Word from the Pastor

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners,
Give to Caesar What Belongs to Caesar, and to God What Belongs to God “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”— Matthew 22:21
As Christians, we have a dual responsibility: to our earthly community and to God. We are called to be responsible citizens who contribute to the common good, respect legitimate authority, and work for a society founded on justice, peace, and human dignity.

Yet our highest allegiance belongs to God, whose image is stamped upon each of us. Giving to God what belongs to God means more than praying, attending Mass, and offering our gifts. It means living our faith through love, compassion, service, and the courage to stand against injustice. The Church cannot remain confined to the sacristy while ignoring the suffering of the poor, the cries of the vulnerable, and the moral challenges of our time. Our faith must move us from prayer to action, from the church pews to the needs of our community.

This week, I challenge each of us to take three concrete steps: First, identify one need in your neighborhood or community and do something practical to address it, help a struggling family, visit someone lonely, or support a person in need. Second, speak up respectfully when you witness injustice, discrimination, or abuse instead of remaining silent. Third, dedicate at least one hour to serving your parish or community, and use your gifts and talents for the benefit of others.

As we take these steps, let us ask ourselves: Am I giving my community the responsibility it deserves? Am I giving my neighbor the love he or she deserves? And am I giving God the place he deserves in my life? On Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 8 am to 2 pm, let us not miss the opportunity to come to your parish for this cleaning campaign.

Let us not leave Mass this weekend with only a message to remember, but with a mission to fulfill. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give to your neighbor what love demands, and give to God your heart, your service, and your life.

May our faith be visible not only in what we profess, but also in what we do.

Rev. Fritzner J. Bellonce
Pastor