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A Prayer For The New Pope

Prayer for our new Pope, Leo XIV

O God, eternal shepherd, look kindly upon your Church and bless our new Holy Father.

Guide him with your Spirit: of wisdom and understanding, of courage and compassion, of truth and holiness.

May he be a faithful successor of Peter, a rock for your Church, a voice of hope to the world, and a servant to the poor and forgotten.

Strengthen his words and actions, that they may lead all people to a deeper love of You.

Through the prayers of Mary, Mother of the Church, and all the saints, guard and bless our Pope and the whole Church.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Submit Your Prayer for Pope Leo

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In St. James Jobs

Director of Digital Evangelization

Director of Digital Evangelization

St. James Catholic Church is looking for a creative and passionate individual for a director-level position who wants to use their videography, graphic arts, and editing skills to improve the parish marketing and communication function and to better engage our community with the gospel message. This role will require a firm understanding of our parish’s mission and vision of “Being Disciples of Christ and Making Disciples of Christ,” as well as a thorough understanding of the Catholic faith and traditions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Capture moments from the parish, our people, and our ministries using photography and videography.
  • Maintain/update the parish website.
  • Develop and manage all virtual communications.
  • Assess organization for communication gaps and areas of improvment.
  • Working with the School’s Director of Marketing, preserve how the parish brand is portrayed in all communications including (but not limited to) bulletin, email, social media, web, etc.
  • Develop and implement a parish strategic communication plan.
  • Assist in the creation and management of a digital evangelization
  • Ensure digital content is technically effective, grammatically correct, and within our parish mission, vision, and brand framework.
  • Utilize available media to share stories about how our parish is impacting the community through traditional and non-traditional communication efforts.

To achieve communication objectives that entail the full scope of activity at St. James, it will be important for the Director of Digital Evangelization to have strong relational connections with the volunteer ministry leads and parish staff, especially key leaders in each department. It is important that this person has flexibility to attend events at night and on the weekends.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Practicing Catholic with a mission-mindset to make disciples of Christ.
  • Undergraduate degree in marketing, graphic arts, communications, or a related field.
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience in marketing, public relations, graphic design, or related field.
  • General graphic design skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, Premier Pro, and InDesign).
  • Proficiency in web design, particularly using Word Press, Adobe InDesign, and Canva.
  • Experience in photography/videography, particularly Premier Pro video editing software.
  • Proficiency in managing social media accounts; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Hootsuite/Sprout Social.
  • Experience developing and maintaining brand standards.
  • Strong attention to detail and designs.
  • Strong team player with the ability to work independently.
  • Creative thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
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In Path To Sunday

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 6:45

A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good.

Readings for Sunday: Sirach, 1 Corinthians, Luke

Reflection:

If an anthropologist from the future, traveling back in time with an invisibility cloak could observe you every day, all day, for months: what type of report would he write? It is easy for us to declare what our ideals are, but talk is cheap. How do we actually live? In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus says, “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit… A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” We all like to think of ourselves as good people, yet, if we are honest, we not only sin but even have thought patterns that are not always good. We judge people, we lust, and we are often selfish and self-centered.

Holiness is not simply avoiding sin; though to be clear, we should not sin. Holiness, in the end, is about conformity to Jesus Christ. It is to become just like him: to be a son or daughter of God in and through the Son of God.

To think like him, be like him, take on his dispositions and, in the end, act like him. That is why the Catholic Church teaches both about what entertainment we “consume” and the inculcation of virtue, that is, good habits.

Regarding entertainment, as well as books and so on, the Church teaches us to choose carefully. We like to think that we have great mental filters, and that we can filter out bad material. But that is not true. After all, have you ever had a song stuck in your head? How did it get there? Virtue is the day in and day out doing of good things, to the point that they become habit. Habits can be good (virtues) or bad (vices). We want to be so like Jesus Christ that it becomes “natural;” we want to be holy.

