My brothers and sisters,

 Have you ever been called “crazy” for spending too much time in Church? Or perhaps told that what you are saying is total nonsense? I’ve

 experienced both of those sentiments from people close to me. The central message of this week’s readings reminds us that being a follower

 of Christ isn’t always easy and may bring you into conflict with others, even those you love and deeply respect. The story of Jeremiah is a

 powerful reminder that speaking the truth and standing for what is right can be met with hostility. In our own lives, we might face
opposition or criticism for our beliefs—whether at work, with friends, or even within our family. The choice to speak out can lead to strained

 relationships, or sometimes even worse. 

 Just as I sat down to write this, a report from 2023 was back in the news. According to police, on May 26, 2023, a 27-year-old man allegedly

 assaulted two men, ages 84 and 73, while they were praying outside a Planned Parenthood center. The assault reportedly followed a

 conversation about “pro-life” viewpoints. Police stated the younger man “shoved one of the men to the ground with both hands, punching him

 and then kicking him ‘with extreme force’ directly in the face.”

 Often, such hostility isn’t just a direct opposition to our beliefs, but stems from an ignorance of them. Hollywood and media, in general, 

 haven’t been strong proponents of our Catholic faith’s core beliefs, frequently distorting them for effect. While commercial trailers for The

 Exorcist at age nine certainly had me praying to the Almighty to deliver us from evil, the majority of media presents either a false or

 sensationalized view of what we truly believe, often based on tiny snippets of faith stories.

 Even works by professed Catholics, like some of Martin Scorsese’s productions (such as Silence and The Last Temptation of Christ), have

 stirred religious controversy. More recently, his series The Saints offers compelling, cinematically well-made episodes, like the graphically

 disturbing but poignant portrayal of St. Maximilian Kolbe. However, another episode specifically focuses on St. Mary Magdalene, a figure

 central to many previous works by Scorsese and others, like The Da Vinci Code. As in the past, Scorsese takes significant “poetic license” in

 portraying her relationship with the Lord and the Apostles, embellishing events not documented in the New Testament’s canonically accepted

 books. Sadly, many, even lifelong Catholics, uncritically accept these portrayals as truth, shaping their opinions based on false narratives. 

 When confronted with an actual core truth of our faith that contradicts the image they’ve created, heated conversations can erupt, division is
possible, and unfortunately, it can even escalate to violence, like the incident I mentioned.

 While we can’t expect non-believers, Christians of other denominations, fallen-away Catholics, or those of other religions to be perfectly

 versed in our beliefs based on half-truths, we must acknowledge our own level of understanding of the tenets of our faith – those truths that

 make us fully and authentically Catholic Christians. We can be easily duped into believing what “they” say on television or by social media

 posts with slick editing and artificially generated stories that seem so real we take them as true.

 I had a recent conversation with a “senior” cradle Catholic who saw a video of our current Pope. She described that “the Pope changed the

 Church’s view of marriage” and sought clarification. HE DID NOT. This fake,  AI-generated, false teaching was viewed by countless people. 

 I can conceive of similar false portrayals on other hot-button issues, which cause unnecessary discord. But if we aren’t well-educated on the

 true, core beliefs of our Catholic Christian faith, we cannot effectively proclaim, preach, or evangelize others to knowing Jesus, who is the

 Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 My friends, we may never face physical violence for what we believe to be the TRUTH, like those older men simply praying in public for safety

 of the unborn. But we must NOT be afraid to speak up and out on the things that truly matter. How we do this is also important. St. Paul tells us

 in his letter to the Galatians, “Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a

 gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). 

Following the TRUTH isn’t always easy or fun, as Jeremiah, the Apostles, the martyrs, and Jesus Himself demonstrate for us, but what is the

 alternative?

 God bless you! 

 Deacon Frank

2025 APPEAL

This year’s theme: “Our Journey United in Hope,” is inspired by the theme of the Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope.”

 It reflects our collective commitment to walk on the path together with the hope Christ has provided us.

It invites us to be renewed in hope by bringing hope to others through individual gifts. Through our various ministries across the diocese your gift is shared and brings comfort, relief, encouragement and support to many.

Next weekend, February 8^th & 9^th, we will be holding our Catholic Ministries Appeal In-Pew Weekend. In preparation, you should receive a mailing from Bishop Sullivan that will include the 2025 South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal materials. I ask that you please consider donating to this year’s campaign. It is important that we come together to support our ministries. They need the resources necessary to continue serving those in need.

By supporting the Catholic Ministries Appeal, you are supporting those who comprise the programs and ministries of the Diocese of Camden. These ministries serve the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the hungry and challenged. When we support the Catholic Ministries Appeal, we can bring the light of hope to those in the Catholic community of South Jersey.

Please prayerfully consider joining us once again.