Home »
November 9, 2025 - Pastor Message
Gaudium et Spes (GS) reflects on the role of the Church in the midst of the world. Christians do
not appear in a vacuum. We are citizens of this world, made from the same matter as everyone
else, living in the same countries and communities, subject to the same historical and social
events and movements. The difference is that, while we live in this world, we are not of this
world, nor do we live for this world. We are spiritually reborn in Christ and live for the world he
came to bring, a world he himself began in the wonder of the resurrection but that will only be
fully realized at the end of time.
In the in-between time in which we live, we continue to journey through this world as pilgrims of
hope, which is the theme of this jubilee year. As we make our journey through this life, with our
eyes fixed on the world that is to come, we realize that the path to that new world runs through
this one, and so we have a responsibility to care for this world and to make the path as smooth
as possible for all people to join us, hence the dual greatest commandment, to love God and
love neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). This means that the cares and concerns of this world are our
cares and concerns, and we cannot simply abandon this world to its fate anymore than God
does. Christians are scattered throughout this world like leaven to help raise the whole world by
our witness, our proclamation of the Gospel, our Christlike charity, and our celebration of God’s
grace in prayer and the sacraments. The transformation of this world into the kingdom of God
does not happen by accident or magic but by God’s plan, which requires the hard work of all the
faithful who long for that new world.
By the same token, just as we are called to lift the world up, so the world offers many helps to
the mission of the Church. While the advent of social media has brought many evils into the
world, it can also be used for great good, like sharing the message of the gospel. Take, for
example, the hit TV show, “Chosen”, or our new parish app, which can be downloaded here
https://www.stbonifaceparisherie.org/images/Download%20Our%20New%20Parish%20App.pdf.
God is the creator of all that is good, and, though the Enemy finds a way to twist and pervert
things, it is our job to see the good and make it grow by using the good things of this world to
pave the road to the world that is to come. GS reminds us of this.
Fr. Marc Stockton
November 9, 2025 - Pastor Message
November 13, 2025JUBILEE 2025 GAUDIUM ET SPES (cont.)
JUBILEE 2025
GAUDIUM ET SPES (cont.)
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no
longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the
world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under
a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your
light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly
Father” (Matthew 5:13-16).
Gaudium et Spes (GS) reflects on the role of the Church in the midst of the world. Christians do
not appear in a vacuum. We are citizens of this world, made from the same matter as everyone
else, living in the same countries and communities, subject to the same historical and social
events and movements. The difference is that, while we live in this world, we are not of this
world, nor do we live for this world. We are spiritually reborn in Christ and live for the world he
came to bring, a world he himself began in the wonder of the resurrection but that will only be
fully realized at the end of time.
In the in-between time in which we live, we continue to journey through this world as pilgrims of
hope, which is the theme of this jubilee year. As we make our journey through this life, with our
eyes fixed on the world that is to come, we realize that the path to that new world runs through
this one, and so we have a responsibility to care for this world and to make the path as smooth
as possible for all people to join us, hence the dual greatest commandment, to love God and
love neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). This means that the cares and concerns of this world are our
cares and concerns, and we cannot simply abandon this world to its fate anymore than God
does. Christians are scattered throughout this world like leaven to help raise the whole world by
our witness, our proclamation of the Gospel, our Christlike charity, and our celebration of God’s
grace in prayer and the sacraments. The transformation of this world into the kingdom of God
does not happen by accident or magic but by God’s plan, which requires the hard work of all the
faithful who long for that new world.
By the same token, just as we are called to lift the world up, so the world offers many helps to
the mission of the Church. While the advent of social media has brought many evils into the
world, it can also be used for great good, like sharing the message of the gospel. Take, for
example, the hit TV show, “Chosen”, or our new parish app, which can be downloaded here
https://www.stbonifaceparisherie.org/images/Download%20Our%20New%20Parish%20App.pdf.
God is the creator of all that is good, and, though the Enemy finds a way to twist and pervert
things, it is our job to see the good and make it grow by using the good things of this world to
pave the road to the world that is to come. GS reminds us of this.
Fr. Marc Stockton
-
Current News