All Glory God. Glory to God in the Highest!
Time and again we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to give thanks for all our blessings. In these days of transition and change as Pastor of this beautiful parish to St. Laurence parish, I am most grateful for YOU, the good people of Holy Saviour.

In the course of these last six years, your response has been one of kindness and practical effort, leading to success after success, building a bridge into the future. We are forever blessed by God and all Praise, Adoration and Love belongs to our divine Saviour.

Please remember me in your good prayers, as I will remember you. For every good word that has been shared and every act of charity that has been expressed, I am most grateful and at times speechless. For any aspect of my neglect or hurt that I have caused anyone, I beg your forgiveness. I will miss you for sure.

A warm welcome is extended to Father John J. Sibel as pastor to Holy Saviour. He comes to us from Saint Jerome parish in northeast Philly. Father was ordained in 1972 and stands about 6’5” tall. Fr. Sibel, Fr. Freeman and I met Tuesday afternoon May 20th here at Holy Saviour rectory for lunch. Fr. Freeman and Fr. Sibel are contemporaries from Saint Charles Seminary. Priests changes are effective 16 June 2008. God bless you, one and all: the good people of Holy Saviour.

Gratefully, Fr. Gerlach.
(21 May 2008).

 

Easter Message 2008

 

Lent is a Season of Spiritual Opportunity
When Henry Ford invented a practical assembly line, he did so with the desire to make an automobile available to people of common means. It was a revolution.

Surely, there is time and place for efficiency and instruments of ease. Henry had purpose. But it took great trust on the part of many, and for sure there were serious doubters.

Lent is not about efficiency and ease. It is about the hard road to Calvary. Christ’s road is now complete but it is not fulfilled. Christ resurrected will never die again. However, the fulfillment of his mysterious actions are only complete in our individual lives when we pick up our cross of penance and follow the road to Calvary. Christ came not with the plan of Henry Ford but the plan of our Father, our sovereign Lord.

Together, we are encouraged to seriously consider God’s plan of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is the road of light, it is a road marking out our future glory with the Lord. Yes, to pick up our individual cross is the most efficient and tried assembly line for the common person. It is God’s plan. Again, it will take great trust on the part of many and for sure there are serious doubters. However, for the next 40 days, please follow the instruction of Jesus: Go to your room, close your door and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you Matthew 6:6, ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ Have confidence, for those who trust in the Lord, there are no recalls.

02-03-08

Christmas 2007

Dear Parishioner,

Let us rejoice with Our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph as we again celebrate this most holy feast of Christmas, and as a special gift to our infant Saviour, let us offer to Him our hearts and our souls, by a worthy reception of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

May the glory and the love of the infant Jesus fill your heart with joy. May every blessing of the Holy Season and increased health and prosperity be your portion in the New Year.

These good wishes and fervent prayers are offered in grateful remembrance of your kind cooperation and good will during the past year.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Michael J. Gerlach
Rev. Philip Lowe

 

 

World Youth Day
Our Youth, a daily surprise!
This weekend every year, the church takes focus on the young. May I personally extend a word of blessing and encouragement to all the young people of our parish. You’re the best.

As young people, you are creative, as you are unpredictable, even to yourselves. Please know that Father Lowe and I stand with you and for you on a daily basis.

History is any event more than 10 ten minutes old. From that point on, the interpretation of what really took place is open to the whim of opinion. So too, we know as adults, that our own youthful years were perfect and the best the world has ever offered. With this in mind, I encourage our present day youth to look to the Lord. Our loving Jesus will guide you, instruct you, and when necessary, pick you up, dust you off, and set you back on the path again. God bless you the youth of Holy Saviour Faith Community.

10-28-07

Stewardship
Day by day our society is returning to an Old Testament understanding of personal integrity in daily living. Whatever one’s role may be, a good steward is one who preserves the goodness of the person, object or circumstance. A good steward sees to enhancing the growth that is already present. 

A good steward seeks guidance as how to improve his/her ability. From basic training to re-tooling, a faithful steward is forward thinking, from an hour to perhaps a year or even five years out. Keeping ones ear to the ground for changes in one’s over all circumstances is an essential task: “Listen to the opinion of other people of integrity.” 

Psalm 15 holds up several qualities of a steward whose boss is God. A daily reading for seven days straight of Psalm 15 will help usgrasp a beginning of the faith stewardship of the Old Testament. 

9-23-2007

 I Forgive You.
It makes all the difference.
What is the essential virtue that separates faith believers from the rest of the world? Forgiveness. Our gospel proclaims the necessary steps of how to heal our families. What to do and what not to do to achieve forgiveness is all inclusive in Luke 15, The Prodigal Son, The Forgiving Father & The Resistant Brother. 

I know of no family or relationship that survives without forgiveness. None. Yet, there is a problem I need God and God’s grace. Sorry, there is no way around it. If I want forgiveness from someone then I need God first. Desire is not enough and without faith in God I will be suspicious of your intent. Forgiveness is beautiful. With mercy, you will radiate God’s joy.

 9-16-2007

Education:
A Beautiful Gift
I extend a warm welcome to all our new students, parents, faculty members, and staff. An equally warm welcome is extended to all our school community returning this year. 

As we know so well, education is essential to the dignity of the individual and to the prosperity of society. It is with joyful enthusiasm that we begin once again in the name of The Teacher personified, our dear Holy Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

Our school is the result of a combined effort of many, many people from three parishes and many walks of life. Our volunteers and business community are right in the middle, helping us hand in hand. Yes, it is a conscious effort to develop a family atmosphere. 

Thank you to everyone who makes the school the community whichit is. God bless you. Fr. Gerlach. 

9-9-2007