Pastor's Message - September 12/13 , 2026

My dear friends in Christ,

I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day holiday!

On September 11 (Friday), we gathered to remember and honor the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks on our nation 25 years ago. It was one of the darkest moments in our history. Yet, in the midst of tragedy, we also witnessed courage, compassion, unity, and the best of the human spirit.

Why did it happen? It happened because hatred, ignorance, and a disregard for human life were allowed to overcome love and respect.

Twenty-five years later, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly learned?

St. Paul reminds us: “Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you… Christ’s peace must reign in your hearts.” Jesus reminds us in the gospel this Sunday that forgiveness has no limit.

Martin Luther King Jr. understood this deeply. Despite suffering hatred and violence himself, he refused to be consumed by revenge. He called people to reconciliation, to forgiveness, and to the belief that every human life has dignity.

My friends, we must recognize that we are all children of God. A person’s race, nationality, culture, beliefs, abilities, or differences must never become reasons to hate, humiliate, or hurt one another.

Today, I see too much division and prejudice—people insulted, harassed, rejected, and turned against one another. Families are divided. Friends become enemies. Communities are torn apart.

We cannot allow this to become our way of life.

Reject prejudice. Refuse bigotry. Resist hatred. Resist ignorance and arrogance. Do not remain silent when another person is being dehumanized. Do not empower those who divide us.

The extremists who threaten society are not only somewhere far away. Whenever hatred takes root in our own hearts, homes, neighborhoods, or communities, we too become part of the problem.

Let us honor those who died on September 11 not simply by remembering them, but by living differently. Let their sacrifice call us to choose love over hatred, forgiveness over revenge, unity over division, and peace over violence.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14, may the Cross of Christ remind us that love is stronger than hatred, forgiveness stronger than revenge, and life stronger than death.

Let there be peace on earth.

Let there be peace in our hearts.

Let there be peace among us.

Thank you again for being a “cheerful giver!”

In Christ,

Fr Geoffrey Barann