Pastoral Letters

by Fr. Thomas Haan

In the modern world, a barrage of information comes at us daily. Between our phones, social media, computers, TVs, newspapers, e-mails, and snail mail… it can be overwhelming! This is just one reason why we, as a parish and school, must be deliberate about how we communicate with you all. Our bulletin and our Friday “De Montfort Dispatch” e-mails are the primary places for parish happenings. Please contact Amanda at [email protected] if you aren’t getting those Friday e-mails! 

But it’s not simply about communication of information at the parish — it’s about formation. In its word origins, a disciple is one who learns, who willingly engages in the formation of his or her mind, will, and heart. The goal for each of us, by God’s grace, is to be conformed to the mind and heart of Christ! There are obviously many ways this formation can happen at the parish: homilies during Mass, bulletin articles, talks given at events like the Courageous Men’s Conference (men: register today!), or our Barstool Theology nights. One other instrument of formation is a pastoral letter. 

There are certain advantages to the format of a pastoral letter: it allows me to go into greater depth, specificity, and personal reflection than a homily. The text can also be studied and pondered with greater ease and even can be employed as a source of group discussion. The letter is “pastoral” in that it pertains to my role as your shepherd. A pastor is meant to guide, nourish, and protect the flock entrusted to him. Saint Peter, our first pope, enjoined us, “God’s flock is in your midst. Give it a shepherd’s care” (1 Pt 5:2). A pastoral letter is one further means by which I can fulfill that responsibility. 

If you recall, in November of 2024, I wrote my first pastoral letter, “Starved for Wonder,” with the hope that we could come to see that sacred beauty is integral in our attempts to draw people to the radiance of Christ and into the fullness of the Catholic faith. I was so edified by how many of you trusted me, took the time to read it, and allowed it to change the way you see beauty. 

Over the summer, I wrote my second pastoral letter to you, entitled “Rightly Considered: A Pastoral Letter on the Adventure of Discipleship.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who will be beatified in late September, once said, “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” His point is clear: so many people outside the Catholic church misunderstand what it means to follow Christ within the church, and the basis for their reticence — or outright derision — is unfounded. In a different way, I’m afraid that many of us Catholics don’t always see our faith through the right lens, either. Otherwise, none of us would ever think about our faith as boring! “Rightly Considered” is my attempt to help us see following Christ as the adventure that it truly is. 

This pastoral letter was a labor of love. The task required many hours of thinking, researching, writing, and editing. I received helpful feedback on my earlier drafts from several faith-filled people, and even Bishop Doherty read it and called it “entertaining and challenging!” I truly hope each parishioner will take the time to read it in the coming weeks — even discuss it with family members or fellow parishioners. 

Under the Mercy,

Father Haan