I began serving the parishes of OLV and St. Catherine's over a year ago - on June 1, 2013. The University wants me to stay with the OU WaTER Center forever, and my Bishop (of Austin) has given me permission to work in the Archdiocese for another 3 years. So it looks like you will have at least 3 more years to try to raise me into a good pastor! (Deacon John is trying his darnedest, but I am a slow learner.) I am not as smart as Fr. Vaught, and not as compassionate as Fr. Ross. But God is calling me specifically here (his voice sounds a lot like Archbishop Coakley's) and I will use my own gifts as well as possible. I have big dreams over the next 3 years. I would love to see an outdoor grotto/altar to Our Lady of Guadalupe (Pauls Valley). I hope to take some adventurous young people to World Youth Day in Poland, 2016. I long to hear a reunion of Sharon, Janet, and Sandy (The Three Altos). And I would love to see a larger group of trained catechists and lay pastoral ministers taking leadership positions in both parishes. But more importantly, I look forward to many more Sundays of breaking open the Word of God and sharing the Bread of Life with people who both challenge and care for me and for one another, and who serve the needy beyond their walls. That's worth having to listen to a little more banjo music. - - - Fr. Jim [NOTE: while I am away, the next three bulletin blogs will come from Debbie Clagg, Duvi Diaz, and Adrian/Angelica Meave.]

What we celebrate on July 4 may not be the founding of the world’s oldest democracy (Iceland? The Iroquois nation?), but it is certainly the most successful. When our nation’s Founding Fathers were composing the Constitution, there were two prominent political theories being debated at the time – (1) an elected representative should mirror the interests and beliefs of his constituents (Thomas Paine), or (2) the representative should be elected simply as a person of intelligence who could apply his own experience and wisdom in pursuit of the overall common good (Edmund Burke). Our Constitution included representatives of both types to serve in Congress – the first type serving in the House of Representatives and the second type serving in the Senate. The Fathers were fiercely opposed to “factions” or alliances (aka political parties) that would prevent the representative’s use of his own conscience and good judgment. Catholic social teaching promotes the common good, that is, “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily (Vatican Council II). Pope Francis recently said that serving in politics is a good and holy vocation, indeed “it is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good in humility and love.” When our members of Congress are collaborating and acting on behalf of the common good and according to the Constitution – that is a democracy worth celebrating with fireworks! - - - Fr. Jim