Reflection Questions

  • In your prayer ask: What TV shows, internet content, books, etc. do I watch and read?  Is it good? Does it lead me to Jesus Christ or away from him?
  • Reflect on this: What are my vices? Am I cultivating virtue in my life; am I working on eliminating my vices?
  • Consider in quiet reflection: What type of report would an invisible anthropologist write about me after observing just how I live every day, let alone what I think?
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In Path To Sunday

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 6:27

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

Readings for Sunday: 1 Samuel, 1 Corinthians, Luke

Reflection:

Sometimes Jesus’ commands seem crazy; for example, in today’s Gospel, he tells us to “love our enemies, do good to those who hate you.” Yet, if we understand it, it makes perfect sense. In the first place, the actual word in the original Greek text is Ἀγαπᾶτε (agapate); it is the command form of the verb agapaó, “to love.” But this is different than the other Greek words for love such as phileō (brotherly love, the love of friends), stérgō (family feeling), éramai (physical love, romantic love, sexual love). Agapaó means to do good for the other person without expectation of repayment. It has nothing to do with how you feel, rather, it is about what you do. Jesus would ultimately say, “No one has greater love (agape) than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

We, as sinners, were in a sense God’s enemies. St. Paul wrote, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We see God’s love for us in the Cross. We see God’s love in what he did for us, not expeting repayment because it is impossible to buy or earn or compensate God’s for our salvation. As God loves us, we are to love others, even our enemies.

There is a difference between authentically loving someone and liking someone. Liking someone means you enjoy being around that person, and or you agree with that person, and so on. You can truly love (agapaó) someone while not liking him. You can like someone without truly loving her. We have probably all had friends who like us but didn’t truly love us: they were not there when we truly needed them or they were not willing to do good for us without expecting some kind of payment or return. Jesus is not like that: he truly loves us, even when we are not being very likable; he truly loves us even though we are sinners.

Reflection Questions

  • In your prayer ask: Do I distinguish, in my own mind, loving someone from liking someone? Do I truly love God and my neighbor, or do I sometimes only “like” them?
  • Reflect on this: How can I love my enemies by doing good to them, even when I don’t like them? How can I desire the greatest good for my enemies, even if it isn’t to my advantage?
  • Consider in quiet reflection: How strong must Jesus’ love for me be, if he became human, and then suffered and died on a cross to save me, sinner that I am?
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In Path To Sunday

The Presentation of the Lord

Hebrews 2:17

...he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.

Readings for Sunday: Malachi, Hebrews, Luke

Reflection:

At the Field Museum there was an exhibit filled with shoes—endless varieties from around the world, even boots. A sign read, “Walk a mile in my shoes,” inviting us to understand others’ lives by imagining their journeys. It was inspiring. But something was missing—a pair of sandals, worn by a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth named Jesus.

Those sandals represent something profound: that God Himself understands us. God, as God, knows everything.Yet in Jesus, God takes our humanity, walking among us, experiencing life as we do.

The feast we celebrate today, the Presentation of the Lord, reminds us of this incredible truth. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple—the place where God’s glory, His shekinah, dwelled among His people.

For centuries, that glory had seemed distant—hidden behind the curtain of the Holy of Holies, accessible only to the high priest, and only once a year at that. But Malachi foretold a day when the Lord Himself would come to His temple. And when He did, it wasn’t with fire and lightning, but as a baby in His mother’s arms.

In Jesus, the glory of God walked a mile in our shoes. He shared in our joys and sorrows, even our death, to save us from sin and bring us into a new relationship with God—as His beloved children.

So, when life feels dark or overwhelming, follow Simeon’s example. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Because in Jesus, our God is with us in our experience, even when life is hard.

Reflection Questions

  • In Your Prayer Ask: How does knowing that Jesus “walked a mile in our shoes” change the way you view your relationship with God? How can this truth bring you comfort in moments of darkness or difficulty?

  • Reflect on This: Simeon waited his whole life to see Jesus, trusting in God’s promise. What are you waiting for or trusting God with right now? How might keeping your eyes on Jesus help you find hope and strength in your journey?

  • Consider in Quiet Reflection: The museum exhibit invited visitors to “walk a mile” in someone else’s shoes. How can Jesus’ example inspire you to better understand and show compassion to others? Who in your life might need you to walk alongside them today?

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In Path To Sunday

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Luke 1:42

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Readings for Sunday: Micah, Hebrews, Luke

Reflection:

Ever wonder why we Catholics honor Mary? You can find the answer in this Sunday’s Gospel reading, which comes from Luke 1:39-45. In the verses immediately preceding this passage (Luke 1:26-38), we hear how the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son. Gabriel also informed Mary that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived a child in her old age. With the Christ child in her womb, Mary sets off to visit her cousin.

