From the Pastor's Desk - July 5, 2026

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

As we celebrate our 250 anniversary, we give thanks to God for the gift of our nation and ask him for the gift of wisdom to avoid the pitfalls which threaten our freedom. When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in 2008, he identified three threats to our society: individualism, secularism and materialism.

Individualism is an ideology that separates personal rights from moral responsibilities. This way of thinking leads to a society of self-interest. We see the fruits of individualism in the multitude of groups, each striving to ensure its own rights, often over and against other groups. Whoever has the most power, influence, and money ends up having the most rights. What we need to combat this all-too common way of thinking is true solidarity and a pursuit of the common good. The Church calls humanity to see itself as a body, sharing spiritual goods that build each other up and which lead us to a communion of life.

Secularism is an ideology that sees this world as the ultimate reality, and which denies the primacy of the transcendent in life. If we do not see the human person as coming from God and destined for life in God, we tend to put ultimate stake in our worldly projects. The development of AI presents just this temptation, as Pope Leo has reminded us in his first encyclical. Will AI enhance and serve human dignity or seek to supplant it?

Materialism is an ideology that sees physical reality as that which is most real and worthy of our consideration. Without a spiritual foundation, though, material reality loses its meaning. According to materialism, the human body has no inherent meaning, nor does anything else in creation. It is all just raw material to be manipulated at our pleasure. Christians see the material world as creation, that is, as a gift from the God. Visible creation, then, can only be understood, received and loved as a gift from God.

Individualism, secularism and materialism are all signs of a profound spiritual crisis. As we celebrate this Independence Day, we recognize how the Catholic conception of God, the human person, history, and creation should help us evangelize a spiritually impoverished society.

In Christ,

Fr. Dave