Browsing the 2019 archive of Thoughts from Fr. Bob
Santisimo Sacramento
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 8/20/19
This weekend we welcome Fr. Joe Uhen to our parish. He, of course, is the pastor of our sister parish, Santisimo Sacramento in Piura, Peru. For four years now, we have had a twinning relationship with his parishioners. This is a wonderful practice of our Catholic faith because too ... Read More »
Wow, what a busy weekend
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 8/01/19
Wow, what a busy weekend we had last week. Oshkosh experimental aircraft meeting, the Brewers playing the Chicago Cubs (2 out of 3, not bad), air and water show here, German Fest, county fairs, as well as parish festivals. If you were bored, it was your own fault. But ... Read More »
“are you willing to drink of Christ’s chalice”?
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 7/31/19
Prior to our Gospel reading for the feast of St. James, our Lord spoke of the prediction of His passion and death. Despite hearing Jesus’ remarks, the disciples still did not understand his message about the kingdom of God. It was not to be an earthly kingdom of power, ... Read More »
Treat strangers kindly
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 7/15/19
It is the kind of story that everyone loves to hear: An ordinary person treats a stranger kindly and the stranger turns out to be a famous person. A waitress receives a $1,000 tip from an ordinary customer, an Uber driver helps a stranger whose car is broken down ... Read More »
Good Samaritan
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 7/15/19
If someone were to call you a “good Samaritan” you should take that as a great compliment. That name has been synonymous with being kind, generous, and going out of your way to help others. This parable of the good Samaritan answers the question “who is my neighbor?” The ... Read More »
Bring the Good News
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 7/15/19
A few days ago, we celebrated the 4th of July. For many, it marks the fact that we are half way through summer. And the way the weather has been, it seems like it just started. It’s a time of year when many of us go on vacation. Perhaps ... Read More »
“The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 6/26/19
Recently, we all experienced a sad, or as we would say, a bittersweet good bye to Dan and Annie. I’m sure it was a very difficult decision made after much thought and prayer. To leave everything behind when you set a new course for your life is a dramatic ... Read More »
Happy to be at St. James
Posted by Fr Bob Betz on 6/20/19
It has been exactly one year since I retired and since a priest never really retires, we call that becoming a senior priest. At that same time, Dan asked me to become one of the assisting priests here at St. James. I have come to find here a family, ... Read More »