When Mary arrives at Elizabeth’s house, Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” exclaims: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

While Jesus is clearly present (in Mary’s womb), Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, honors Mary. This honor is not in opposition to or competition with Jesus; rather, Elizabeth honors Mary because of her unique relationship with her Son.

And so it is with us. When we pray the Hail Mary, we are simply quoting scripture: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,” echoes the Archangel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary. The line “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” is from Elizabeth’s greeting. To these scriptural words, we add the petition, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…”

Reflection Questions

  • How do I honor Mary in my life today, as St. Elizabeth did in hers? Do I see Mary as bringing her Son to me so that I may be closer to him?
  • How do I become more like Mary in bringing Jesus to others?
  • Am I willing to serve others like Mary, who, when she heard of St. Elizabeth’s pregnancy, went to see her, despite the hardship of travel in those days?
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In St. James Jobs

Assistant Director of Music

Job Opening: Assistant Director of Music
St. James Parish, Arlington Heights, IL

St. James Parish is seeking a highly skilled Assistant Director of Music to join our vibrant and dedicated music ministry. This full-time, benefit-eligible position offers the opportunity to continue our rich tradition of excellence in sacred music and support the liturgical and choral life of our parish community.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a high-level accompanist and organist throughout the Liturgical year for our Traditional and Contemporary Adult Choirs, as well as additional concerts and liturgies as needed.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Music to plan, rehearse, and execute choral music for the parish.
  • Play a key role in preparing for major choral works. Previous larger scale offerings include such works as Brahms’ Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Rutter’s Requiem, among others. Rossini’s Stabat Mater (to be performed this upcoming Spring with Orchestra).
  • Accompany the parish choir and assist with the development of the music program, ensuring that it reflects the highest musical and liturgical standards.

Qualifications:

  • Strong proficiency as an organist and accompanist, with experience in liturgical and choral settings.
  • Extensive knowledge of Roman Catholic liturgical practices and sacred music tradition.
  • Familiarity with large sacred choral works and the ability to collaborate with a variety of musicians.
  • A passion for sacred music and the ability to elevate the worship experience through thoughtful and skillful musicianship.
  • Bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent professional experience required; advanced degrees or additional certifications are a plus.

 

Additional Information:

  • Full-time, benefits-eligible position with competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
  • Our parish music program is known for its strong choral tradition, and our performances can be found on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented musician with a deep understanding of sacred music and the Roman Catholic Church to make a significant impact in the life of St. James. St. James Parish is a welcoming Catholic Community whose mission is to be Disciples of Christ and to make Disciples of Christ. The Parish weekend attendance is around 3,300. We are seeking a dedicated individual who shares our commitment to upholding and advancing our longstanding musical traditions.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and references in the form below.

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In Path To Sunday

32nd Sunday In Ordinary Time

Mark 12:44

She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.

Readings for Sunday: 1 Kings, Hebrews, Mark

Reflection:

Have you ever wondered what God wants from you? Often, we rush through our days, focused on routines—work, school, family—without thinking about deeper questions. It’s usually when something goes wrong—a sickness, job loss, or loss of a loved one—that we pause and ask, “God, what do you want from me?”

God’s answer is simple yet profound: He wants everything—our whole hearts and lives. In Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 12:38-44), Jesus notices a poor widow placing her last coins in the temple treasury. “For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Unlike the wealthy who give what’s extra, she gives everything she has out of love and trust in God.

This story reflects how God gives Himself to us fully, especially through Christ, who poured out His life on the cross and continues to offer Himself in the Mass. Just as the widow gave all she had, God invites us to surrender our lives back to Him. This is the heart of stewardship—not just giving money but offering our time, talents, and entire selves. Through this, we love God with everything we are and have, allowing His love to transform our lives.

Reflection Questions

  • In your prayer, ask: “Lord, in what areas of my life am I holding back from fully giving myself to You? Help me to see how I can follow the example of the widow who gave all she had.”
  • Reflect on this: “Just as the widow gave her last coins out of love and trust, what ‘last coins’—be it time, talent, or energy—might you be called to offer in love to God, even if it feels small or insignificant?”
  • Consider in quiet reflection: “How would your life look if you gave God not just the surplus of your time and resources, but your ‘whole livelihood’? What steps can you take to live with this kind of generosity and trust?