31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This weekend, the Word of God gently calls us to remember that true greatness is notfound in titles, positions, or recognition, but in humble love and faithful service.

In the first reading, the prophet Malachi speaks firmly to religious leaders who had forgotten their sacred responsibility to guide God’s people with integrity. In the second reading, St. Paul offers us a tender image of pastoral care. He reminds the Thessalonians that he cared for them with the love of a mother nurturing her children.  His ministry was not simply a matter of preaching; he shared his very life with them.

In the Gospel, Jesus lovingly but clearly challenges the scribes and Pharisees because they preached what they did not practice. His words also invite us to examine our own hearts with humility. How often do we ask others to forgive while still holding on to resentment? How often do we speak about love but fail to show kindness to those closest to us? How often do we seek understanding from others while struggling to understand them ourselves?

My dear friends, our faith becomes truly fruitful not only through what we say, but through the way we live each day. Jesus reminds us that the greatest among us must become a servant. This teaching is especially important in our families, in our parish community, and in all our relationships. Every act of kindness, every gesture of forgiveness, and every sacrifice offered in love brings us closer to the Heart of Jesus.

As your pastor, I am reminded that I, too, am called to serve with humility and compassion. None of us is perfect. We are all pilgrims on the journey of faith, learning, growing, and striving to become more faithful disciples of Jesus. What matters is that we continue to open our hearts to God and allow His grace to shape us.

May our parish become a true spiritual family, where humility is stronger than pride, compassion is greater than judgment, and love is expressed not only in words but also in generous action.

Let us remember that we do not need to be great in the eyes of the world to be precious in the eyes of God. The Lord sees every quiet sacrifice, every hidden act of love, and every sincere effort to serve. May God bless you and your families, and may He fill your hearts with the peace and joy of Christ.

God is Good / All the time

Fr. Yvans Jazon

Pastor

2026 South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal

By supporting the 2026 South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal, you are supporting many programs and ministries of the Diocese of Camden and Saints Peter & Paul Parish. These ministries serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the hungry and challenged. When you support the South Jersey Catholic Ministries Appeal, you offer comfort to those in your parish, your community, and throughout the entire Diocese.

This year’s theme, “Missionaries of Mercy,” supports the social and spiritual needs of our 62 parishes and 29 schools, with social services, hospital chaplaincy, youth & teen campus ministries, Catholic education, pastoral care initiatives, vocations, and faith formation programs. 

Together we make a stronger community with faith, compassion, and mercy.

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