and is aware of every aspect of our lives. In a world filled with uncertainties and challenges, Matthew 10:26-33 calls us to remain steadfast, trusting in God's providence and promising us that those who acknowledge Christ on earth will be acknowledged by Him in heaven.

We are excited to announce that the Confirmation date at St. Jerome Church has been set for September 29th, a Friday, at 6:00 p.m. Due to a new diocesan requirement of a minimum of 40 candidates, we have collaborated with St. Philip's Church to hold the ceremony, as it can accommodate around 750 people. As part of the diocesan directive, confirmations will no longer be held on Sundays to ensure minimal conflict with mass participation. Bishop Caggiano will preside over this year’s confirmation, which will take place within the Liturgy of the Word. We kindly request all parents to save the date and spiritually prepare their children for this significant sacrament. Let us come together as a community to support and celebrate our candidates as they receive the sacrament of Confirmation this Fall.

As spring ends and summer begins, I hope that all of you are enjoying this beautiful season. At St. Jerome, we are wrapping up our activities and preparing for a more relaxed summer period. However, I want to share some exciting news with you. Our dedicated raffle team has been hard at work planning an upcoming event on October 8th, which is a Sunday. This year's raffle will be focused on raising funds for the renewal of our heating and cooling system. We are currently in contact with various companies to receive proposals for this complex and thrilling project. We will provide updates regarding the project's progress in the near future. I kindly request everyone to consider participating in the raffle in any way possible. Participation in the raffle can take various forms, and we invite everyone to get involved and lend their support. You can participate by selling raffle tickets, buying tickets yourself, joining the cooking team to help with food preparations, joining the games planning team to organize fun activities, or offering your assistance in setting up the venue for the celebration. There are many ways to contribute, and we need people to join in various areas where they can offer their helping hand. Your involvement and support will make a significant difference as we come together as a community to ensure the success of this event. Let's join forces and work towards a bright future for our church.

As always, thank you for your continued support, guidance, and prayers. Yours lovingly ~ Fr. Rojin