From Our Pastor: Christ’s Gentle Invitation

The prophet Zechariah paints a beautiful picture of the Messiah not arriving with armies, power, or earthly prestige, but humbly riding on a donkey, bringing peace to the nations. That image is fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ, who invites us to recognize that God’s strength is revealed not through domination but through humble, sacrificial love. In a world that constantly tells us to strive harder, achieve more, and prove our worth, the Lord offers a different path. He comes to us with gentleness and mercy, inviting us to trust not in our own accomplishments but in His faithful presence. The Kingdom of God is built not on force, but on hearts that are willing to surrender themselves to Christ.

In the Gospel, Jesus extends one of the most comforting invitations in all of Scripture: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Every one of us carries burdens—concerns for our families, worries about our health, grief, uncertainty, or the weight of our own sins. Jesus does not promise that those burdens will disappear overnight, but He does promise that we never carry them alone. When we place ourselves under His yoke, we discover that His way is not one of crushing obligation but of freedom, hope, and peace. As we gather each Sunday around the altar, may we lay our burdens before the Lord, allowing Him to strengthen our hearts so that we may leave renewed and ready to be His gentle presence in the lives of those we meet this week.

Welcome Fr. Niemerg to the St. Francis Rectory, Quincy University, and to Quincy, Illinois.

As Fr. Ken and I begin our new responsibilities as Chaplains of Quincy Notre Dame High School, we need to make some adjustments around here to be able to add the workload to our schedules. On Tuesday and Thursday within the next couple weeks, I will let you know exactly when, we need to cease the Tuesday and Thursday evening masses at 5:30 p.m. We will keep the evening Mass at 5:30 on Wednesdays with confessions before from 4 until 5. I hate doing this but with the added masses at the high school it was the only way to make everything work. After consultation with the parish council and others that was the best option we could come up with. More to come, but just a heads up on the change coming and why. We will need to rearrange the scheduled intentions for those masses to meet this change. Please be patient as we navigate that change.

Lastly, pray for all of the priests and parishes that are in transition and beginning their new assignments and receiving a new priest this past week and weekend. Change and transition is hard on everyone. Pray for patience for all involved. As a priest that has changed assignments a lot, it is very difficult and sad and exciting all at the same time. Pray for those starting new assignments.

Stay cool in this heat. If you ever need to cool down, the entryways and chapel are usually cool. You can find some solace from the heat here and pray while you’re here.

Father Arisman