Why does God love us so much? And why are we able to love others? The answer to these questions is found in the meaning of this weekend’s feast. Trinity Sunday celebrates not so much an idea of three-in-one as the relationship of the Persons of the Trinity with each other and with us.

The idea is that the Father expressed himself as the Word. Since it was a perfect expression, the Word is his Son and equal to the Father. The love of Father and Son is expressed as the Holy Spirit. Being a perfect love, it too is equal to Father and Son. So even the idea of the Trinity is based on love. But God’s love was so great, God went even further. God created us to be loved by God.

In the second reading Paul blesses the Corinthians with the “love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” The book of Genesis (3:18) says that it was not good for man to be alone. So, God created woman, and through man and woman all humanity, to be able to love each other. Though human love is not perfect, the love of man and woman can produce another person, a child. The three Persons of the Trinity share one life in God. But through baptism, we also share in God’s life. Just as parents love to see how their children look like them, so God loves to see the divine in us.

The first reading from Exodus reminds us of God’s closeness to humanity. Moses can speak to God and God responds by granting his request. The Gospel tells how much God loves the world, that God’s own Son was sent to die for us. But we sometimes forget that God’s love comes first. We think that the more loving we are, the more God will love us. But love comes from God (1 John 4:7–11), so when we love someone, it doesn’t make God love us more; we love because God loves us first. Our decision to love is a response to God’s love, and our ability to love is itself a gift from God. The meaning of life, the universe, and everything is Love, the love of the Trinity for each other and for us. The question now is, how well do we use that gift of God’s love by loving each other?          -Tom Schmidt, Diocesan Publications

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June 3rd – SAINT CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS (martyred 1886-87)

“Master of Pages,” reputedly the most handsome man in all Uganda, Charles Lwanga, lay catechist, courageously led about 40 teenaged boys, Catholics and Anglicans, on a 40 mile forced march to martyrdom for their common Christian faith. Teaching each other the hymns of their different churches, they strengthened one another for the ordeal ahead. King Mwanga, himself barely 20, had ordered them executed for being “those who pray.” But these royal pages were the king’s male harem, who, now Christians, refused what pious accounts demurely describe as his “unreasonable demands.” Some were clubbed to death, most burned alive; the youngest, 13 year old Saint Kizito, whom Charles had often shielded from the King’s lust; the most tragic, Saint Mbaga, whose father was his executioner! In 1964, Paul VI canonized the young Catholics and praised their Anglican companions, recalling the heroism of early Christianity’s African martyrs, which we modern Christians of far less faith never expected to see repeated. 40 years after the pope’s words, what does our faith cost us? Heroism aside, how generous is our response?    —Peter Scagnelli, Diocesan Publications

 

St. Paul’s is continuing with First Friday Eucharistic Adoration!!  The next session is Friday, June 5, 2026, in the Historic Church from 9:00 AM – 5:00PM.  There is a sign-up sheet in the entrance of the Main Church, or you can now use Sign-Up Genius online by using this link: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090548ABAB2FABFB6-64158262-stpauls

 

As the United States of America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration takes place June 11th, the closing day of the Bishops’ spring assembly, which falls on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The bishops invite Catholic parishes to join the consecration in various ways, especially by joining them in praying for the unity and healing of our country.  “As we reflect with gratitude on the blessings God has bestowed on our country, our devotion to the Sacred Heart demands that we consider how we might foster truth, justice, and charity in American life,” Archbishop of Portland, Ore. Alexander K. Sample said in a reflection posted on the USCCB website.

“We are called to bring our faith into the actions we take and the lives we lead in our communities. We celebrate the ways the Church has contributed to a more just world, and we invite all in our society to see the face of Christ reflected in each sister and brother,” said the archbishop, who chairs the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty.  “This anniversary and consecration will be a great opportunity to promote the beautiful devotion to the Sacred Heart and to encourage the laity to offer their lives in service to God and their country,” he added.
The devotion’s current form dates back to 17^th century France, when Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary had visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus over an 18-month period. In her vision, Jesus told Sister Margaret Mary to promote a feast of the Sacred Heart and gave her 12 promises to all who venerated the Sacred Heart and promoted devotion to it. According to Catholic News Agency, related devotions include a Holy Hour on Thursdays and the reception of the Holy Eucharist on the first Friday of every month.  Blessed Pope Pius IX made the Feast of the Sacred Heart universal in 1856.

 

At St. Paul’s, we will be participating in 250 hours of adoration together by offering a Holy Hour on a weekly basis leading up to the July 4th anniversary.  While 250 hours seems like a lot, each person present constitutes an hour prayed. The historic church will be open for Adoration every Friday during the month of June in addition to our usual Thursday evening Adoration from 6:00 – 7:30 PM in the Main Church. There will be a sign in sheet available for everyone to log their hours so we can send our total to the USCCB.

Our Holy Hours will be dedicated as follows:

June 4th and 5th – Holy Hour for Peace

June 11th and 12th – Holy Hour for Religious Liberty

June 18th and 19th – Holy Hour for Life

June 25th and 26th – Holy Hour for Vocations

July 2nd – Sacred Heart Holy Hour

In his encyclical, Dilexit nos, Pope Francis instructed us to “nourish our lives with the strength of the Eucharist” in Holy Communion and Adoration, so that we might understand Christ’s love for all more deeply and live out this love ourselves. Our contemplation of the Sacred Heart leads us deeper into the mystery of our salvation and deeper into our love for Christ found in the faces of our sisters and brothers—especially those most in need. Please help us reach our goal.